Hands-On (Video) With the Seiko Prospex ref. SRPC44 “Golden Turtle”

The Seiko “Turtle” needs no introduction at this point. It is already an iconic watch from Seiko’s current lineup (it is, of course, based on a legendary timepiece from Seiko’s back catalog), and Seiko’s well aware of the watch community’s love for the Turtle, with the Japanese giant issuing numerous iterations over the last couple of years. One such variant is the ref. SRPC44 “Golden Turtle” released late last year, and that’s what we’ll be taking a quick look at today. At first glance, the SRPC44 appears to be closest to the SRP777 in terms of design, though it’s like an extreme version of that watch. Rather than simple “gilt” accents, what we have here is a big, blingy case entirely coated in goldtone. It’s definitely an extreme look—I’d even say it’s a bit kitsch—and it’s surely not for everyone, but I think the watch is highly appealing if you’re on a “gold” kick and looking for something to scratch that itch without breaking the bank.

The dial is not the same dial you find on the SRP777. Rather than matte black, it is instead a dynamic sunburst anthracite. The markers are surrounded by golden borders, and the hands are gilted as well. The chapter ring is white on black, and so is all the dial text.  We’ve reviewed the Turtle line on numerous occasions here on Worn & Wound, so I won’t get into it again here. For a more in-depth look at the series, you can read our review here. But if you want to see more about the SRPC44 to get a sense of fit and finish, you can check out our hands-on video below.

All in all, the SRPC44 is another cool addition to the Turtle family. You can pick one up for $394 via our friends at Long Island Watch, who generously loaned us the watch for this review.