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After reviewing my recently acquired SARB065 “Cocktail Time”, I think it’s only right I review the Seiko SARB035, too. It’s a cousin to the OG Cocktail Time as part of the SARB series of Japanese Domestic Market watches that are now discontinued. While its dial is not as unique as the Cocktail Time’s, it’s definitely beautifully done. The SARB035 also makes up for this with a case that’s much more refined.
The SARB035 is technically my wife’s watch, but I get away with wearing it sometimes, too – which speaks volumes to its overall wearability. It’s a watch that is truly well-rounded, and could be a “one watch” for those fortunate souls who are not hopelessly addicted to watches like me.
The Seiko SARB035: A True All-Arounder
The SARB035 is arguably more refined than the SARB065 Cocktail Time. Its simple dial is cream or white – depending on lighting. It’s almost a pearlescent sheen. Attached to this wonderfully finished dial are deep applied indices and an applied Seiko logo. I’m a huge fan of Seiko’s applied logos. They just look good.
While the watch appears simple in a lot of pictures, and probably even from a distance in real life, there’s a good amount of subtle complexities that make it a joy to wear on wrist – such as the ever so slight sunburst quality of the dial and the way light reflects off of the impeccably finished markers and hands. This is a watch that finishing-wise, punches far above its weight. It looks and feels more expensive than its initial price tag (before it was discontinued and the subsequent price bump).
Like the OG Cocktail Time (which was later re-released in a way with the Presage models), there is a SARB035-similar offering from Seiko that’s not discontinued, but I personally almost always favor the originals when it comes to watches.
A Refined Case That Melts Into Your Wrist
A major reason why the SARB035 is a joy to wear is because of the nicely sculped case. Coming in at 38mm wide and about 11mm thick, it’s very ergonomic. That 11mm thickness feels much, much slimmer when you’re wearing the watch. The reason is largely because of the extremely slim side-case profile, as can be seen in the below images borrowed from my post on the SARB065 Cocktail time:
This allows the watch to melt into your wrist, wearing much more like an elegant ultra-thin than a chunky 11mm watch with a slab-sided case (like that of the Cocktail Time). Also contrary to the Cocktail Time, The SARB035 has lumed hands and markers, which are tastefully done.
The SARB035 comes with a flat sapphire crystal protecting the dial, adding to the compactness of the overall package. A mixture of brushed and polished surfaces adds complexity to the case. The mixed surfaces and clean lines of the case also create visual interest.
The transitioning between the polishing and brushing on the case is also top-notch, especially for the relatively entry-level price the watch was sold for before its inevitable discontinuation. The “goldilocks” dimensions of the case size and the way it wears on wrist are hard to beat.
The Bracelet: Good, But Not Great
Next I’d like to discuss the bracelet. It’s definitely a good bracelet that suits the watch, but it’s not great. It utilizes a pin and collar system, which is a total pain in the ass, for a lack of a better term, to size. Once the sizing is done, however, it’s a decent bracelet.
It’s mostly brushed, with polished sides. It’s also beveled, a nice added detail that’s a little more intricate than the average, run-of-the-mill oyster-style bracelet. The endlinks are solid and the bracelet itself is rather comfortable and exhibits a nice heft to it. It feels solid, but it’s got a little more jangle to it than a pricier bracelet.
A double deployant clasp is also a nice added touch. It’s much nicer than your average friction clasp found on cheaper watches. The tolerances just aren’t as tight as a higher-end watch, but that’s to be expected. It’s lightyears ahead of the cheaper bracelets found on Seiko’s lower-end offerings like the SKX-series and Seiko 5 watches as well. Overall, it works. It’s nice enough for the price point.
Wrapping Things Up
After owning the watch for about five years now, it still looks good. It’s also still keeping relatively good time (+5 seconds a day – give or take). That’s anecdotal, as in on wrist, because I don’t have a timegrapher.
It’s served much of its first two or three years of its life as my wife’s daily wearer, before becoming part of a rotation that includes an Oris Big Crown and an Apple Watch (if you consider it a watch). While there isn’t a screw down crown on the SARB035, it does maintain 100m of water resistance. That should be plenty enough for most activities, except maybe actual diving.
Taken as a whole package, it’s hard to beat this watch as a “one and done” or go anywhere, do anything watch – especially factoring in the price before it was discontinued by Seiko (sub $500).
I think it’s a shame that Seiko discontinued it, but the SZSB011 appears to be close replacement for those interested. I can’t comment on this specific model, however, since I’ve never actually handled one. It also appears to be powered by a 4R-series movement, which could be perceived as a downgrade, but probably not enough to be a deal breaker if you like the look.
All-in-all, the SARB035 is a classic, and any watch put out as a follow up has big shoes to fill. Would I buy a new SARB035 in 2021? Probably not, because the asking price seems to be as high as $1k or more by some ambitious sellers. If I didn’t already own it and found one for say $500 (or less), though, I think it would be worth the plunge.