Seiko S GMT SCFF005 4S12-0010 1996-1999

In the late nineties, Seiko only offered a short assortment of mechanical watches. Apart of the Seiko 5 range based on the 7S26 movement, the catalogue contained only a few models based on the 6810 and the 4Sxx calibres, amid them the sought after Alpinist 4S15, some dress watches fitted with the 4S24/4S25 calibre and the “S” range including the GMT 4S12 and the simpler military 4S15 (SCFF001 & SCFF003).

We will focus in this post on the SCFF005 GMT model and its red (SCFF007) and blue (SCFF009) variations.

Presentation

The design of SCFF is aligned with the production of Seiko in the late 90’s. The watch looks quite compact and thick but it isn’t too big, the case is less than 40 mm wide. The height of the case gives a feeling of depth to the dial. The two main hands are very readable, the GMT one is much more discreet and one might even not see it. Both crowns are located on the right hand. The case is lugless, the bracelet is fully integrated, that was quite the standard at that time.

The dial & hands

The black dial has four metal indexes, placed at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. They have a luminous rectangle at the outer side. The writings are sober, the Seiko logo printed below the 12 o’clock marker followed by the “Automatic” mention. On the lowest half of the dial, a red “S” is printed. Finally and as usual, at the very bottom rim, the references of the movement and the dial (8010).
Every minute is printed on a quite broad part of the rim of the dial.
The hour hand is a white rectangle filled with luminous matter, the minute one is a pencil, filled with luminous matter as well. The GMT hand is silvered, cutout, and only the tip is luminous. The second hand is white.
The date window is located at 4 o’clock.
There’s an inner rotating bezel surrounding the dial, printed with the 24 markers making a day. The even hours are printed as numbers, the odd ones as small rectangles. To use the GMT function, you will have to make the GMT hand and the time zone shift match. Unfortunately, the GMT bezel can’t be locked and the setting might not stay in place if you touch the setting crown.

The case and bracelet

With less than 40 mm, the case might seem small in theory but with the addition of the two big crowns, the integrated bracelet and its 14 mm thickness, the SCFF005 looks quite big on the wrist. The upper surfaces are horizontally brushed, both sides of the case are polished. The bezel is polished as well. The screwed back is transparent and there is a silver worldmap printed on the glass.
The crystal is made of thick hardlex glass and is slightly domed.
The bracelet has thin links, reminding some older bracelets from the seventies, seen in particular on some LM and LM Special models. The deploying clasp is covered with a security lock, Seiko signed.

The movement

The Seiko 4S12 movement is inherited from the 52xx introduced in the early 70’s with the Seiko LM Special and KS Special. It’s a quite sophisticated calibre, with 25 jewels, beating at 28,000 bph. It can be hand wound and has the hacking second feature. The GMT hand is simply hard coupled to the main hour hand but makes a full rotation in 24 hours through an intermediate wheel. That means that the GMT hand can’t bet set individually as it can be on a real GMT movement. And that also means that you have to read the dual time on the inner rotating bezel that has to be correctly set to match the wanted time zone.
This movement family is very reliable.

In conclusion

This Seiko S GMT is very attractive. The black version reminds quite sober, the blue and red ones are more funky and more eye-catchy. There is a feeling of robustness in this model. The 4S12 movement belongs according to me to one of the best mid / high-range movements made by Seiko and should be a purchase lever. Today, this SCFF might be a good investment.