There were a lot of watches released in 2021. A LOT. Technology at our fingertips has made it easier for us to see what the shiny new thing is and the hoopla to follow it. But sometimes a watch (or two) falls through the cracks. Maybe the watch doesn?t gain much traction on social media or somehow it gets totally eclipsed by another release. Maybe your taste evolved just enough that you like the watch now, but scrolled right past it earlier in the year. Either way, it happens to the best of us. And for me in 2021, that exact watch was the Seiko SPB237.

During the initial release of the SPB 62 MAS and Captain Willard reinterpretations in 2020, it was the former that got most of the attention. I should know because I went out of my way to hunt down a SPB143 and ultimately got one. Now fast forward to May of this year, when the SPB237 and SPB239 were released. I don?t recall both releases, but it wasn?t until I had backtracked and stumbled upon the SPB237. It?s a standout and a sleeper amongst the SPB family for how Seiko approached it?s aesthetic.
Although I am slowly developing a reputation for leaning towards tool watches under 40mm, I do have a soft spot for chunky, cushioned style dive watches that provide a larger wrist presence. Especially since in the cooler months, a sturdier, more robust diver would look right at home next to a thick sweater cuff, blazing fireplace and a glass of whiskey. The SPB237 comes in at 42.7mm case width and spans a compact 46mm lug...