Whether you’re a watch enthusiast or not, you’ve probably heard of Seiko. However, are their watches worth the money? We think so! We ran through 8 of their best watches, to find out who the best Seiko watch is. By the end of this article, you’ll be a fan too. So, read ahead.
I know that you want to jump right in, but first read the table below. We’ve run through our favourite picks, and looked at their specs.
Our Pick
It’s easily the best-looking Seiko dress watch we’ve ever come across. The colourway just screams opulence and we’re here for it. This is great considering the watch isn’t the most expensive one on our list. The fact that it has a cabochon crown helps sell the illusion as it’s shaped like a diamond.
The watch is a Japanese Quartz, so you know it’s pretty accurate. It comes with an Automatic hand position alignment which prevents the watch’s hands from moving out of position. This may seem like an unlikely situation, but being near magnets can cause this.
The watch’s prowess at accuracy is a gift that keeps on giving as it’s radio controlled. As a result, it automatically connects to an atomic clock, via radio signals- how cool is that?
Speaking of its mechanism, the Coutura is a solar-powered device. According to Seiko, it can last up to 6 months once fully charged. What’s unfortunate is that you can only charge it with natural light.
If a friend or family member lives in another time zone, having the SSGC010 by your side is pretty handy. It comes with a world time feature. So, its outermost ring that has a multitude of time zones plastered on.
Although the watch looks great, you might not be able to put it on. We believe that watches measuring between 1.49 – 1.65 inches (38-42 mm) are a perfect size, which the SSG010 is certainly not. It’s much larger, at 1.75 inches (44.5 mm).
Being a more premium device, Seiko didn’t add their signature Hardlex crystal into the SSG010. Instead, you get a sapphire display. If you guessed it, yes, it’s synthetic.
Seiko loves making their watches water-resistant, which is why the Coutura can handle up to 330 feet (100 m) underwater. It would’ve been great if the watch had a rotating bezel, but we’re satisfied.
Lastly, its calendar feature is useful, but it’s on the four o’clock position which means you have to turn your head to read it. You can only imagine how sore you’ll be in a week, right?
What makes it special:
It’s probably the most accurate watch you’ll ever use.
We couldn’t help but notice how much the markers on the SNKM97’s dial looked like Gucci logos. It certainly isn’t as expensive as a Gucci watch though.
The green ring pops against the black dial, which is something you don’t see that often. What’s also different is the shape of its case. It’s a Tonneau, giving the watch a more retro look.
It doesn’t perform like a retro watch though. The SNKM97 is an automatic device with a 41-hour power reserve. If you know anything about automatic watches, you’d know how helpful this is, as you can have the watch off for 41 hours without worrying about the accuracy of its clock.
The SNKM97 comes with a Hardlex display. This isn’t a bad thing as it’s pretty scratch resistant. Moreover, the watch is kind of big but it won’t swallow your wrist up. It’s 1.71 inches (43.5 mm).
Can we talk about its water resistance? It’s certainly no dive watch but it can take a dip. It’s resistant up to 165 feet (50 m), after all.
As it comes with a stainless-steel body, we were delighted to see a pushbutton clasp on the device. This makes taking it on and off is a breeze, a literal push of a button!
We mentioned that it’s an automatic watch, but we never looked at what type of mechanism it has. Well, it has a 7S26 movement. It’s not bad but it’s not the best as it doesn’t come with self-winding or hacking.
What makes it special:
It looks pretty retro.
We’re not fans of its minimalistic dial as it certainly won’t turn any heads. To most users, this won’t matter though.
It’s on the smaller size, which we love. It’s 1.511 inches (38.4 mm) so it fits into our goldilocks zone. This isn’t the only good thing about it. It has an amazing automatic mechanism. The watch comes with Seiko’s 6R15 movement, which allows for hacking and self-winding. These are great but aren’t what makes the watch so noteworthy is the fact that you get a 50-hour power reserve.
That’s not all. The SARB033 comes with 23 jewels inside its gears. The more jewels that are present, the smoother an automatic watch’s gears run. 17 is the norm, so Seiko’s spoiling you.
Moreover, it has a sapphire display. No, it isn’t real sapphire. If you weren’t aware, Sapphire displays are the toughest out there.
It comes with a calendar feature, which is nice. However, it’s only the day’s date. We would’ve loved to see the day on it. Unfortunately, this has become the norm, so we’re not too annoyed.
There’s an outer ring around the dial. It makes reading the watch easier as it marks the seconds passed, but you might not be able to use it depending on how great your eyesight is. Why? Because it’s seriously small.
How can we not talk about its water resistance? The SARB033 can last 330 feet (100 m) underwater. You may be tempted to dive with it on, but avoid doing this. Seiko says that diving can wreck its insides.
Let’s not forget that it comes with a push-button clasp, so it’s a breeze to take on and off.
What makes it special:
Its minimalistic look makes it chic.
Our Premium Pick
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Want to feel like a million bucks? The SARB017 is the watch for you. For starters, it has a leather strap. It’s not just any leather as it’s premium calf skin. It feels great too, so it’s a dream to have on.
We love the SARB017 as it’s so easy to wear. Its case is only 1.55 inches (39.5 mm), so it’s in our goldilocks zone.
Like the previous two, the watch is a Japanese automatic. We loved the 6R15 on the SARB033 and were glad to see it in the SARB017 too. If you forgot, this means that the watch comes with self-winding, hacking, a 50-hour power reserve, and of course, a 23-jewel set up.
With one look at it, you’d know that it wasn’t cheap. This is mostly due to its green and brown colourway, which just screams money. What would catch your attention the most would be its outer rings. There’s one that marks the seconds passed, which is convenient, while the other is a fully-fledged compass, so have fun hiking.
The watch is pretty water-resistant. It comes with a 660-foot (200 m) water resistance. Once again, if you’re tempted to dive with it on, don’t. Seiko warns that it would wreck the SARB017 up.
The SARB017 comes with a sapphire display.
For underwater use, its rotating bezel is pretty useful. You can use it to track time when swimming.
What makes it special:
Its calfskin strap.
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The SSC667 is a Japanese Quartz, so it’s more than accurate. Its battery is solar-powered and Seiko says that the SSC667 can last up to 6 months once fully charged.
It comes with a 24-hour power indicator. Getting a warning ahead of time about when your battery is going to die is obviously very helpful.
Like the few discussed, the SSC667 is pretty water-resistant. It can last up to 660 feet (200 m) underwater. The fact that it comes with a bidirectional bezel makes underwater use a breeze.
We just have to talk about how cool the watch looks. It’s futuristic with its metallic blue dial and shiny steel outer ring. The tri-coloured straps are a nice touch too. That being said, the strap is nylon. It’s durable, but also feels a bit cheap.
Seiko’s favourite Hardlex crystal is used. If you remember, it’s scratch-resistant so you shouldn’t have any issues.
You might’ve noticed the 3 sub-dials on its display. Don’t let this intimidate you as they’re the watch’s chronographs. If you don’t know what a chronograph is, It’s an advanced stopwatch.
What makes it special:
24-hour power indicator.
The Diver’s Watch
The SKX009 is one of Seiko’s most famous watches so we had to give it a spot on our list. Easily, its one of their best dive watches. The SKX009 can handle up to 660 feet (200 m) underwater and is ISO certified. This means you never have to worry about wrecking it.
Its strap is polyurethane. The material is perfect for underwater use as it doesn’t get corroded, and all it takes is a quick wipe to get rid of any muck. That being said, Polyurethane is a material that does nothing to feel premium.
It has a Pepsi bezel which makes it an even better dive watch. The red marks a diver’s danger zone, so it helps keep your oxygen supply in check. The fact that the bezel looks cool is a nice touch. Moreover, the Pepsi bezel makes the SKX009 a dupe for the more expensive Rolex Submariner.
The SKX009 is an automatic watch. It comes with Seiko’s 7S26 mechanism, giving it a 40-hour power reserve and the ability to self-wind and hack.
Like most of the watches we discussed, Seiko’s SKX009 doesn’t come with Arabic numerals. The markers that replace it are thick and hold a lot of luminous paint. Once again, this makes it fit for underwater use as you’ll easily be able to read your watch when diving.
There’s a calendar too, but we’re more interested in the position of its crown. It’s on the fou -o’clock position, which means you won’t be jamming it into your wrist.
What makes it special:
It’s an amazing dive watch.
The Most Durable
With one look at the SNE329, you’d know that it isn’t the prettiest watch on our list. This doesn’t mean that it’s bad though.
For starters, it’s solar-powered. This alone isn’t anything special, but once you charge the SNE329, it can last up to 10 months. Not just this, it can be used in a range of terrains. The watch has an operational temperature of -5 – 50 c, so don’t hesitate to take it wherever you go.
Like the SSC667, the SNE329 comes with a Nylon strap. Nylon is known to be pretty durable, but it doesn’t feel or look that great.
We established that it doesn’t look the best, which is mainly due to its dial. But we must say that its large dial is beneficial. You have large markers which makes telling the time very easy. This is especially the case as they’re white, so you’ll never have to squint again.
The SNE329 is water-resistant. At this point, we’d be shocked if it wasn’t, which is why it can handle being 330 feet (100 m) underwater. Unlike the SKX009 and SRPC007, you’re advised to not dive with it on.
No question about it, the watch is big, though not enormous. Its case measures 1.69 inches (43 mm) across.
What makes it special:
Can handle temperatures between -5 – 50 c.
Like the SKX009, the SRPC07 is one of Seiko’s most famous dive watches. The SX009 takes the cake though.
The orange dial was a good choice as it makes its white markers pop. This makes the SRPC07 easier to read underwater. That being said, the orange is pretty aggressive, so you may not be a fan.
Speaking of its markers, they’re rhomboid shaped. As a result, there’s enough space for luminous paint.
You’re probably wondering how water-resistant it is. Well, it can last up to 660 feet (200 m) underwater. It’s known to be great for high impact water sports if you’re wondering. And like any good dive watch, its back is sealed, and its crown is screwed down.
The watch comes with a somewhat Pepsi bezel. It works the same but doesn’t look very Pepsi-like as it has an orange and black colourway. This doesn’t matter though as it still marks a diver’s danger zone.
What should matter is the watch’s size. It’s 1.73 inches (44 mm) so if you have smaller wrists, the SRPC07 won’t be very comfortable to have on.
We weren’t surprised to see Seiko’s Hardlex crystal on its display, and you shouldn’t either. Sapphire is reserved for their more expensive watches.
Before we wrap things up, let’s talk about its automatic mechanism. The SRPC07 comes with the 4R35 movement, which means it has self-winding, hacking and a 41-hour power reserve which are features any automatic watch lover would appreciate. Let’s not forget that it has 23 jewels inside its gears, so they move smoothly.
What makes it special:
It’s great for high impact water sports.
With that out of the way, it’s easy to see that Seiko watches are definitely worth the cash. However, there are still a few things you need to know. So, read ahead.
When it comes to other brands, some watches can be hard to repair. This is mainly due to the watch smith’s inexperience dealing with them. As you know, Seiko is one of the most popular manufacturers in the game and are available across the globe. This is why watchmakers know how to deal with Seiko’s devices like the back of their hand.
Moreover, even the most novice watch smiths can easily work on the brand’s devices as they use mechanisms that are standard and have no special compilations in them.
Easily, the brand has some of the cheapest watches on the market. This doesn’t mean that they’re bad. The manufacturer is known to produce some pretty high-quality stuff, which is why they’re leading the game. For example, you’ll see Seiko’s LumiBrite in most of their devices. You probably have no idea what this is, but it’s permanent non-radioactive luminous paint. It’s extremely bright and is something you wouldn’t expect to see on a budget watch.
Seiko has been around for a very long time and entered the watch industry in 1881. When it comes to watches, heritage is important. Watches from brands that aren’t well known are seen as not too reliable. As Seiko has a heritage, watch snobs give them their stamp of approval.
Watch enthusiasts also love manufacturers that make watches with in-house parts. It’s a symbol of true craftsmanship and luckily for you, this is exactly what Seiko does. Not many people expect this as most of their devices are so cheap.
If you’re a fan of modding, you’ll love having a Seiko watch. The manufacturer allows its watches to be modded, but what’s more, doing so is a breeze. Countless companies produce accessories and alternate parts for the brand.
Although watch snobs respect the brand, its watches are nothing to rave about. They’re on the lower end of the price spectrum, so you can’t show off like you would with a Rolex. However, the Grand Seiko does cost an arm and a leg.
In the watch industry, Swiss mechanisms are favoured as it takes a lot of craftsmanship to build them. As you can guess, Seiko doesn’t produce any swiss watches. So, keep this in mind.
We mentioned that they’ve been around for a while, so we might as well run through a couple of Seiko’s most noteworthy accomplishments.
• In 1913, the brand produced Japan’s first wristwatch, which was known as the Seiko Laurel. It certainly jump-started the manufacturer’s rise to fame.
• The iconic Wako Clock Tower was created by Seiko in 1932.
• In 1964, Seiko produced Japan’s first wristwatch with a stopwatch.
• In 1965, Seiko produced Japan’s first dive watch. It was created for the 8th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and could handle 492 feet (150 m) underwater.
• Seiko created the world’s first Quartz watch in 1969- the Seiko Quartz Astron. Without a doubt, this is their greatest achievement.
• The brand had many milestones in between, but in 2012, they built the world’s first GPS solar watch, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar.
Without a doubt, the SSG010 COUTURA is the Seiko watch that’s most worth your cash. It’s very accurate. The fact that it corrects its hands, is synced with an atomic clock, and is Japanese quartz means you’ll always be on time. Let’s not forget that it has a world clock function. So, it’s very useful if you’re always on the move. Of course, it looks stunning as well!
Seiko is a brand that’s worth your time and money. That being said, there are a few disadvantages of owning a watch from the brand. The pros outweigh the cons, so you should certainly take the leap.
