SEIKO Automatic Watch for Men 5-7S Collection - with Day/Date Calendar, Luminous Hands, Stainless Steel Case & Bracelet

I am very happy with this little "Fleiger style" watch, particularly with it's dial, which compares to any that I have seen in the affordable watch space. The dial has a great deal of well composed detail, this is subtle and hard to see in photographs. In person this very inexpensive watch actually looks high-end. It is indeed a small watch, 36.5 mm; be aware of that. It's cute as a button, and not much bigger. I have to adjust a bit after wearing this watch to a feeling that my other watches are clownishly large. Of the 5 different models in the SNK80x series, I recommend this one. This model has a different "color scheme", not just a different colored dial. Notice the black outlining of the handset (the others all have monochromatic handsets). The slender ring between the edge and center of the watch, providing separation between the hours and minute numerals, is gold on this model, but black or white on the other models. The lighter dial provides a background that allows similar adjacent colors of the silver Seiko logo and golden '5" numeral to appear more distinctly, and this cream- light-beige tone also nicely complements the pale green color of the 'super-luminova' application around the dial and on the handset. These, and other little subtleties of the color scheme implemented for the SNK803, add sophistication to the dial that I don't find in the other models. The choice between the models is subjective, of course, and if only black will do, then by all means, get the black version. But the 803 model makes use of color in a way that adds refinement, and puts it over the top for me! Note: many photographs of this model make it appear that the color is a darker, brownish yellow. The dial doesn't really shift in color as such photos suggest. The first photo of the listing is pretty close to the comparatively light, creamy-beige, actual color. I like the stainless steel case. It has an interesting multi-layered construction, with the top part having the bead-blasted finish and the bottom (as well as the sides between the lugs) being highly polished. The round bezel formed out of the top section simulates a third layer. The case's sleek lines and tiered geometry contribute significantly to the SNK803's visual appeal. This watch has Seiko "Lumi-Bright" (sic) applied to small pips around the dial, and on the hands. I think it's the same compound Seiko uses on other models; it's quickly responsive to charging by a light source, and glows very brightly at first. The initial light-show is very pretty. However, not much surface area is allotted for lume on this watch, so the brightness seems to fade a little faster than on models with more copious amounts of lume, such as Sieko's dive watches. This is a "Seiko 5" watch. "5" is actually a specification for 5 features - i. automatic movement, ii. Day, iii.Date, iv shock resistance and v. water resistance. The basic idea is that Seiko 5 Sports models should be rugged and suitable for outdoor activities. The low cost of these SNK80x models makes them attractive as 'beater' watches, and I've watched reviews on Youtube from people who who attest to the outstanding durability of this watch, after having worn them for years while working in physically demanding, outdoorsy professions However, water resistance on this model may be a little questionable. It's specified as "water resistant" on the case-back. This is the most minimal water resistance level, just above "not water resistant at all". Seiko is pretty good about testing and actually meeting their specifications, including those for water resistance, but I've heard some reports specific to this model that suggest it may not represent Seiko's best (as far as making the case water resistant).. It's not designed for extended submersion under water, etc. Also - the canvas strap doesn't seem very compatible with aquatic adventure; seems likely to get mildew. ...speaking of the strap, I have trouble understanding all the bitching and moaning about it in other reviews. I think it's a pretty good strap, It looks good with the watch. But I haven't had the watch long enough to know how it holds up or whether it becomes uncomfortable. Update: I still think the strap is under-rated, but I eventually changed it out in favor of a Seiko OEM bracelet from the black version (SNK809?) which is the only model that is available with a metal bracelet - it's bead blasted and nicely matches the case). This watch contains an "un-adjusted" Seiko 7S26 movement. This movement's strong point is that it continues to run reliably, just about as accurately, for a very long time before requiring service - typically well over 12 years. Up to 20+ is quite possible. Some people claim to have Seiko watches from the 60s (with very similar movement inside) that are still running beautifully without ever visiting a watch maker (50+ years!). Note: mine was +20 secs/day, out of the box, not good, the worst Seiko I've ever seen. So I removed the case-back and adjusted the watch's timing by using a tooth-pick to move the regulation lever the slightest amount possible towards "-". I wasn't even sure I had moved it. But I was very lucky - on the first try the adjustment brought the watch to better than +1 sec/day. Accuracy has been rock stable since I made this change about 6 months ago. This highlights an advantage of getting an inexpensive watch -- I did not hesitate try this adjustment. Had I botched it (which is easy to do if not very careful .. if you poke past the adjustment lever into the hair spring, it will end up in a tangled, inoperable mess), I'd be out $50-60 bucks. So what! ... I could just get another! But I wouldn't consider, even for a moment, trying this with a watch I paid hundreds or thousands of $ for. So, ironically, precisely because I paid so little, I ended up watch that exceeds the Rolex 'superlative' chronometer standard (+-2 secs/day). Note:There are various videos on Youtube that show how to regulate an automatic movement, including several specific to Seiko's 7S26.. This is not something that is for the faint of heart. It's not as easy as some people claim. It takes a steady hand and quite a bit of patience. -Don't try it with an expensive watch! The movement has a power reserve of 43 hours. It's a good idea to test this shortly after purchase - once in a while there are problems with the rotor winding system, or mainspring/barrel assembly, resulting in limited power reserve -- these things are defects, cause for a return w/refund or repair under warranty. The "automatic" winding system should work well enough to get the watch completely would up after a day or two of full time wear. Swinging the watch gently and not too rapidly from side to side, face up, parallel to the ground, about 200 mm from side to side, can wind the watch up fully in a little over 5 minutes, I've found. The 7S26 movement does not support manually winding with the crown, nor 'hacking', which means the second hand stopping when the crown is fully extended. These are convenient features that Seiko neglected to add to this entry level movement. I've gotten used to it, as I have couple models with 7Sx6 movements. I'm willing to take a couple extra minutes to prepare these for wearing. Most people probably aren't as picky about making sure the watch is wound before setting the time, but I like to try to keep the watch as accurate as possible, and find just shaking it a few times isn't going to give the watch enough power to run optimally (till it's been worn for quite a while), so I 'wind them up' by swaying the watch side to side (face up, horizontal to the ground, about 200cm back and forth, gently, to imitate the arc the watch moves through when you walk), for as much as 3 or 4 minutes. Many people demonstrate getting an automatic movement going by shaking it like a rattle. This is probably not a good idea. It probably won't harm the watch unless you shake it pretty violently, but it's not the most efficient method. The watch is designed to wind fastest if you walk with it. So if you imitate the rate and range of a walking motion, it winds up fastest. It's actually possible, also, to set the watch accurate to the second, even without hacking. If you rotate the crown a little bit backwards and stop, it will "pin" the second hand (stop it's movement). You have to continue putting a little pressure on the crown in the reverse direction till the real time catches up to the second hand. This doesn't work if the watch is almost fully wound. Sometimes the second hand starts going backwards - this is OK, and speeds up the the process of synchronized with time. It doesn't hurt the watch. Called "back hacking" it's a common practice. Final thoughts: Watch hobbyists have a saying, you hear it all the time: 'You can never go wrong with a Seiko'. This statement is meaningful. Seiko's products have consistent high quality, at all price points. The quality i in the materials used, in the finishing of the case, the quality of the crystal, the long lasting brightness of the substance applied to hands and markers to illuminate the the watch in the dark, and the distinctive approach taken to each model, making it unique and in it's own way, unlike any other. The high quality is hard to see in on-line photographs, and Seiko watches almost always seem a lot nicer when you "meet them in person". I think this is part of the 'you can't go wrong' stuff. If you like the on-line photos of a Sieko, but maybe aren't sure, you are not going to be disappointed with the actual watch. You will often adore it immediately, when you actually see it, and at the least not be disappointed.

I'm a big fan of mechanical automatic watches, and the Seiko 5 line is an excellent introduction to mechanicals at a low price. One of my favorite Seiko 5 lines is the "Military" series (there are two lines, actually, this one with the "Flieger" style dial featuring minutes, and another line with the hour numbers primarily shown). This watch is not too large, unlike many watches nowadays. I have never had any Seiko automatic watch fail, except for one of these that I dropped from a height of about 8 feet onto a tile floor, which cracked the back and stopped the watch. This one is running well so far and it looks great. Other reviewers who complain about accuracy may not be familiar with mechanical watches. You should not expect a mechanical to have anything close to the accuracy of a quartz watch. If you gain or lose a minute every few days, that's pretty good for a mechanical, especially in this price range. The 7S26 movement is robust for its cost and many, many, many of these movements have been produced through the years. A mechanical movement such as this would ideally be serviced every 5 to 10 years (relubrication, etc.) but at this price range, I will just replace the whole watch in 5 to 10 years if it isn't running well. If you really want this to be more accurate, it is possible to adjust the watch after it's "broken in", although you should know what you're doing before you attempt that, or should take it to a knowledgable watch shop with someone who has expertise in Seikos specifically. But if what you are really looking for is accuracy, you probably don't want a mechanical watch, you want a quartz watch. Honestly, how many of us really need our watches to be accurate down to the second? Most Seiko 5s I've owned, when fully wound, will run for about 30 hours before stopping. Since I have about 16 watches, I rarely wear the same watch two days in a row, so my mechanicals have usually stopped when I pick them up. I don't mind, I actually enjoy interacting with the watches to restart them and reset them. A Seiko 5 will start if you shake it a few times, and if you're even moderately active, it will be fully wound in the course of a day. By the way, if you are not very familiar with Seiko, you should realize that this company makes a HUGE array of watches that are not marketed in the United States. Seiko makes very high-end mechanicals (such as the Grand Seiko series) that cost thousands of dollars and which easily compete with Rolex, Omega, etc. (I think some would say that a Grand Seiko is significantly better than a Rolex), tons of mid-range mechanicals that cost a few hundred dollars (and are still some of the best watches made), and a wide variety of inexpensive, but high-quality, mechanicals in the Seiko 5 and Diver lines. Their movements are made in-house (I prefer this to the mid- to high-range brands like TAG Heuer, etc., that use movements made by other companies) and Seiko has many years of experience with making everything that goes into the watch, right down to the lubricants that are used on the moving parts. Overall, this is an excellent choice, especially for the money. This is a much better watch (in terms of quality as well as appearance) than almost anything in this price range. Way better than a Timex, Casio, etc.--I don't think you can find a better $50-$60 watch than this.

I am new to automatic and mechanical wind wristwatches, so, after purchasing a rather expensive battery operated quartz movement over a year before this Seiko the battery went dead and that was a huge disappointment for me. The battery operated quarts movement watch that I owned was supposed to have a 5 year life but died much sooner. I took the watch to a jeweler to have the battery replaced and the cost for the replacement battery was through the roof. Not only was it expensive to have the battery replaced but the Jeweler ruined the water resistance 'integrity' of the watch by smashing the o-ring that seals the back of my watch. Well, it didn't take long for my battery operated watch to become totally destroyed by water intrusion. Almost immediately after my battery watch failed that's when I decided that I was no longer going to buy 'ANYMORE' battery operated wristwatches so, the search began for a new mechanical or automatic watch. It took a long while, I was shopping almost everyday for over a month but most of the wristwatches were overly expensive and had features I wasn't really excited about. After about 2 months of shopping I accidentally stumbled upon these Seiko's. I sure am glad I waited and found them. I AM VERY PLEASED! When I received my new Seiko automatic wristwatch I could see right of way it was no piece of junk. It was heavy and felt good in my hands. The dial was easy to read even without my eyeglasses. I am a 54 year old man with extremely poor vision so I need high contrast to see the time and daily calendar. Although some reviewers may have complained it's smaller then what they had expected, I think it's a very appropriate size for both males and females. Perhaps for some people and I guess depending on your taste in fashion and social statement perhaps it may be to small for some men. I am a 6 foot man at 260 pounds and I think it's a perfect size and I am very picky. Just so everyone knows, most of the watches I currently own are the Invicta Russian Divers and they're huge timepieces, I really love those large watches however, this smaller Seiko watch was refreshing. What I mean by refreshing: I am always worried about ruining my other expensive watches, I don't wear them everyday but this Seiko is a watch I can wear everyday and not worry about banging it around since they are cheap enough to actually purchase several others. These Seiko's are perfect for everyday wear. I usually only wear my Invicta's when I go to dinner or some other social gathering but these Seiko's are actually very pretty and masculine enough to go out for dinner or other social occasions. Really, it's not that small and it's also not an ugly watch. This Seiko wristwatch probably won't get noticed as much as perhaps another more expensive wristwatch but if you take it off and show it to someone I know they are going to like it. I think what matters most to myself is knowing that I have a brand new 'name brand' Seiko quality wristwatch and never have to worry about a battery ever again or accidentally breaking it. I'm usually pretty careful so I am not really worried about breaking it although, this Seiko feels really tough so I think it can take a good beating. Let me tell you what I like about my new Seiko wristwatch. First, It keeps perfect time. After just a few days it's still accurate...I like the size of this watch, large watches get bumped a quite a bit however this watch has a lower profile so it's not likely to easily bump into things as you perform your daily chores... I like the stem at the 4 O'clock position because it makes it much easier to adjust without having to remove the watch from my arm...The brushed steel finish is absolutely beautiful... The crystal is flat making the watch face easy to read at any angle... I truly like the high contrast of the hands against the dial... The calendar is very large and very easy to see with ample contrast even without my eyeglasses... Pulling the stem out one click sets the calendar without stopping the watch, turn the stem clockwise for the day and counter clockwise for the date... I like that the watch movement does not stop operating when the stem is pulled all the way out to adjust the time, you can however stop the watch from ticking if you put some slight counterclockwise pressure on the stem, this allows for more accurate time setting. A little more counterclockwise pressure also makes the watch run backwards for even more accurate time setting... I happen to like the watch band and buckle, too... What I really like are the luminescent hands and markers. I noticed just this morning after 5 hours of compete darkness the hands and markers were still view-able although, the luminescence wasn't overly bright but there was just enough to see the time in complete darkness... I like that the watch is not overly complicated with sub-dials. Everything I need to know about the time and date is supplied with this Seiko... I like that it's water resistant... Finally, I really like that's it's a Seiko but more importantly it's the perfect wristwatch with all the perfect features for the perfect price... This watch has all the features I was looking for in a in a new watch... I have to say, "I am so very happy with this new watch so I just purchased two more in different colors, the tan and the blue. Soon I will buy a green and another black. I think you'll truly enjoy this Seiko wristwatch! I am not disappointed whatsoever so, I highly recommend the purchase of this watch. For this kind of money, it's absolutely PERFECT! Thank you for reading :)

Overall the watch looks nice and decent for the price. Actually the more I look into details the more I appreciate and love. My mistake is that I didn't pay attention to details and specs of the watch. I was excited to buy it and have it as soon as possible. The watch is NOT MADE IN JAPAN, NOT EVEN JAPAN MOVEMENT, it was MOVEMENT MALAYSIA. As probably not everyone knows that SEIKO is a huge well known company they're everywhere, even Orient watches I've seen made i Thailand. The model SNKL19 SEIKOis perfect for business or even for daily use SIMPLE but it gives you that elegance look. The size 38mm was too small for me, it looks like a lady watch but as I realized it's a perfect size for me, having a wrist size of 4-5 it was the right size. That's why I'm editing my review to be fair " IT'S SEIKO " overall I'll keep it, I LOVE IT !!! and will just use it as my work watch. I'm buying another and make it sure to CHECK all the details and its MADE IN JAPAN. Thank you and I recommend it as a best buy.

I currently own and have previously owned several different watches of various styles and at various price points. I have affordable watches from Seiko, Citizen, and Orient, mid and lower tier Swiss watches (Hamilton, Mido), a TAG Heuer, a vintage Omega - the list goes on. This is probably my cheapest watch. I was looking for something fun and cheap; I guess you could say this one was sort of an impulse buy. What I really like about this watch is it’s simplicity and versatility. It gives a nod to the Rolex Datejust 36 with its case size and shape, as well as the handset and index markers used. The bracelet is similar to a jubilee in design, but still has its own distinct style. This is not, however, a complete ripoff of a Rolex; it has some attributes that are distinctively Seiko, like the recessed crown at 4:00 that has been typical of the Seiko 5 lineup since its inception. Furthermore, the “5” logo pattern on the dial is likely a borrowed design idea from the Grand Seiko SBGH267, which features embossed Grand Seiko branding on its blue dial; while these two watches are not anywhere in the same league, it is clear that they share the same DNA. The dial on this watch really has a lot of depth and detail, especially for the price. The “5” pattern is not visible in most lighting; it is subtle. The dial makes this look like a different watch in different lighting situations; sometimes it looks black, other times it looks like a metallic blue sunburst, sometimes the fives make it look like a linen patterned dark blue, and sometimes the fives just stand out as fives against a deep blue. Almost all of the markers and logos are applied rather than painted on; the only things painted on are the words “Automatic 21 Jewels” at 6 o’clock. The lume on this watch is surprising; I am pretty sure it is the same lume used on Seiko divers because of its color and brightness. However, it does not last nearly as long as Seiko divers because it is very conservatively applied in comparison. It will last about halfway through the night if you charge it with a flashlight before bed, which is still better than a lot of other watches with lume that only lasts for a few minutes. The bracelet is a folded link type; keep your expectations realistic here, this is a budget watch. As far as folded link bracelets go though, this one is decent and definitely serviceable. You even get a push button clasp instead of the friction lock type, and the end links fit snugly against the case with no play. It is not much of a rattler; it starts off as a bit of a squeaker, but that goes away. Expect to spend at least an hour trying to size it though; the links are very tightly folded, so if you are not determined then you may want to have a jeweler do it for you. If you do it yourself, use a cheap flathead jeweler’s screwdriver that you don’t mind breaking or dulling the blade; you will have to hammer the screwdriver into the link repeatedly until it finally gives, then use pliers to yank out the tabs; I also applied some oil to the link to help it along - it was that bad, and my fingers were sore by the time I was finished. However, you only have to size it once, and once it is done it is comfortable enough. Actually, the whole setup is very lightweight and really disappears on the wrist. It is great as a daily wearer because it does not get in the way. Accuracy out of the box was acceptable for the price. On the first day, it seemed on track to lose about ten seconds in 24 hours. Not bad, but I knew it could do better, and I prefer fast over slow. I regulated it, and it has been pretty much spot on ever since (worn daily for about a week now). If I want it to speed up a few seconds overnight, I rest it dial up on my nightstand; if I want to reel it in a few seconds, I leave it crown up on its side. Theoretically, I can get away with never resetting it this way. I have not tested the power reserve yet, but it lasts through the night without winding down enough to become erratic. These basic Seiko movements are known to be robust workhorses that can go long stretches without maintenance, and are simple enough for watchmakers to service with ease when that time does come (if you choose to do so instead of replacing the movement or the watch). Overall, this turned out to be a great buy. It is nice to have a modest, simple, lightweight, affordable daily-wearer in my collection. It can pass as both casual or dressy for those who only want one watch. I recommend this to anyone looking to get into mechanical watches, or watch enthusiasts such as myself looking for a daily beater that is versatile and comfortable. The only drawbacks are the mineral crystal (to be expected at this price though) and only 30m water resistance. There are tons of Seiko mods available, so I plan to eventually swap the crystal with sapphire. I can’t do anything about the water resistance, but 30m should be acceptable for most people’s daily lives. The bottom line is: This watch is great, and it’s cheap. If you are considering it and you like the look, you should just buy it. You won’t regret it. Five stars for price to quality ratio.

Update - One year later Don't buy this watch! You will just be throwing away your hard earned money. After about 9 months my watch started to keep time poorly - one day increasing time the next losing time. I sent it into the NJ service center under warranty. They lost the watch and refuse to replace it. In fact, they claim they never received it. Think I am the only one that has had this happen to them? Just check out the reviews of the service enter online. You will find lots of people who have had the same problem or have had to wait months to get their watch looked at and then have been told it would cost more to repair it than buy a new one. This really puts a bad taste in my mouth about purchasing any Seiko watches in the future. BUYER BEWARE! I ordered this watch because I liked the looks and never had an automatic watch before. To be able to buy something with this much engineering complexity in it for the money is incredible and worth every rating star. It is a nice looking watch and I like the looks of the nylon strap it comes with. The watch is well built and is a good size. It is very easy to read and all the markers line up perfectly. The see through back is very cool. It states a water resistance rating of 30 meters but there seems to be some conflicting information here. I really like the recessed adjustment stem. There is no way to manually wind this watch by the stem. (As some claim they are doing) You can manually wind it only by moving it in your hand or on your wrist. The things I found a little annoying at first were: (But not worth taking a rating star off for) The strap is not very comfortable to me. My main problem with the strap is the metal pieces dig into my wrist on the bottom of the strap causing irritation. Call me a wimp but it is noticeable to me. I'm getting used to it, but it does dig into your skin. I ordered a leather tan strap which should fix this problem. I do like the looks of the orginial strap though and am starting to get used to it now that I have been wearing it for a while. Setting the time perfectly can be a challenge. I'm used to the second hand stopping when you pull the stem out on a quartz watch. This one doesn't. So how do you stop it? Good question. I found that if I pull out the time shaft and kind of hold it and turn it counter clockwise while pulling on it makes it stop and you can actually make it go in reverse if you turn it counter closkwise. I'm starting to get the hang of it now but it wasn't intuitive at first. The directions could have been a lot more clear on this. It states in the manual to pull the stem out at the 12 O'clock position. Great - but the second hand keeps moving! It would have been nice to have some better directions here. My watch, after just three days, is running about 5 seconds slow. (I'm monitoring from one of the atomic clocks) Most other people reported that their's runs fast. Not mine. I'm hoping it will increase a bit once it runs in for a while. Even so, 5 seconds a day is pretty darn good for an automatic watch in this price range. I don't have the patience to be taking the back off and trying to regulate it myself. I can live with 5 seconds a day. The luminance at night is fair at best. It's difficult for me to see it in the night. Then again, I'm getting old and I'm not planning on wearing it much at night, so no big deal. Just don't expect it to be like a Navy Seal watch with the radioactive luminance spots. I put it to rest last night for about 10 hours after I wore it all day and it was still running great when I put it back on again. I don't know how long this thing would run until it ran out. Some people claims a couple of days or more. Overall I am very happy with this watch and would recommend it to anyone wanting a good looking and unique time piece for the money. Quite frankly, I'm amazed they can make something this sophisticated for the price. It's quite an engineering marvel! For the price I'm tempted to get another one in another color. I suspect that each one of these has it's very own character due to manufacturing differences and will operate very uniquely. For Seiko to sell a watch for this price with this much quality is an amazing feat. I'm a musician and this watch is just like different acoustic instruments. You can have 10 different instruments manufactured by the same Company, same model, similar serial numbers, etc. but each one will have it's own personality. That's what's interesting about this watch to me. I would imagine everyone of these will be unique in it's own way. Very Cool! Thanks Seiko!

There are several people on this thread who are giving the watch low ratings, because it "stops after a few days", "doesn't hand wind", etc. It is one thing to have genuine complaints about quality, looks, customer service. But, to trash the watch for doing what it is designed to do, apparently because these folks do not know what an automatic watch is - that is unfair. After an exchange with one of these "experts", I felt compelled to write this review. An automatic watch winds the mainspring through the natural motion of the wearer's arm. Unless otherwise noted, it is not designed to be manually, or hand, wound. If you prefer to wind a watch by hand, an automatic is not for you. Also, if you want a super accurate watch that gains/loses no more than a few seconds a month, an automatic is not for you - a quartz watch is what you are looking for. People desire automatics for the appreciation of the purely mechanical, the thought that the wearer breathes life into the watch, for the second hand that appears to glide around the dial instead of jerking from second to second. An automatic is also green (no batteries to dispose of), and can be handed down from generation to generation. Now to this purchase ... I bought this watch in December as a Christmas gift for my young daughter. I purchased this watch because I own many Seikos, they are good quality for the money; the size, but most of all, because the minutes are prominently displayed on the face ... with digital everywhere, kids don't learn how to tell time on an analog clock. With this watch, the hands actually point to the unit of time they are telling. Good for teaching and learning. I am extremely pleased with the watch, it looks good, keeps good time (the times I have checked it, never seems off more than a minute). You cannot beat the cost. A bonus is the see-thru caseback, which fascinates curious young minds. I will wear it on occasion as well ... a little small by today's standards, but attractive and light ... I am looking at the black or blue one for myself.

I gave this watch 5 stars because it exceeded my expectations based on some negative reviews, but it depends on your own expectations. Some things to consider: 1. This is on the smaller side for a man's watch, except the thickness, which is on the large side (relatively speaking compared to a quartz watch). Check out the measurements on Amazon for this watch against a watch you already have to get a better idea if it works for you. 2. If you are going to have an automatic watch you should also be prepared to purchase an automatic winder. This will cost about $35 and up and doesn't use much electricity. Also, a Seiko automatic is different than a Seiko kinetic watch. Automatics don't have a power source, but store potential energy for a certain period of time by moving the watch, which causes a spinner to wind the watch. For me, the capacity is about 6-8 hours for this watch with no motion after a full charge (about 8 hours). This can vary by person. Some automatics have greater storage capacity. I have to wear it pretty much all day, including sleep, to keep it from running down. That's not practical, so I use a winder. FYI - Kinetic watches have a power source that is replenished with motion and do not respond well to regular automatic winders. Eco drive watches have a power source that is replenished by light. Manual watches need winding. I have also heard of manual/automatic hybrids. Of course, a standard quartz watch has a battery that has to be replaced every several years. 3. The band looks like canvas, but it is nylon. It is also as thick as canvas, but wears better, so it is OK with me. 4. The second hand has a sweep motion, but it is not perfectly smooth. This is an excellent casual watch for me. It's neutral colors work with my casual clothes. I have not had a problem with the day of the week turning over, but have noticed it happens slowly between 1-3 a.m for me. I guess this is why the instructions say not to set the watch between 9 p.m and 3 a.m. This is my first automatic and I like it so much I am going to buy an automatic dress watch. They are usually thicker and not as accurate as other watches, but the accuracy is close, and I like the concept and symbiosis of an automatic timepiece. The time keeping on this watch is not as bad for me as I have read in other reviews. I am also not a stickler for perfect time. I usually keep my quartz watches a little fast. I like the idea of not having to ever replace a power source. It's my understanding that even with a Kinetic or Eco drive watch, the battery will eventually have to be replaced if you keep the watch long enough. They run down like all rechargeable batteries. All of my quartz watches have eventually stopped running even when the battery is not dead and again a few years after cleaning. That includes one of the first Seiko perpetual calendar watches that was my favorite. My theory is that each time a watch case is opened, it is exposed to particulate matter that eventually interferes with the internal timekeeping. Long live the automatic! (I hope) Update 11/05/13: I was told by a really good watch repair guy, who called his watchmaker mentor, who said automatic watches should not need adjustments of the movements to keep better time. One of the reasons that automatics last so long is when they are never opened. Whenever a watch is opened for any reason, unless it is in a white room environment, it will be exposed to particulate matter in the air, which eventually will gum up the works. I have found that this watch keeps better time if you wind it manually by shaking it back and forth for about 20 seconds per day and a little longer on days you don't wear it. If you use an auto-winder, shake it before you put it in. It remains more accurate for me when I do this. I am still very happy with the watch and receive many compliments when I wear it. P.S. The band cleans up nicely with a little soap and water.