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 :)

READ THIS BEFORE BUYING ANY AUTOMATIC WATCH! There are three reasons NOT to buy any automatic mechanical watch such as this Seiko 5, a $15,000 Rolex or any automatic in between. Reason one is you need a watch to keep perfect time and you find inaccuracy stressful. Reason two is you want a watch that you can lay down and expect it to have the correct time when you pick it up three days later. Reason three is you don't move around much as these require motion to wind them. If any of these three things are true then you should buy ANY quartz watch instead because you'll never be happy with any automatic at any price. Automatics are a different animal and are 1940's old school technology. Seiko 5's have been made since 1963. 51 years of Seiko 5's and counting so far. This SNKL45 is the current Seiko 5 I liked the looks of best for under $100. It looks even better in person. Mine gained about 7 seconds the first day, then after a week was only about 2 seconds fast. This is not my first Seiko 5, but it does keep the best time right out of the box of any Seiko 5 I've had. I've used entry level Seiko 5's as a daily "beater" watch to wear to work on and off for 30 years. Seiko 5's are not the best automatic watches in the world and nobody in Switzerland is losing sleep over Seiko 5's. However if nothing else Seiko 5's are very durable and since the technology isn't exactly groundbreaking they are super affordable. Translation, Seiko 5's are a decent watch that last a very long time even under rough use, yet relative to anything else that is as durable they are really cheap. In short a bargain if you get one that keeps time out of the box to within 1 minute or so per week. There are some downsides I know about with a Seiko 5. Out of the box Seiko 5 accuracy varies wildly because they are not regulated at the factory. This explains the range of happy and unhappy Amazon reviewers. You can't wind them by hand, only by motion. They can't be hacked in the traditional sense, so you can't synchronize watches for your secret mission. There is a back door way to hack them though by putting just enough counter-clockwise pressure on the crown in the set time position to stop the second hand movement yet not move the minute hand until the second hand is correct then set the minute hand. The bracelets on the entry level ones like this are bent stainless links, not solid stainless. One really, REALLY important note about the bracelet on this particular model! This bracelet is a TAD smaller in circumference than my earlier Seiko 5's. This watch is snugger and doesn't slip at all on my wrist where the retired ones would slip and slide a bit, which was more comfortable but probably part of the reason they got beat up. This new one leaves a light indent on my wrist. It isn't really uncomfortable but it could have been a few MM's larger in stock configuration and I actually expected it to be the same diameter as my previous Seiko 5's. You can remove links, but you can't ADD links if you don't have them. So, if you are a large guy with a wrist diameter larger than my 7 and 7/8ths of an inch you should PASS on this particular Seiko 5. Maybe go to a Seiko 5 Sports or Diver models as those generally have larger bands. You can get this same movement with a solid link bracelet in a higher end Seiko like the Orange Monster, but it costs about four times more. Now and then I've gone off the reservation with other brands including Hamilton, Eterna (a great Swiss watch I like better than Rolex) and most recently Orient automatics but I don't wear those to work. My Orient Ray seems to keep nearly perfect time out of the box but it cost three times as much as this Seiko 5 and the Orient mineral crystals are said to not be as durable as the Seiko Hardlex crystals and I'd hate to prove that point with my Orient Ray so the Seiko 5 goes to work. I'd put a really tough crystal, affordability and good traditional looks in the plus column for Seiko 5's. (The Seiko Hardlex crystal is the next best thing to sapphire, and really holds up.) This Seiko 5 shipped super fast. I had it in 2 days shipped by Amazon for seller A2Z Watches. Hard to beat Prime shipping! However I later found out that if I had clicked on a different seller (namely Amazon) I would have gotten a 3 year Seiko warranty for a few cents more than the 2 year A2Z warranty. Lesson learned. Seiko 5's make durable daily "beaters" for me. To me a beater is a good everyday work watch saving wear on your more fragile or expensive ones. I feel like I got my money's worth with every Seiko 5. Maybe if I had to pay the $185 list I'd give this watch one fewer star and gripe more about the bent link band, but for a third of retail there really isn't much else here to complain about. This new one looks good enough for dressy wear too. A Seiko 5 automatic watch is meant to be worn 24x7x365. You do not have to "baby" them. Take them off to shower though. They are reasonably cheap and as long as you do not submerge or immerse them they can pretty much take what you dish out for a decade or two or even more. People who have owned a quartz watch and expect the same accuracy and power reserve in an automatic are just not being realistic. Many of these people flame Seiko 5's in Amazon reviews. I read one Seiko 5 review on Amazon where someone sent a Seiko 5 back that gained a minute a week. That was a REALLY good Seiko 5 actually! I have a Seiko quartz and when I need unquestioned accuracy to a second a month I use the quartz, but I prefer a Seiko 5 as my routine daily work watch. My first Seiko 5 was worn 24x7x365 for 9 to 10 years except for special outings where I'd break out the Hamilton. I paid $155 for my first Seiko 5 at a local Seiko dealer jewelry store in 1999. I never babied it. I just never submerged it and always took it off to shower. It was losing about 30 seconds per day when new, but after I had it regulated by the dealer it gained about 15 to 20 seconds per week and ran that way for about a decade when I decided it was beaten up enough. After that one regulation it never needed service again and it will still run if I shake it. (I just checked.) Next, I wore a Seiko quartz for a while and when I saw it was getting beat up as a daily work watch I got the second Seiko 5, it was a $68 gray market one bought online and it lost a minute to 75 seconds per day from day one until I retired it three years later. I lived with the inherent inaccuracy because mechanical watches appeal to me. I just would set it ahead a few minutes every few days. Automatics are more than a bit old-timey but the Seiko 5 autos have proven to be super rugged. The crystal never even scratched once on either of the first two Seiko 5's which was the remarkable thing about them. The bands were beat all to heck and the cases around the crystals were even scratched up but the crystals were like new. Finally the bracelet buckle got so beat up you couldn't even read "Seiko 5" on it anymore. All Seiko 5's no matter the price are a crap shoot as far as out of the box accuracy goes. You and I could buy copies of the exact same model and yours can run fast while mine runs slow or the other way around. No matter the model or how much you paid for it, a Seiko 5 may keep time within a very few seconds per day if you get very lucky or you can get an inaccurate one like my second one....or one that is much worse. All of these 21 jewel Seiko automatic mechanical watches are mass produced and they all have the exact same Seiko 7s26 movement inside. Seiko's robot machinery makes the movement, they press on hands, sling it into a case, they screw on the back, attach the bracelet or band and call it DONE... "If it is ticking, it is shipping!" Seiko does NOT regulate any Seiko 5 at the factory leaving that up to the seller or buyer to do later after the movement wears in. This is a very robust movement, very shock resistant and durable. Know up front that in essence when you buy ANY Seiko 5, you are buying an UNREGULATED Seiko automatic watch. Seiko does NOT take each Seiko 5 individually and check how they are running and regulate them. Seiko 5's are shipped to the seller just as the robot finished it. That is part of the reason they are dirt cheap online. Online sellers know they'll never have to regulate them. That's why a $185 Seiko 5 is selling on Amazon for under $70. Real world Seiko dealers charge more because they have to figure in the cost of having to regulate it for buyers a few months after the sale at no charge as part of the sale. The dealers know that the watches aren't regulated at the factory. Any Seiko certified watch shop can regulate them, the problem is the fee for this varies wildly from FREE and taking 5 minutes in some shops to $200 and taking a week or more at others. Some watchmakers won't even regulate them at all. When it comes to buying one online "you pays your money and you takes your chances." Almost any Seiko 5 can be regulated to get down to 2 or 3 seconds plus or minus per day. Seiko 5's were actually INTENDED to be sold by Seiko dealers who would then regulate them for the individual buyer after a few months of "wear in" so the movement would settle in. Any mechanical watch may run a tad faster or slower after the movement "wears in" so there isn't much point in regulating one before then as it will just be to do over again later. In 3 to 6 months after purchase you will probably notice a Seiko 5 running even slower or faster than it did new, but usually it will run slower by about 5 to 15 seconds per day. It is then "worn in" and ready for regulation. My first one lost a minute per day at first, but after it "wore in" it lost 70 to 75 seconds per day and continued like that until retirement after 3 years. But since I bought it gray market online at a huge discount I would have had to drive 20 miles to get to a shop and pay a tech more to have the beat up $70 watch regulated, so I just lived with it till replacing it with this one. I really think I got my money's worth. Few other watches would have taken the abuse the first two Seiko 5 watches took. I just never took them off except to shower, swim or work around water. Some watchmakers flat out refuse to even touch Seiko 5's. There's a very good reason for this and that reason is that only watchmakers experienced at working on Seiko 5's should even crack one open. The regulation adjustment (temptingly visible through the exhibition back) is labeled + and - and seems pretty straightforward. You push the lever toward the "plus" and it speeds up, push it toward "minus" and it slows down. The problem is that directly beneath the regulation adjustment arm, a scant MM or two away, is the hairspring. Just so much as touching the hairspring AT ALL can kill the watch DEAD permanently. So only people familiar with regulating Seiko 5's should even attempt it. Matchsticks and toothpicks are definitely NOT the right tools for this yet there are YouTube videos on how to regulate Seiko 5's at home in your spare time using matchsticks or toothpicks. Seiko probably uploaded these videos to sell more watches! My advice is DO NOT try to regulate one of these yourself unless you are a Seiko certified tech or unless you are ready to buy a new watch. Leave regulating a Seiko 5 to a professional. It might cost you $20 or it might even be free to get a qualified watch tech to regulate it. If they quote anything higher than $20, walk away and try another shop or just live with it as is. Whatever you do, avoid the temptation to regulate it yourself because you will quite possibly ruin it. Like hang gliding it looks simple to do, but it isn't. Automatics are vintage cool to me and are also GREEN, meaning environmentally responsible. Automatics each have a personality. Quartz watches don't have personalities being more of a robot. On this particular model bracelet shortening adjustments are made by removing a slide-in insert held in place by a raised bump. If you need to remove links you just push on the visible bump using a pointy thing or a jeweler screwdriver in the direction of the arrows on the inside of the bracelet and then use pliers to extract the insert after the insert just pokes over the edge a bit. Do that twice to remove a link, then slide the insert back in. Do this once on each side of the buckle. Pretty simple to make the band smaller actually. Sizing these down is no big deal. You'll get your money's worth on even an entry level Seiko 5 like this one more often than not. However know up front, like I said, "ANY SEIKO 5 IS A CRAP SHOOT" in precision accuracy out of the box. They were intended to get some post sale attention eventually for a fine tuning. Accuracy to within one minute a week out of the box on a Seiko 5 is great based on my experience. Accuracy freaks will be better off staying away from any mechanical watch at any price. Mechanical watches are like people, they are all different with their little quirks, good points and bad points. Here you have a decent automatic watch that can last you a decade or two depending on how beat up it gets. I like Seiko 5's as a work watch and like this particular one more than the other Seiko 5's I have worn because this one looks old school and keeps the best time. There is a perfectly safe do it yourself regulation method that works for automatic watches called position regulating. For position regulating you put a fully charged automatic watch in a certain position and leave it stationary for hours, such as overnight. With the face up an automatic watch will gain a few seconds more than the normal rate during wear. With the watch on its side it will run a bit slower than the normal rate during wear so it loses time. With the crown (winding stem) pointing UP it will lose a few seconds more time than it will lose with the crown pointing down. Using position regulating like this helps, but if your watch loses or gains more than 10 seconds a day it won't help enough to keep it perfectly on time, but will help some. If you want an accurate automatic out of the box and crystal hardness isn't as important then you should also look at an Orient Ray or Orient Mako. These Orient automatics are factory regulated, which is partly why they cost much more than a Seiko 5. I love my Orient Ray and I like this Seiko 5 but use them for different things. If you are going to own more than one auto like I do or are not going to wear your automatic watch at lease some of the time daily then you'll probably want to look into electric automatic winders.

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.

OK, 1st off, you'll almost certainly need to read the instruction manual that comes with this to set the day/date readout. DON'T WIND THE STEM, this thing is designed to *solely* autowind, so to start it up you need to swing it side to side for about 30secs: after that, put it on & normal wrist movement is supposed to keep it wound. Downside for me is that now I'm afraid to take it off at night like I normally would; a powered "watch winder" station is in my future [that's ok, this is my 2nd mech autowinding watch, so I'll need one anyway...] A handsome watch, but kind of a small dial [that would have been considered a normal, man's size watch a couple decades ago, but I guess Flava Flave changed all that with his kitchen clock sized pendant?] Hard to see the inner circle of numbers, but anyone who can read an analog dial should already know they're 12 at the top, 1, 2, 3, etc.. The bonus is the outer dial of tix for the sweep second hand has legible 5, 10, 15 increments. Yeah, presbyopia is a beeyatch... :-\ ;-) Watch band is a comfortable canvas w/ leather hole reinforcements, and like all standard watch bands, a little on the short side for us average-sized American males [6'+, 200#+] so I'm one hole in from the absolute longest setting, with barely enough tab to tuck under one of the two keepers. I'll probably take some pliers to the spare keeper at some point, just to prevent it snagging on things or driving me batty, but it's cool that Seiko makes them out of steel [since the keeper failing is usually the reason I wind up replacing a watch band before I would otherwise have to do so...] Haven't tested this thing's water-resistance yet, but it's been my experience that any watch that's not actually dive rated [100m resistance minimum] is going to fail under normal hydro exposure, so I don't plan on wearing this into the water if I can possibly avoid it. Besides, wet watch bands are horribly uncomfortable against the skin, so just take the thing *off* before you shower, m'kay? Hands & divisions on the dial are luminescent treated, but it's not the old radioactive stuff from b4 I was born, so it's useless under most conditions of real darkness, but the hands are white w/ black edges, so I'm hoping that the next time I'm out riding the moto I'll still be able to make things out by the streetlight illumination. It's got to be better than any of my other non-Timex Indiglo watch faces, anyway!