Seiko SNK393 Review: 10/10!
I picked up this SEIKO SNK393 about a month ago for a little over $100 on Amazon, and boy had it blown me away. Now this is my first automatic watch so I don’t really have anything to compare it with directly but it really has exceeded my expectations so far. Here are my thoughts after a month:
Case: The case on this watch is solid. It isn’t titanium or anything fancy, but the stainless steel does the job well. I haven’t picked up any scratches so far which is good. The clear back is great, especially for newer collectors like me who haven’t been able to experience and automatic movement firsthand before. The crown is set into the case a little bit which I like, as it doesn’t get caught on anything or bother you at all.
Dial: The dial is what really drew me to this watch. The beautiful clean design with indices at every hour, and the 12 and 6 give the watch a distinguished, but yet still casual feel. The date window is outlined, which looks really nice and helps it to pop and is a great addition to the face. The hands are well designed and I especially like the look of the seconds hand. The lume on the hands and indices has been ok. Doesn’t blow me away like other parts of the watch, but it does the job.
Band: The steel bracelet that comes with the watch was fine, but the clasp wasn’t awesome, and overall it just didn’t impress me. I opted to buy a black benchmark rubber band for about $15, and it looks amazing! It fits my style, and the watches style better and it really makes the watch pop. I would definitely recommend you at least check it out.
Movement: Now this is where some of my inexperience in watches will show. The movement in this watch is more of a workhorse than something to admire I believe, but I still think it’s pretty sick to watch. So far in the month I’ve had it, I’ve lost about 2-3 minutes. I don’t think that’s great, but it’s serviceable and I don’t mind sacrificing a bit of accuracy in a watch.
Conclusion: I really think Seiko knocked this one out of the park. It really seems like they put a lot of thought into where to allocate their limited budget, and the result is great! I really couldn’t have asked for more at this price point.
Seiko SNK393 Review: 10/10!
Yes
No
- Dial design
- Case design + durability
- Seiko bracelet was so-so
- lume could be better
Just an amateur collector with a growing passion for everything watches!
You really can't go wrong with a vintage seiko like yours although they can be risky to buy with more than a few duff ones on ebay etc. Your one looks to be in great condition and that black rubber strap works pretty well!
let's see a pic of the case back.
let's see a pic of the case back.
Nothing special compared to some movements but for a first auto watch it’s still super cool to look at.
Nothing special compared to some movements but for a first auto watch it’s still super cool to look at.
It's pretty awesome to have any kind of mechanical movement on your hand. I have an SNK809 which uses the same 7s26 movement in that photo. Sure it's getting outdated but it's still a very reliable movement at a low price point. The display back also sparks genuine interest from my relatives/friends who aren't into watches, so it's definitely cool to look at. Also, losing 2-3 minutes in a month (-5 sec/day) isn't actually that bad, it's just something you might have to expect when wearing autos.
Great review. I just recently started showing interest in watches, so I'm also looking to pick something up like this for my first mechanical watch.
Great review. I just recently started showing interest in watches, so I'm also looking to pick something up like this for my first mechanical watch.
Awesome! I would recommend this watch in a heartbeat. If you want any other recommendations I stumbled across a number of similar budget watches, and I'd be happy to put together a list.
It's pretty awesome to have any kind of mechanical movement on your hand. I have an SNK809 which uses the same 7s26 movement in that photo. Sure it's getting outdated but it's still a very reliable movement at a low price point. The display back also sparks genuine interest from my relatives/friends who aren't into watches, so it's definitely cool to look at. Also, losing 2-3 minutes in a month (-5 sec/day) isn't actually that bad, it's just something you might have to expect when wearing autos.
Yeah for sure! One of the things that sparked my love for watches was the idea of having a little machine on my wrist telling me the time. I've also had the same thing happen where people who don't really care much about watches take an interest in watching the movement work.
Awesome! I would recommend this watch in a heartbeat. If you want any other recommendations I stumbled across a number of similar budget watches, and I'd be happy to put together a list.
Would love some recommendations, that would be great!
Would love some recommendations, that would be great!
Orient bambino/Mako II/Kamasu
Any Seiko 5 https://theslenderwrist.com/best-seiko-5-watches/
Merkur - Chinese brand that makes a lot of homage watches. Many options in this price range
Timex marlin
Seiko SNKP23 recraft