I can’t quit Seiko
I started off as a Seiko and Timex guy. I’m also trying climb the ladder and move upmarket.
I will always love Timex, but I feel like I have achieved all I can with the Galli S1 38. That is the perfect Timex; original design, looks great and not terribly expensive.
My attempts at moving on from Seiko is a totally different story.
I tried to move on. I tried to tell myself that Grand Seiko is my Seiko now. I tried tell myself that I don’t want to play the accuracy lottery anymore. But I just can’t quit Seiko.
I made a few trips to a local AD and I can’t get these two watches out of my mind:
SPB313, the Slim Turtle. This white dial is beautiful. I lust after this as much as I lust after the white dial SMP300, but unlike the SMP300, this watch doesn’t feel too blingy and will actually fit me on bracelet.
SPB240, Boutique Special Edition MM200. The dial is that chocolate color that is evocative of a tropic dial (like the new BB36). The gold PVD on the bezel is understated as it compliments the gilt elements on the watch instead of being in your face bling. The date window is right sized (unlike the Planet Ocean) and the fautina is done right (unlike the Seamaster 300 heritage). The watch is so warm to the eyes.
Both of these watches fit me perfectly, both dimensionally and weight-wise. In fact, all Prospex divers in this price range are balanced perfectly on my wrist except for the 62MAS.
Every time I am in the process of saving for something more “prestigious,” I just have the urge to blow my watch fund on a bunch of $1000 Seikos.
These watches may not have Omega level finishing, or even Tudor level, but a midrange Prospex diver can beat a Tag Heuer Aquaracer in finishing, and new Tags go for two to three times the price.
And those half brushed half polished hands. They’re not Grand Seiko good, nothing is, but the gap isn’t big.
Yeah, I know, Seiko bracelets kinda suck for the price, and the accuracy lottery sucks too, but I cannot quit Seiko.
I am trying so hard to move upmarket, but has Seiko moved upmarket along with me?
Watch collecting Californian living in NYC. A Seiko and Timex guy struggling to move upmarket.
Unfortunately the answer is yes. I bought a Seiko5 SNK for $43 back in 2015 and now the same watch is $180 on Amazon. This can’t just be inflation.
Unfortunately the answer is yes. I bought a Seiko5 SNK for $43 back in 2015 and now the same watch is $180 on Amazon. This can’t just be inflation.
Seiko’s been cracking down on the grey market.
Haven't had a Seiko in years and don't plan on getting one any time soon. Much better options out there with better quality control, better specs and better bracelets at a better price. Id buy an Islander and even San Martin over Seiko5 every day of the week.
Unfortunately the answer is yes. I bought a Seiko5 SNK for $43 back in 2015 and now the same watch is $180 on Amazon. This can’t just be inflation.
I think popularity is really more whats going on here. My brother has a couple seikos and I have only 3. Together he bought them all for about $1200-$1400... One of them is an alpinist. That alone is about $800 now.
While 2 of mine more than 15 years ago and the other I bought for about $250 2 years ago. Needless to say that same watch is $652 on Amazon.
I think popularity is really more whats going on here. My brother has a couple seikos and I have only 3. Together he bought them all for about $1200-$1400... One of them is an alpinist. That alone is about $800 now.
While 2 of mine more than 15 years ago and the other I bought for about $250 2 years ago. Needless to say that same watch is $652 on Amazon.
That’s amazing. I don’t intend to sell anything so the current value doesn’t mean much
That’s amazing. I don’t intend to sell anything so the current value doesn’t mean much
Totally agree, I don't think I can buy a watch as an investment and then say it's a part of my watch collection. I get all my babies to wear em and enjoy em.
Haven't had a Seiko in years and don't plan on getting one any time soon. Much better options out there with better quality control, better specs and better bracelets at a better price. Id buy an Islander and even San Martin over Seiko5 every day of the week.
Have you seen a new $1000~ Seiko in the flesh lately?
One of these days I’ll do a post comparing old “golden age” Seiko, “new” Seiko, and the transitional period between discontinuing the SARBs and introducing the SPB147.
Yes, San Martin is better than old Seiko, but there is a quality difference in new Seiko.
The frustrating part is Seiko still does Seiko things to cut costs, like their bracelets and how they don’t regulate movements.
I’m not lying when I say that a MM200 beats a Tag in finishing. It’s my hot take I’m sticking with it.
Have you seen a new $1000~ Seiko in the flesh lately?
One of these days I’ll do a post comparing old “golden age” Seiko, “new” Seiko, and the transitional period between discontinuing the SARBs and introducing the SPB147.
Yes, San Martin is better than old Seiko, but there is a quality difference in new Seiko.
The frustrating part is Seiko still does Seiko things to cut costs, like their bracelets and how they don’t regulate movements.
I’m not lying when I say that a MM200 beats a Tag in finishing. It’s my hot take I’m sticking with it.
I agree with you there, I just can't afford the $1000 Seikos. Dig Grand Seiko but way out of my league in price.
I agree with you there, I just can't afford the $1000 Seikos. Dig Grand Seiko but way out of my league in price.
So Seiko has moved upmarket like me.
So Seiko has moved upmarket like me.
Yes..through all manusha...yes!!!
In some models,I believe they have.Wish I read this post before my last seiko purchase.Purchased a king seiko two months ago.sent back for repairs already!!
Came to WatchCrunch as a Rotary fanboy, fell in love with Seikos dials. No hope for me now!
Movement on the ladder goes both ways. I came into the hobby buying Omega and Rolex before settling into a Seiko heavy groove. I buy Seikos because I want to and not because I have to. Others find joy everywhere from Alpina to Zelos and do so well aware of the best alternatives...for them.
The urge to climb the ladder is understandable yet potentially never ending and often with diminishing returns. Seiko allows me to have a large yet diverse collection of styles and functions at a price point that is comfortable for me. It's also a maker that is not afraid to have fun yet serious enough to have made many historical achievements and technological advances.
No one is gonna convince me that my Seiko is a bad watch simply because they own a more expensive timepiece and need to justify their choices.
If you can be happy at a particular rung somewhere below what you can afford if you were to really stretch I think you're ahead of the game.
It cracks me up when someone sniffs they'll never own a Seiko yet they feel compelled to comment their self perceived horological superiority on every Seiko post. Showing up to the party just to boast that they only attend "better" parties seems a weird flex.
How fragile does one have to be that they need to speak up everytime someone makes a watch decision that differs from their own and then frames that difference in opinion as theirs being the "right" one? That's the kind of Facebook nonsense that I hope becomes extinct on WC.
Still others cluck their teeth with unsolicited advice about "better" watches as if they've decided for others what is "better" despite all the unique variables and intangibles. Better specs doesn't mean a particular watch is better for you.
I'm always gonna resist someone telling you what is best for you concerning watches by substituting their subjective preferences and unique situation for yours.
Conforming my real and honest preferences to some other watch guy's would be a real hobby killer for me...so Nope!
I sincerely hope that you get the opportunity to experience all the watches that you want to and that you get to do so in a healthy way devoid of judgement, gatekeeping and brow beating.
Bail if ever the hobby stops being fun and then find another hobby that is. Until then Do You.
Your Wrist, Your Rules!
I’m wearing my Turtle, which I’ve had for 3 weeks. It’s my only modern Seiko and I am so happy with it. I am strongly considering a Speed Timer and I’m worried I may have caught the Seiko-sis.
The white dial is rad too but I want to try a slim on. I like the fatty for now.
People jump on the easy idea that Seiko no longer does budget watches, but I think to myself, have these people been through the Seiko catalogue lately? There's a ton of stuff at the lower end in quartz and, even beyond that moving into automatics, one of my regular examples is SARV001 and 003 which can be had, right now for US$168. And those are 4R36 automatics, that look really nice, are JDM with kanji, and aren't part of Seiko 5 or anything like that; just really attractive, cheap, automatic watches. So these things exist. People don't seem to know they exist, however, and it leads them to say weird stuff about Seiko, that then gets picked up by other people and, next you know, it's now "established" that Seiko doesn't do it... when it does. It's a bit annoying for people who know better. Seiko's a great brand. Stick with it, brother.
At some point I decided I will never again buy a watch over 12mm thick. That's a great way to filter out most Seiko 😉 and others...
Being picky and having many rules is the trick, at least for me. I don't care about the brand too much, if Seiko is what you like there's nothing (=not much) wrong with them 😀
Came to WatchCrunch as a Rotary fanboy, fell in love with Seikos dials. No hope for me now!
You've fallen in love with Seiko dials? And now you can have a lifetime of always viewing some of your own? That's a very hopeful position to be in.
It goes to show how youtube reviews shape perception.
“Hardlex sucks” and “misaligned bezels” are a meme now.
We’ve even had a thread a few days ago asking how hard it is to scratch hardlex.
The funny part is, all the stuff about misaligned bezels is generally from the days of “old” Seiko.
Like my love of Seiko is also party anti-anti Seiko contrarainism.
That was me who put up the "Show us your scratched Hardlex photo". After hearing all the complaints about Hardlex, and owning Seikos that have withstood horrendous falls and scrapes with virtually no damage whatsoever, I simply wondered how many real owners had real Hardlex scrapes. There wasn't much of a response. Of course, that could just be nobody saw the post, wasn't interested, didn't feel like taking a photo, but still . . . so far, not many scratches.
That was me who put up the "Show us your scratched Hardlex photo". After hearing all the complaints about Hardlex, and owning Seikos that have withstood horrendous falls and scrapes with virtually no damage whatsoever, I simply wondered how many real owners had real Hardlex scrapes. There wasn't much of a response. Of course, that could just be nobody saw the post, wasn't interested, didn't feel like taking a photo, but still . . . so far, not many scratches.
Hope you see the scratches at aroun 3:00. It was a hard bashing that also streched out the OEM bracelet. No damage to watch head though.
That was me who put up the "Show us your scratched Hardlex photo". After hearing all the complaints about Hardlex, and owning Seikos that have withstood horrendous falls and scrapes with virtually no damage whatsoever, I simply wondered how many real owners had real Hardlex scrapes. There wasn't much of a response. Of course, that could just be nobody saw the post, wasn't interested, didn't feel like taking a photo, but still . . . so far, not many scratches.
I’m also not blaming you of prejudice. Your belief is not unreasonable because there a gazillion videos on YouTube proclaiming how much hardlex suck, while only one video that actually tested hardlex and sapphire side by side for scratch resistance.
Hope you see the scratches at aroun 3:00. It was a hard bashing that also streched out the OEM bracelet. No damage to watch head though.
Thank you, I do see it. It looks like the bezel has had a rougher life than the crystal.
I have a Seiko SNK375. It's an old-school Seiko 5, one of the little ones. It was hurled off a vanity face down onto a tile floor, then slid across it. The sound was sickening. The crystal had no damage, and the bezel had only the tiniest scrape that now I probably couldn't detect if I didn't know it was there.
My little SNKK87 came off its strap and fell face down on a hardwood floor and sustained no damage whatsoever.
I’m also not blaming you of prejudice. Your belief is not unreasonable because there a gazillion videos on YouTube proclaiming how much hardlex suck, while only one video that actually tested hardlex and sapphire side by side for scratch resistance.
I do really like Seiko. I have 12 of them. The cheapest was $60 and the most expensive was $180. I'm thinking Seiko is the only manufacturer that can make a quality watch in every price range. I'd like to see a $180 Rolex. They wouldn't do it, and they'd have no reason to, but they also couldn't do it. But Seiko can compete with them on their level (Grand Seiko) and even ultra-high end (Credor).
The two photos of your (potential?) new watches show phenomenal dials. Who wouldn't want either of those? And the descriptions you wrote would convince me even if I wasn't a Seiko guy. I know the prices on the low end were artificially low for years because it looked like Seiko had produced so many models in such great numbers that there was saturation, and they were swallowed up and discounted by the grey market.
People jump on the easy idea that Seiko no longer does budget watches, but I think to myself, have these people been through the Seiko catalogue lately? There's a ton of stuff at the lower end in quartz and, even beyond that moving into automatics, one of my regular examples is SARV001 and 003 which can be had, right now for US$168. And those are 4R36 automatics, that look really nice, are JDM with kanji, and aren't part of Seiko 5 or anything like that; just really attractive, cheap, automatic watches. So these things exist. People don't seem to know they exist, however, and it leads them to say weird stuff about Seiko, that then gets picked up by other people and, next you know, it's now "established" that Seiko doesn't do it... when it does. It's a bit annoying for people who know better. Seiko's a great brand. Stick with it, brother.
That's good stuff there that you wrote, and that's exactly the place I inhabit. I have 12 Seikos from a $60 SGEH79P1 to a newer $180 orange Seiko 5. The reason I haven't spent more is that I'm completely satisfied with the ones I have. Seiko puts a beautiful dial and metalwork on every single watch they make, regardless of price. Even a lazy person could go on Amazon and see many of the watches you're describing. There's Presage and Prospex if I wanted to spend more, but right now my eye is on the Big Date SUR517P1, with a dial like a working man's IWC Engineer, for $169.
Haven't had a Seiko in years and don't plan on getting one any time soon. Much better options out there with better quality control, better specs and better bracelets at a better price. Id buy an Islander and even San Martin over Seiko5 every day of the week.
Islander watches are great. I'm thinking about pressing the button on the DPA series blue and orange one. Islander watches are great value for money watches and Marc's price increases are moderate compared with the inflation rate this year. Seiko went way to high for no change in quality or upgrades. I do love my Alpinist though.
Islander watches are great. I'm thinking about pressing the button on the DPA series blue and orange one. Islander watches are great value for money watches and Marc's price increases are moderate compared with the inflation rate this year. Seiko went way to high for no change in quality or upgrades. I do love my Alpinist though.
I have to admit I like the Alpinist too! I also like the"Tic-Tac", saw it on one of the JDM sites, has a nice clean look.
I have to admit I like the Alpinist too! I also like the"Tic-Tac", saw it on one of the JDM sites, has a nice clean look.
Your post is going to get me into trouble, cause I absolutely love the look of that watch. I believe some of the best watches are ones made with Arabic numerals. I'm conditioned by hours of watching the school clocks tick and ring us out at the end of the day. Those clocks all had 1 through 12 and I just need some numerals on my watch.
I will always have at least one or two Seiko's in my collection, and most days they are prioritised over my TAG. They are just lovely to wear and keep really good time. I have vintages and new ones, and they all hold better time than my more expensive watches, so yes, Seiko FTW.
Unfortunately the answer is yes. I bought a Seiko5 SNK for $43 back in 2015 and now the same watch is $180 on Amazon. This can’t just be inflation.
Have to agree, I bought a SKX009 K for £177 in 2017 which are now going for crazy money, the Seiko 5 which replaced it so to speak are £250 for a less spec watch.
I get it totally when you get the itch Seiko always seems to have something to scratch it!! 😃👍🏻
Have to disagree about the fauxtina on the SM300 heritage (got one love it 🤣).... But nowt wrong with being a " Seikopath" - my favourite watches are Seiko's around the £1000 mark , prefer them to my Omega's. Tho do think their sub £500 limited editions are good value too. I've tried microbrands too recently (Zelos) but not impressed, not compared to Seiko.
Have you seen the 300 heritage with the “summer blue” lume?
It fixed my major complaint about the watch. Need to check it out.
Hope the anniversary release isn’t a truly limited edition.
Got spousal approval (and encouragement) to buy something else, so this will have get into line. Hope it look as good, if not better in person and will still be available once I’m done with some other purchases.