Not in love with my new watch

I have had a similar experience with a Montblanc Star, and I just could  not get along with it and ultimately I ended up trading it for something else, I know this doesn’t help you alter it to keep it but the alternative is the trade in rather than having something that will be stuck in a draw, how long have you had it can you not return it for an exchange?

I wait a few months before a flip and would try a two-piece canvas if the decent OEM strap isn't doing it.

Love takes time😜 

Personally I suspect that one is expecting too much joy from what is a perfectly satisfactory watch. Either put it aside and wear something else for a while and see if absence makes the heart grow fonder, or last ditch throw it on a leather or silicone band depending on taste. 

I mean the SNK is a watch that I think is just about perfect, and I'm not a giddy emotional type. It will find love somewhere, that is for sure.

You have to test with a quality soft leather strap. Nubuck for example

i agree with you, leather strap probably will bring fresh appearence to your seiko 👍

Or, unpopular take, it’s just a dull watch. I would argue there are much better watches, even in the field watch style, around that price range that would make you happy.

What were you after from it - what sort of boxes did you think it would tick?

I had to look it up to remind myself what it was, and the image that came up had this awful-looking two piece blue canvas strap. Just shocking. What colour dial do you have? If it's black, maybe consider some sort of brown leather strap for it. Seems to transform it quite a bit, if this image off Google images is anything to go by.

I have an SNK803, which I bought around $85, and I have it on a khaki Marine Nationale strap at the moment. It's a very light watch, comfortable to wear on the strap, and is one of my favorites to wear after work or on the weekend. Almost like a watch I would have had as a kid.

There are also many reasons not to like this type of watch. It won't impress anybody, the specs are not impressive, and it clearly shows its price point. But then again, at that price you can just have fun with it.

Yeah it’s what I feel. It’s very dull. I expected to feel excited to have a great piece for that price but I’m really not. I wanted it to be a casual everyday watch that I would wear with pretty much everything. I just find the blue to be boring. 

I sort of regret not having bought the 803 I think I would have found it way more fun. 
I think my main thing is that the blue is really dull. I expected it to be a more exciting blue.

I have the blue one. I didn’t really think of leather straps but I should maybe look into it for this one. 

I like the SNK for instance the 803 is amazing but I have the blue one and I don’t like the blue. I thought I would love it because it’s simple and effective but I don’t like the blue which is why I was trying to get strap options to make it more exciting. 

I’ve had it for a few months so no I can’t return it. And I don’t know that anyone would trade this piece, it’s a very inexpensive piece. 

Try a different strap maybe? But I'm gonna be honest, whenever I don't love a watch the next day of purchase, I always (or most of times) end up selling it. 

Listen, I’m not a Seiko fan (rare on here, but I’m quite vocal about it), I find them to be the horological equivalent of beige or grey. You want to spend £200 on a field watch, or maybe a little more, you could have so much fun with a Bulova Hack, or a pre-loved Hamilton Field Khaki. You could go with a genuine UK army issued CWC G10 if you wanted (although you can get unissued version for a little less). I found a Cooper Pathfinder G10 homage for £60, it’s lovely.

You could do well in AliExpress for some things - the Seestern Doxa 300T is amazing value for money with an NH35 powered diver with some colour.

Undone is a nice microbrand I would recommend for a fun watch, as to are Dan Henry if you want homages to some classic chronographs. If you want Seiko, but with a bit of refinement, Islander are probably worth a shout.

Orient (although kind of Seiko) are pretty decent - the Kamasu diver and the Bambino dress watch have many fans on here.

Or you could look into vintage…

The long or short of it is for your money you can really go to town if you look around. 

I have the same feeling for the Orient Ray II and the Seiko 5 SRPG27 automatic.  I know if I buy an aftermarket oyster style bracelet for the both of them they'd probably see more wrist time.  But I'm not about to spend StrapCode money on these 2 watches which cost less than the upgraded bracelets.  So I force myself to love it sometimes just like being married LMAO 🤣😆 Try getting a metal bracelet with curved end links for the SNK807.  Good luck 🤙🏽

I ditched the OEM strap uopn arrival on my green dial version

I say try it on a grey nato or maybe a black sailcloth. That said, it might be time to move it on.🤙

Grey nato would probably look fire hope it makes the blue less dull I’ll look at pictures. 

I see you have many great suggestions for a different band so I can't add any value there but I can certainly confirm that the stock strap that comes with it is pretty ugly so I can see how that would create the emotions you're feelings. I believe the secret to new found love is in a better strap. Remember the old pick up line: "Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by a few more times?"

Buying into additional 20mm straps is not a loss even if you decide to switch up watches. 

But it's unclear to me what is bothering you: not filling the field watch role like you thought, don't like it with its current strap, or is it just that the purchase desire is not satiated? 

Had both the 805 and the 803 at different times and flipped them not long after purchase. Their an entry level watch which won't do much for you once you've dipped your toe into the world of horology, great for a beginner though. The 7S26 movement is so outdated that they should scrap it from production and start putting NH35's in the watches at the least.

If you want something that will excite you more there's so many better options out there, just don't be in a rush to purchase the next one is my only advise 💯

I´d said  Nato, but if you tried and did not work, try some good quality leather... it should work. I have the beige dial with a red nato and I love it...  

I bought a SNK809 as my first automatic watch... I hated it, and it has soured me on Seiko. 

If a POS Seiko like the 809 gets all the love it does online, what does that say about all the other Seiko watches that are "amazing", or "great affordable watches"?

Don't buy into the Seiko lovefest, I've yet to see an affordable Seiko in person that actually looked good and didn't feel cheap. 

I would simply sell it.  Investing in new straps is a good idea, but depending on the cost, you might end up spending more on the watch that you don't really fancy anymore. I got a love hate relationship with my Omega Railmaster that I bought in 2018 mainly because I 'felt' it looked big (honestly nobody else really cares). Yet i still rotate it in my collection simply because the Metas certified chronometer always beats all my other COSC certified watches!

I just feel like the blue is dull. I lIke the design but on wrist I don’t get excited. Which is why I thought straps could change my view of the watch. 

You could consider it as a beater watch just Play around with straps like leather nato or canvas or  rubber with quick release  I get mine at cheapest nato.. I use it when I travel with family especially I know it will get dinged a lot and swim with it sometimes 

At least you are being honest with yourself.  Sometimes, you just don't connect with a watch even though you put in the thought and time researching it, maybe even tried it on, saved up for it, ect.  If it is not for you, just admit it and move on.  No harm in that.  I have gone through several watches myself.

Ah, well, the band may not ever sell you on the dial. Either flip it and move on or mod it out to an aftermarket dial that excites you. 

The pop of gold from the dial, and a blue AR sapphire gave it a new character. Maybe not for everyone, but food for thought.