Opening an Open Door - An SNXS79 Review

What do you do when you want to write a review for a watch that has songs and poems written about it, and even has a week dedicated to its existence on WC? Just write it still, I guess.

The SNXS series of watches is part of the old Seiko 5 collection. A few of the watches in the series seemed to have gained fame due to them being similar looking to a particular Rolex watch - the Datejust. The resemblance mostly lies in that the watches have stick markers and hands. I guess also the sunburst dial and a (day) date function at 3 o'clock position.

Other specs of the watch include the case being 37mm, the case thickness being about 12.5mm, and the lug width being 19mm. The case is C-shaped and is fully polished. The stock bracelet is folded, and is fully brushed. Like many Seiko 5s, the crown is located at the 4 o'clock position.

Honestly there's nothing more I can add about this watch. My initial reaction was the same as many others: it was just wow when I took it out of the box to see it in metal. The inaccurate but robust movement is fine. The folded bracelet has its own charm but it just doesn't fit the watch.

I specifically found a J1 version of the watch, only because I wanted the text "Made In Japan". Stupid thing to pay US$50 more for, perhaps. Especially so when the consensus is that there is no real difference in quality between J1 and K1 models. Oh, the K1 models also do not have "21 Jewels" printed on the dial.

Looking back, maybe this is the watch I should have gotten back in 2019. I had my Cartier plus a few fashion watches, and I wanted to expand my collection (and also celebrate a life event). I had narrowed my search to Seiko, though not a particular model. Funny thing is that around the time of purchase, there was a lot of tension between Korea and Japan. It is but 37mm but I did not want to attract any attention, and ended up getting a Swatch automatic. But then again, maybe I would have been content with a 2-watch collection and stopped my "watch journey" there and then if I did buy this at the time.

The SNXS79 is not a perfect watch. The mineral crystal, whilst it does offer clarity, will scratch over time. And so will the fully polished case. The movement is outdated. Please don't get me started on the bracelet.

However, despite its modest going price of about US$150, the way it captivates you in the metal is undeniable, like a siren it beckons you. The simple and shiny case is still fun to oggle. The printing on the dial is also crisp.

All in all, I'm happy to have tried this watch out. Despite it having been part of Seiko's entry models, it is made beautifully. It's a shame they phased these out. This is the Seiko I know people are missing. I feel like I'm one bracelet/strap away from having a perfect everyday watch. And perhaps one day, I will find it.