The watch doesn’t have a sapphire crystal, which helps prevent scratches, nor a screw-down crown, making it a deal-breaker for some. Though, I’ve taken mine on vacation and beat it up. The included hardlex crystal doesn’t have a scratch on it, and despite only having 100 meters of water resistance, I was still able to take this watch swimming in pools and the ocean, without any issues whatsoever. If you’re somebody who wants to swim with your watch, get a Seiko 5 Sports instead of a regular Seiko 5. The Seiko 5 Sports often have 100 meters of water resistance which is enough to safely swim with, while older models usually have around 30 meters, which is not enough. Movement However, in practice, it’s an excellent movement. The rotor action is quiet. Sure, you can hear it, but that’s that. A considerable advantage of this one is Seiko’s Magic Lever bidirectional winding system, first introduced in 1959. It’s simply a role model for winding efficiency. As someone I know spoke of the Seiko 5, you can just rest on the couch all day, and get up only when you need to, and it’ll still give that movement just enough motion of the rotor to keep it going.

Oh, and don’t fall into the trap of thinking the more expensive watches are better. In fact, some of the more affordable Seiko 5s are my favorites! Included Bracelet or Strap Sorry for the delay, but if you’re still looking for the leather strap, they grey distressed leather strap is a Colareb Firenze! Reply

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While the bracelet feels rather light and cheap, I must admit, it’s rather comfortable on the wrist. Along with its all-polished case, this watch is often compared as a budget alternative to the much more expensive Rolex Oyster Perpetual, which typically costs around 5 figures. While some Seiko 5 watches are a bit too small, and others too large, the SRPE series fits right in between at 40mm. This is the sweet spot for most people’s wrists and is one of the most popular watch sizes today. Thanks for a great, well thought out and honest review. I’ve just found your blog and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Sorry for the late response but WOW, thanks so much for sharing that story! It’s absolutely awesome that your father’s Seiko stood the test of time, though, can’t say I’m entirely surprised! It doesn’t take much sunlight to charge it, either. Just a few minutes standing in direct sunlight and the lume will be fully charged and ready to go. Seriously, looks amazing.Despite having all of these features, the SSK003 manages to stay relatively thin and affordable compared to other GMT watches. And it looks great while doing so! While the case is all polished, it certainly doesn’t fall short on finishing. The rather subtle chamfer between the top surface and the flanks, narrowing down to the lug tips, gives the watch a sleek and streamlined appearance. Most all of them feature a relatively prominent ‘5’ badge under the Seiko logo at the top. I used to think the badge was kind of… Over the top. And took up too much dial real estate. The first time I owned it, I liked it. But I didn’t love it. At the time, I didn’t have many other watches to compare it to. It doesn’t last for an extremely long time, but fades out gradually and helps the watch be more legible in the dark and at night. Folded Link Bracelet