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jewels, 21,600 bph frequency, +-40 hours power reserve, the 7s26's really nothing to write home about, but it's still plenty to give you the itch for that next mechanical piece. This is an affordable watch that isn’t really designed for water wear and as such has a relatively basic water resistance rating. A 30m or 3 bar rating makes this watch suitable for everyday use. Splash/rain resistant. Not suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing. SeikoSNK803 Watch Specifications The SRPH29 is a pilot watch that has a very particular and distinct look to it. There are a few types of watch straps that I think would pair exceptionally well with this type of watch. I love the minimal nature of the dial. It comes in at 37mm, which is flattering for more modest wrists like mine. 2) Day-Date Complication The most obvious alternatives to the Seiko 5 Sports SRPH29 are the previously released SNK lineup, including the Seiko 5 SNK809, SNK807, SNK805 & SNK803.
As I mentioned in the beginning, the Seiko 5 was my very first automatic watch and you know what they say about firsts—they’re never your last. Oh wait, you’ll never forget them, or something like that. THE BOTTOM LINE When it comes to field watches, Luminox and Victorinox are some of the best brands to start with. However, while they do dominate the field watch market, there are some top-notch military watches that can be found under brands too. One great example would be Seiko’s SNK803.
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First off, I’m a bit disappointed that the SRPH29 is no longer finished with a satin/sandblasted finish as the SNK lineup is. In my opinion, that was one of the greatest and most unique things about the watch. By taking that away, the SRPH29 looks like so many other watches on the market, even down to the simplest Timex (Timex Expedition). The brushed finish runs uniformly throughout the entirety of the case, including the bezel, and even throughout the sides. Understanding that the SRPH29 is a pilot watch, and therefore a tool watch in nature, is key to understanding this type of finish. A pilot wouldn’t want a polished watch that creates all sorts of glares and potentially blinding reflections while piloting an aircraft. But let’s be honest, how many of us are actually going to use a pilot watch for its intended purpose? However, it is a tested & proven workhorse that's been known to last for well over a decade without the need for a single service. This is a run-of-the-mill hardened mineral crystal that will be pretty easy to scratch if you're not careful. However, it does have the advantage of being basically non-reflective, making the dial much more legible outside of the house.
Coming in at 39.4mm in diameter, the SRPH29 will be a mass-appealing crowd-pleaser, as watches under 40mm tend to fit the sweet spot of fitting well on nearly all wrist sizes. This Luminox watch is driven by a quartz Ronda 6004.D Calibre. This reliable quartz movement has a battery life of about 40 months.The Hamilton Pilot Pioneer is quite a bit more expensive and niche than that of the affordable and more mass-appealing SRPH29, but that may be exactly what you’re looking for. Specifications Seiko provided a great base and their newer movement swapped right in with minimal modification. I learned a lot in the process and will possibly look to do a proper Mil Spec version in the future. Show me your SNKs, WUS! Overall I’m a big fan of the whole SNK series, typically the SNK809 is the most popular, however, I’d definitely consider going for this model next. The 7S26 automatic movement at the heart of the watch is a popular workhorse movement that’s favoured in the community. It’s a great timepiece that offers a good level of quality for a very reasonable price in my opinion. The Seiko SNK805/807/809 is pretty basic, but it's still a great entry into the mechanical watch world.
My biggest gripe with the new domed crystal is that, while it may add some visual interest and distortion when viewing the watch at different angles, it can cause a bit of extra glare in certain lighting conditions; making the watch more difficult to read. While a flat crystal may not be as interesting when viewed from different angles, it helps to maintain the overall theme of the simple legibility of a pilot watch. Seiko SRPH29 Movement – 4R36 The Seiko 5 is often venerated among watch enthusiasts and collectors alike. It’s said to be the gateway into the world of mechanical watches. And while I don’t consider myself a watch guy, I’ve owned this watch for 6+ years now. In fact, this Seiko 5 was my first automatic watch. Models: Seiko 5 SRPG27K1, SRPG29K1, SRPG31K1, SRPG33K1, SRPG35K1, SRPG37K1, SRPG39K1, SRPG41K1, and SRPG42K1. Hamilton Pilot PioneerAfter looking into the watch design, quality, features, and pricing this watch received a 8.5/10 from us at The Watch Blog. These changes make the SRPH29 look a bit more traditional, like any other watch you’d find in a department store. For the watch collectors with many other watches, this may mean the SRPH29 is overlooked. For the Seiko fanboys – this may not be the SNK809 alternative we’ve all been waiting for. For someone just looking for a great-looking and affordable pilot watch, however, this may be just the watch for you! I’ve become a fan of double-dome sapphire crystals, and like the dome presentation on this SRPH hardlex, but I think it needs a double-dome AR sapphire. Sapphire needs an AR coating on the underside for it to be easy to read. I tried an Orient Kamasu, which has a non-AR sapphire. I found it too reflective and distracting. I do agree that the SRPH hardlex does seem to easily distort and is not easy to read the dial.
The 20mm lug width is another happy standard that matches the diameter of the case perfectly and suits many wrist sizes. I’ll share more about my strap suggestions for the SRPH29 later in this article. Although Seiko removed some of the features of the previous Seiko 5 SNK generation this watch is based upon, the SRPH29 offers a great value proposition when considering its affordable price compared to its specifications. Related: You might like this Watch Gang Review. “ Khoi10” gets you 10% off any tier/membership. BONUS REASONS
Seiko SNK803 Watch Review Summary
Your impressions on the sizing has me wondering what your wrist size is. Is your preference generally for 40mm+ field watches? It features a satin finish more true to traditional pilot watches, and maybe most importantly, housed inside is a Hamilton Calibre H-50 movement with an extremely impressive 80-hour power reserve. A silver chapter ring is placed around the centre of the dial, bearing bright red indicators for the 13th to 24th hours. Along with the watch’s vibrant red seconds hand, these red indicators are highly legible and serve to add a pop of colour to this monochrome watch face. The dial is also adorned with tritium gas tubes that serve as hour markers. These tritium gas tubes will light up in the dark, allowing wearers to read the watch’s face even at night.
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