weight: 195 grams
case: 44.3mm (excluding the crown), 46.6 mm (including the crown)
lug: 22mm
lug-to-lug: 50.7 mm
thickness: 11.6 mm
The aesthetic drew my eye to this watch. A unique two tone decorative bezel and bracelet kept me coming back to this watch and yearning to see one up close. The picture of the watch on the Amazon page is atrocious - the coloring is off (the watch is black and sliver) and the hands in the Amazon graphic look like a first-timer photoshop user pasting together an image of watch. The video of the watch is much better. Pay close attention to the date window. The text in the date indicator is much smaller than the picture suggests, but the video is okay. I will acknowledge some hypocrisy in the photos I post here as my photos of this watch are poor, but my excuse is that I do not own the macro lens and lighting required to take a proper photograph of any watch.
Why did I purchase this watch? Well, I was looking to purchase a automatic chronograph but had not found any automatic chronograph with a price tag below five digits which sparked my interest as much as this SSC139, at least not in the aesthetic. Despite my interest in this watch for its look, the movement did delay my purchase. My want, in general, is a high beat mechanical watch, or the smooth sweep of a Grand Seiko spring drive, both movements are way too expensive for me at this time. But then I realized that the tic-tic-tic of a second hand about the center spindle isn't an issue for a chronograph, it is only in the small seconds sub-dial (located at the 9 o'clock position) and I actually prefer the tic-tic-tic on the sub-dial seconds! The only other hurdle - quartz and batteries. Replacing a battery on not difficult, but it is annoying. The SCC139 is _solar_ and ergo no need for a battery change save non-trivial servicing. Okay, I'm sold. I like the look, I like the movement, I like the listed size, I like Seiko - it's time to buy.
I've been wearing the SSC139 for about a week now. It's fantastic! The weight is good, the size is good. The look is great. Extremely legible dial even with 1/5 second indicators. The lume is okay - I generally prefer little or no lume and this watch has very tasteful lume, only what is needed on the hands and on the outside of the markers.
It is very comfortable to wear. The weight is right in the middle of what I like, maybe a little light, but sufficient to know you're wearing it without being distracted by it.
The chronograph has been a great. I have been using it a lot for timing things in the kitchen, with the kids, or just for fun as I enjoy watching the reset. The alarm setting has been very helpful. With a quick pull of the crown to the first position and a few pushes of the button at 4-o'clock I have an alarm set - very helpful for quick reminders.
If you are interested in putting the watch on a different strap or bracelet you will need a 22mm strap or bracelet.
You will find drilled lugs to help, you'll also find that the solid end links look like a trident and you may find it difficult to put the watch on any other strap or bracelet. (But why would you? Isn't the bracelet part of the appeal of this watch?) Speaking of the bracelet, it's a little thing, but the inside of the bracelet is slightly decorated too. Links would be easy to remove, and there are four micro adjustment positions on the clasp. My 7.5 inch wrist required only a tweak of the micro adjustment position.
The accuracy is, as with most Seiko watches, under promised and over delivered. That is, the claim is less than 15 seconds a month with normal wear. I've seen less than 1 second over a week.
The only criticism I have for the SSC139 is that the two crown positions are not as tactile as I would like. It is easy to pull the crown out past the first to the second position. The first position is used to set the date and to set the alarm. The second position hacks the running seconds and allows for setting the time and the alarm hands. Setting the time on this watch, assuming you want the alarm hands to be useful, takes some time and effort (read the manual) so inadvertently getting the crown to the second position isn't ideal. As I've gotten used to this watch and used it's features more and more I've learned where the crown positions are and have rarely pulled the crown to the second position unintentionally.
I am extremely happy with this watch and I'm looking forward to having it on my wrist for many years to come.
Buy the watch that you like. It's on your wrist and that is all that matters.