The Seiko 5: Possibly the best $75 Watch in Existence
What would you expect in a watch that is offered for a suggested retail price of just $75 from the manufacturer? Would you dare to believe that quality, precision, attractive aesthetics and a bit of innovation would come to the fore? Probably not, but what if we told you it was a Seiko? The mention of the brand that goes over and above to make luxury timekeeping affordable has a name that truly says it all.
The Seiko 5 is the model that has accomplished the unthinkable. It only looks like a million bucks. The price tag is currently set at $75. What is it about this elegant timepiece that makes it so special? Let’s take a closer look and we’ll show you.
The culmination of years of building a reputation for fine watchmaking, quality materials and an appealing aesthetic that gives their watches an expensive look while they’re offered at bargain prices. Everyone knows that these aren’t the cheap mass produced versions that fall apart after two weeks. Seiko watches are built to last and to look good while they’re doing it.
The Seiko 5
The name of the Seiko five comes from the attributes that each is endowed with. Each model in the Seiko 5 family is water-resistant it is self-winding, it has a recessed crown, a day and date in a single window and the bracelet and case are made to be ultra durable.
Specifications and inner workings
We owe it to the watchmaker to not dote merely on the attractive appearance of the Seiko 5. It’s vital to take a look at the details that make this watch such a good value for its low cost. We begin with the exterior and work inward.
The case
The Seiko 5 features a case of 37mm in diameter and 11mm in thickness in a round shape. It’s made of stainless steel materials which are durable and add to its water resistance. The case back is a skeleton style that shows off the inner workings of the mechanisms that power the watch and make it a precision and accurate timepiece. The stainless steel crown is a push and pull style. It recesses neatly into the case for a balanced appearance but pulls out easily when necessary to change the time. The patented magic lever technology makes this task easy and seamless.
The bezel
The bezel is a fixed type in stainless steel. It features the same polished finish as the case front offering a slight glow in the refined light.
The dial
The dial is an analog type in black that sets the ideal background for the Arabic numeral hour markers and minute markers placed at 5-minute intervals around the outer rim. The hands are well shaped with a high polish and the application of Lume for visibility in all lighting conditions. The lume plots show an amazing attention to fine details with faceted applied markers, and day and date rings that match the dial color.
The movement
The Seiko 5 is powered by a self-winding 7S26 automatic movement which is an in-house model developed by Seiko. The movement was firsts introduced in 1963 and offers a glimpse into the vintage era from which inspiration for the 5 has been taken. The functions of day, date hours, minutes and seconds with a power reserve of 40 hours and water resistance up to 100 feet. It’s not a divers watch, but it is suitable for snorkeling and light water sports not requiring depths beyond the established limitations. The glass is a hardlex crystal that is scratch resistant.
The band
The band is an 18mm wide x 7.75 inches strap made of canvas material with a tang style clasp crafted of stainless steel.
Final thoughts
The Seiko 5 is one of the best wristwatches on the market today for a mere $75 price tag. Seiko has established a reputation for providing quality timepieces that have the appearance of a more high-end accessory but offered at an affordable price. They’ve firmly established their niche and territory in this spectrum of horological circles. It’s highly suited for both dressy and casual dressy wear as well as for everyday use.