First Look: Seiko 5 SKZ267P1

I bought this Seiko 5 SKZ267P1 on Amazon with some reward points and believed it to be "self-winding" but a trip to my dealer to have a link removed proved otherwise. With the same movement as my Seiko Black Monster, this black Seiko 5 can only be powered through movement. Lucky for me, I have only 2 automatic watches but since both can only be powered through wrist time, it remains to be seen how I'll manage this. 

Crown to crown, the black Seiko 5 is 51mm, but it plays like a 47mm. Very comfortable on the wrist with excellent contrast between the white indices and hands and black dial. I think, though, the lume on the Black Monster is a bit better. 

My dealer said he never saw this Seiko 5 before. He only sells "Seiko USA" and he believes both the Black Monster and the SKZ267P1 are gray market, made in Malaysia or Singapore.

The movements are great, the same as any Seiko, but there is one area where they cut corners: Both the Monster and the black Seiko 5 have a very tin-like clasp. My dealer said not to worry. In spite of its flimsy nature, it is hard to break. We'll see. I doubt I'll spend $300 and up on the second generation of Monsters if they have the same tin clasp. In contrast, my Seiko Velatura has a thicker, superior metal used for the clasp evidencing its $360 price. 

If I end up selling this Seiko 5, it's not because I don't like it. It's because I thought I was getting a self-winding function and now have 2 autos that need to be worn. I don't collect watches to be a job. I do so for fun. We'll see. 

Comments

[Matt]

Are you saying the watch isn't automatic? I think it says that on the face, but I can't see it clearly. I thought 'automatic' and 'self-winding' were the same thing, and all Seiko 5's were largely the same movement? Everything I've read about 5's is that they share the same two or three movements, are non-handwinding, bi-directional autos.

[herculodge]

It is automatic; you can't wind the crown; it powers through movement of the wrist only.

[Tom Welch]

Jeff, checkout this book: http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-ebook/dp/B004GTLFNW/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_3

[herculodge]

Looks like my kind of book since I train only at home. Thanks, Tom.

[jonnybardo]

I like this watch a lot more than I thought I would - your pictures really bring it out. I hate to say it, but it looks a bit like a high quality Invicta - very bold. I love the thick hour hand.

Where'd you get this one? I don't see it on Ebay or Amazon.

[herculodge]

I bought it on Amazon about a week ago. At that time, there was one or two on eBay.

I wore it today to lunch. Very nice, but I may have to sell it because it's a nonwinding automatic. We'll see.

[herculodge]

Having a style similar to an Invicta style doesn't bother me. I like many Invicta styles, but I take issue with Invicta's inferior lume on most of its watches.

[herculodge]

Amazon still selling it: http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKZ267-Stainless-Steel-Black/dp/B001REHRPE/ref=pd_sbs_watch_1

[jonnybardo]

How often do you have to wear a "kinetic" watch for it to keep time? I think as long as you wear this once a week you should be fine.

[herculodge]

Every other day is more like it. It's like a job if you have two. And with so many watches in the rotation, this is rather difficult.

[jonnybardo]

That's dedication. So what happens if you don't wear it for a week? Does it just stop and then you have to re-set it and then you're good to go? Or is there more to it?

[herculodge]

It just stops and you re-set it. You want to wear it once a week to keep the oils circulating. One of my students has a Seiko with the same movement and it still works with no services after 17 years. These are strong movements.