KI6H writes:
Essential Seiko reading: Jack Forster waxes poetic on the Seiko 5 and the 7S26 movement, which he pronounces "as brutally efficient and stripped to essentials as a Kalashnikov, and like a Kalashnikov, it is designed to work, as well as possible, with as few parts as possible, as efficiently as possible."
Hell of an article——and spot on.
I have four Seiko 5 watches and each of them looks like it cost way more than the $60-70 I paid. Fit and finish are exemplary, and each has a nice mix of polished and brushed steel finishes, so some texture to the overall aesthetic and mechanical, not quartz. The linked steel bands that come with most are on the cheesy end of the spectrum: hollow links and little clunky. But still decent enough in both appearance and function. On all but one (a deep, deep midnight blue dial that is gorgeous, and the linked band is the ideal complement here so it stayed on), I have changed over to leather straps. Three of the four are dress watches, the other a homage to the 1941-42 "Fleiger II" German Luftwaffe pilot's watch.
All have the 7S26 movement and all run flawlessly, keep accurate time, and run a LONG time after just a day's wearing. Day and date are a snap to change. And, of course, you have the intimate connection between watch and wearer that only an automatic movement offers.
Great article! Confirms every thought I've ever had about the Seiko 5. Thanks for posting.
Doug
Posted by: Doug | March 24, 2015 at 11:08 AM
I happen to be wearing a Seiko 5 today: The black SNK809 with a Type B dial. I love the watch, and I love that I got so much watch for only $50.
Posted by: Scooby214 | March 24, 2015 at 11:36 AM