Seiko 5 watches are durable, and their 7S26/4R36 movements are reliable workhorses known to withstand some abuse and survive it. The good news is, this raises the entire watch off your wrist a bit and gives you a bit of extra wiggle room when moving your wrist around, adding to the overall comfort. While the case is all polished, it certainly doesn’t fall short on finishing. The rather subtle chamfer between the top surface and the flanks, narrowing down to the lug tips, gives the watch a sleek and streamlined appearance. Having a watch case with so many precisely machined edges that vary in their finish, from brushed to polish, is rare in most watches, let alone watches this affordable. The top-brushed lugs are accented by a polished bevel that really adds some visual dimensions when viewing this watch from different angles. While some Seiko 5 watches are a bit too small, and others too large, the SRPE series fits right in between at 40mm. This is the sweet spot for most people’s wrists and is one of the most popular watch sizes today.

I’ve worn, tested, and reviewed dozens of Seiko 5 watches, many of which are still in my collection today. It doesn’t last for an extremely long time, but fades out gradually and helps the watch be more legible in the dark and at night. Folded Link Bracelet As far as I know, you can get cotter pin, solid link bracelets to fit many 5s on AliExpress. Some of them can be used with the original end links. Some will need a little filing down here and there on their end links. The majority of Seiko 5s have their crown at 4:00 instead of 3:00 like most watches. Although a bit unusual, this is a specific design trait of the 5 that makes the watch more comfortable to wear when on your wrist. Though few and far between, there are a few 5s that have a crown at 3:00, such as the SRPE35. But, I implore you to try the 4:00 crown before judging it. You may find you prefer it after all! Dimensions But over time, like most other things about this watch, not only did they grow on me, but I began to appreciate them more and more. That’s why I’ve bought this same exact watch THREE times. The Final VerdictWhile the bracelet feels rather light and cheap, I must admit, it’s rather comfortable on the wrist.

While the watches are great, the included bracelet or strap on the older 5 models leaves a bit to be desired. The metal bands are often hollow feeling, hair-pulling, and difficult to adjust. When buying an older 5, you might want to consider that you might want to spend a bit extra to find a replacement strap down the line. As my appreciation for watches (and my watch collection) grew, I began to appreciate the little aspects and nuances of a watch, more. Seiko 5 Sports is usually reserved for the Seiko 5s with at least 100 meters of water resistance, and the slightly upgraded 4R36 movement. Regular Seiko 5s more often have only 30 or 50 meters of water resistance, and often include the 7S26 movement. It doesn’t take much sunlight to charge it, either. Just a few minutes standing in direct sunlight and the lume will be fully charged and ready to go. Seriously, looks amazing. I’d not quite go as far to say it’s an Oyster Perpetual homage. Just that it takes some really well-designed aspects from the watch.Most all of them feature a relatively prominent ‘5’ badge under the Seiko logo at the top. I used to think the badge was kind of… Over the top. And took up too much dial real estate. The included bracelet isn’t the best, but with a watch so affordable, it’s easy to overlook, and this watch looks good on a variety of different straps if you can work around the odd 19mm lug width. But if the SNXS79 is your only watch, you might as well get the exact size strap to fit it, which is 19mm. One of the main things that can affect how a watch looks is the dial. Not only do you have to choose a dial color and layout that suits you, but also one with the right finish. Sunburst watch dials can be a bit flashy, as they vary greatly in different lighting conditions, while glossy or matte dials usually look rather neutral. It has a domed crystal and a case that’s scratched up, and has so much character, in my opinion. What is a Seiko 5?

While many of us might not need such an apparatus on our watch, one that our phones can likely do better for us non-divers, I like using it to time how much time is left for food in the oven, or how much time I have left in a parking meter.It helps that it’s so light and weightless, making it good to wear in warmer summer months. It also surprisingly doesn’t tug on my arm hairs like some other cheap bracelets tend to. SNXS79 Strap Choices and Suggestions The SRPE53 takes some of the dive watch elements from the SKX, namely the large, rounded hour markers, and beefy hands, both filled with lume to glow in the dark. But this model classes it up a bit with a highly polished finish surrounding them, and a sleeker, fixed bezel. I thought it didn’t work, I set the time gave it a few shakes and to my amazement it works perfectly!