In the year of 2000 , my grandad bought me a skx007 for my 10th birthday from japan. That was the first thing that i adored so much. Every time i went to bed i put it back in the box. I treated it like my grail watch. After owned couple of watches (Rolex, JLC, Nomos, Lange) i became a watch snob. I had a burning hatred towards entry level watches (because that always reminds me from where i came from, poor family). Little did i know, my grandpa also bought me another skx007 just in case the one that he gave me fails or lost. When i was opening his safe deposit box, the watch was sitting there waiting for me to pick it up. And the name on the guarantee card was my name. It really touched me. Now i treat both my skx with love and wear them with pride
+Alex Tomo oh wow that is a nice and warm story!!! Both of these SKXs should stay in your family as an heirloom, and what an heirloom!!! I hope you enjoy them for a lifetime
Same thing happened to me with my Orient Mako- I bought it because it was on sale at Amazon during Black Friday one year. Didn't expect much. It's turned out to be the watch I wear the most by far. I wear it cycling almost every day jiggling around. I wear it in the heat, in the rain....The funny thing is that you wear beater watches so your "nice" watches don't get damaged but the you wear it so much that you get attached to it and would hate it if it broke. They made such a big deal out of the Swatch Sistem 51 when it came out which is, in actuality, a plastic piece of junk. Meanwhile the Japanese have been churning out cheaper, tank-like automatic watches for decades. Orients, Seiko 5s...you can't go wrong with any of them.
It's true even for the lowest of the low end Japanese watches. I always wore digital watches, one day I decided they look childish and I should learn and wear analog. I found Q & Q Falcon which had hours and minutes similar to Seiko in the video and fell in love with it, it costs like 4$ in japan but i got it for 22$ after shipping. Strap fell apart within 3 days but the watch is very nice looking especially with new bracelet, still no scratches on it after heave use after 2 years and is really water resistant. I am now looking for affordable mechanical watch to try out.
The Swatch Sistem51 is an impressive watch. Sistem51 is a more impressive movement than those japanese watches have. Seiko 5 is cheap and kinda crappy. Orient is good but nothing spectacular
This video touched me. I have the same watch in blue, at least 14 years old gifted by my mom n dad when i was a kid. Im not a watch enthusiast and opted to wear fashion watches that was gifted to me by loved ones. I became an audiophile instead as a hobby. Being an audio enthusiast taught me to appreciate high quality fancy metal work from my speakers and electronics. One day, I was digging around my closet and found this old gem and they are still working, looking amazing and i appreciate how the chassis and the whole thing looks! It certainly appears to be better built than my $200 fossil fashion watches lol. Some dings and scratches here and there but they tell a very personal story to me. 14 years late but this little watch is my gateway to this new hobby. Im getting an skx007 in the next few days bec of this and will be keeping my snk forever bec it reminds me of my old self.
I have a Seiko 5 (7009) that my mom gave to me when I turned 18. I am 54 years old now and the watch is still going strong; I have put that watch thru hell and back and it has never ever failed me. I still wear it from time to time in my watch rotation and it is always a topic of conversation for sure. I am in the process of acquiring all the SNK color models. Thank you for sharing your experience.
That is an awesome story!!! And one that testifies to the quality of Seiko 5. The 7002 movement is considered a better quality movement than the 7s26, even my watchmaker thinks so
I have the black version and have been loving it for the past 2 years. My daughter needed a trustworthy watch for her mission trip to Bulgaria so I sent it with her. I'll keep it always.
I'm from Bulgaria! I met some missionaries on the road a few years ago. They were caring for children with special needs. If your kid is doing charity work, she is an amazing human being! :)
This video describes why I love mine so much too. It’s been through everything and just keeps going. It was my first mechanical watch and it will stay in my collection forever.
My SNK805 has been an absolute Rock Star for just over 10 years. It's never been serviced, and has kept great time with minimal creep (which I would regularly adjust). It's been the only watch on my wrist except when dressing for an event that requires a little more. The watch has finally reached its life span. It still runs, but I can no longer adjust the creep out to make the watch a reliable time keeper. It gains literally 2-3 minutes per hour now. I just ordered its replacement, and I purchased the exact same model in the same black configuration. This watch literally only cost me $5. US a year to own. I'm like you. The watch is SO good, simple and reliable, that it's worth replacing with the same model. I like the upgrades you've done to yours! Cheers! Zip~
Finally a video when they appreciate a good seiko creations whit a good budget, to buy, have this wacht for 4 years now am a truck driver and has gone trough winter,summer, mud and it stills runs like a champ
Thanks to you I’m gonna get one of these tomorrow. Wanted something for work that will take a beating but also something I liked and was proud to wear (without breaking the bank). Great no nonsense video. I’ve just subscribed. Keep the videos coming. Thanks.
I've always wanted a Seiko 5 because my dad had one and I just fell head over heels with this one. It's so pretty to me with the brushed steel and aviator style dial, and of course it runs great. It's also wonderful that it's quite small for a men's watch because I'm a woman with tiny wrists.
I just bought one of these watches online today (its coming in the mail) and I am so glad that I came to your review right after. I hope that I can describe my relationships like you described this watch lol.
I bought the same watch for my son's 20th birthday, just the black model and 23 jewels. It Reminded me when my own dad passed his seiko 5 automatic stainless steel 21 jewels 6619-7050 model to me when I turned 20 myself. I still use that vintage watch to this day. Its still elegant and classy looking. Am looking forward to when i can pass it over to my other kids. Its becoming an heirloom, this Seiko 5 :D.
I completely agree with what you said about the AR coatings. It makes absolutely no sense to coat such a durable material with a soft, easily scratch-able coating. Great video!
Quite a late reply but you use AR coating not for durability, but for, um, anti-reflection. That's why we have one-side coated crystals, usually the inner side
I have had my SNK805 for only a few months now but it is my absolute favorite watch. It was my first mechanical let alone automatic watch. I recently got a green Harris Tweed strap from Vario and the two go together beautifully (I always wear Tweed blazers whenever I can). It just feels very nice, and I bought it at my local, family owned watch shop and Seiko dealership, so it means a lot to me.
I've surfed and swam in mine plenty. Also in a Casio CA-53w calculator watch not just a dip, months of full swimming at the beach... I'm Aussie so beach alot. The WR on these is massively understated
Thumbs up for all people that bond with a watch (despite price) and give it so much love. I also love Seiko 5, my grand grandpa gave one to my grand grandma as a gift 50 years ago (she was berried wearing it without opening it for maintenance... ever)
I'm using the same watch, only different in color (mine is black - SNK809). Not the most exact time piece (+/- 10 to 20 seconds a day), but always a pleasure to wear and use. Great to see another person that loves this watch. Kudos to your review!
I actually really like the sword hour + longer baton minute hand because it differentiates the two, but as they say, different strokes for different folks : ) Awesome watch either way.
nice review. I would say a few things of it: 1) I also like the original strap, although its important to note the original is not a NATO (which you should look up) 2) totally agree about the legibility of it, and also as you mentioned the hands. I too replaced my hands and they are from a Citizen divers watch which really makes legibility higher 3) hacking and hand winding are just a bunch of critera which watchWankers come up with to talk as if they know something. In my life I've never needed hacking and to be honest I don't miss needing to hand wind it. 4) good tip about AR coatings on sapphire So glad to hear someone calling it a working watch not a Beater
On one channel, they showed a comment from a soldier in us military that bought one just before enlisting. He related all the abuse it took, & water combat & parachuting etc. It went for 5 years & only broke a spring bar.
I have the cream dial, and I wore it to work as a handyman for a couple of years before I realized that I was getting paint and plaster embedded into the crevices of a rally nice watch. I have since replaced it as my work watch, and have cleaned it up for everyday wear in my rotation.
Best carefree watch I have, this is one where you don't have to think about a watch being on your wrist. Small, lightweight, durable easily readable but also has a certain zing to it, so it's not an ugly thing. When I need a watch for activities where I don't want to think about a watch (work, sport, swim, etc.), this is my go to one. And now hearing your story, makes me feel even better about it. Greetings.
To be honest, I was anticipating this review to be slightly disappointing since it was 21mins long. But oh boy was I wrong! I just really like your personality. You described extremely well the points you make and you are always trying to look at the positive even on negatives points. Congrats sir, you earned yourself a subscriber. P.S. I also always thought the shape was kinda weird but it grew on me as I was wearing it. I always thought it looked like a small hamburger.
I have a simple Seiko 5 that I have worn 24/7 since 1995, and although I now own over 25 watches, my favorite go to watch is my trusty old Seiko 5. Forget the money involved, it’s one of the vest beater watches around. I have never babies it or even had it serviced and it just keeps on running!
Amazing review of an excellent watch. You can't go wrong with a Seiko. My father wore a Seiko 5in the 70's, I have loved them since. I've got the sand version of this and I just love it. It's also the smallest and lightest Seiko I have, the rest are 42mm+. Can't wait to wear it tomorrow! 🌈🙏💖
Got my SNK809 6 months ago. Thanks for your real world analysis. Spot On!!! I shopped all the UA-cam reviews before I ordered mine. Glad I did. And this little watch is my best friend. It's a Dogged little Machine. Really cool style, really fun Seiko is "The Watch " to have on the wrist
I've had two if these (lost my first at a concert) and I also had no problem swimming with it. It's not a diver, but if you're snorkeling, in a pool, at the beach etc, it is perfectly fine like he said. Fresh or salty ocean water, I had done both.
Awesome review and vid! I really like the long-term reviews. I'm thinking of getting one for my teenager as a first solid quality watch. I would get one for myself if it weren't for the low water resist.
I have this watch and like it very much. I really like the mod you did with the hands, the hour hand especially but personally would have wanted to keep a red tip to the seconds hand. Good to hear the story of your watch.
I ended up with SNZG15J - awesome one vs SNK809 not much but the case size is just right for me and I do love the double layer face of SNZG! And the lume has a special triangle mark at 12 o'clock!
It's dark outside, and the lights in this room are dim. The dial of my SNK805, the first watch I bought when I became a "collector," and the my wrist, looks nearly black. Under sunlight or normal room lighting it is green, but as our host notes, it's not as GREEN as its pictures indicate. I chose green because the US Navy aviator's watch I was issued decades ago had a green dial. I've got mine back on the OEM strap after trying a NATO. The trick is to take that strap off the watch and beat the crap out of it for a while until it's much more supple.
The strap requires a solid break-in before it's comfortable but the OEM ones cost as much as the cheaper NATO bands. I soaked it in hot water, twisted it, and took a nail file to the coarse seams and seal points to smooth the material out. I haven't gotten a NATO yet because I love the transparent window on the back of the case.
Very cool video. I wore a Fossil from 2007 to 2010. Then grabbed a Victorinox Infantry that I wore for years daily. The Seiko SNK 809 was my first automatic. And one of my favorite daily watches of 2016. Since then my collection has grown but the Seiko 809 is a comfortable go to. I like your mods. I wanted to replace my crystal with a coated sapphire. But you make a great point about how the coating can be damaged and defeats the purpose. I want to polish my case too but remember how rough my Victorinox case looked after all the wear. And your hands are rad! I'd love to change mine out but that seems really fragile. Overall great review and video. You really captured this watch as a work horse and a versatile piece for people who are new. Cheers dude!
Thanks 😊, and yes, it's a great grab and go piece. It has definitely earned my respect! Also, before you decide to polish it, just remember polished surfaces show scratches like crazy, while this stock beadblasted finish handles them like a champ
I've been using the snk 805 since 2018. Still running well the only problem is that the day and number can be a little odd sometimes. Other than that it's lasted vacations and my intense labor work.
I love Seiko. I own many watch’s including a Tudor black bay and a Tag Heur. But my Seiko collection is by far my favorite. I have Seiko 5’s including the blue version of this one. It has been put through the ringer. I’ve unintentionally beat the living hell outta this watch and it just keeps running! It’s + 4 seconds per day and keeps extremely accurate time. For less than $100 this is an extremely reliable watch for the money. If someone wants to get into mechanical watch’s this is an excellent introduction to the hobby. Seiko makes a great watch and if taken care of could last a lifetime
Thanks for the review. Bought this watch (with a metal bracelet) a month ago and love it. Perfect size for my wrist, amazing value, very easy to read and so far very precise timekeeping even across different positions - meaning I haven’t reset the time in a month and it is is still only out by +8s ! Perhaps this precision is just luck but it’s certainly given me a very good impression of the the 7s26 movement.
Love this watch. This was my first mechanical watch and it basically caused my interest in watches. I just left mine alone, the original strap that these come with is perfectly fine for my needs and its also proven to be durable to. Good little everyday watch.
I have a Seiko sne049 just a little cheap quartz watch I got for my 12th birthday and I'm now 20 and my Seiko has been through a lot with me and I'm very glad it's still ticking and going on strong
Tasteful well done video... fell in love with Seiko as a kid..... would see my stepdad wear it as a kid everyday and I’m sure he used it (glance) every day and this was in the 80’s... never a maintenance and never missing..., honestly I would love to build custom watches and I would source a high end Seiko movement ..... and midrange Swiss movement... probably with the same end result! Thanks for the comprehensive video with a great narrative...
Thx bro. Even haven't known a thing about mechanic watches i just felt in love when saw them just browsing some shop. Point about real color is really important to me, because olive is my favorite and i'm really picky about different shades of green.
I have this watch, my only watch and wear it everyday. I wear it in the workshop and garden day in day out. They really take the punishment of life. I love it !
6 років тому+5
I have this watch and I didn't expect too much from it. I mean, it's a cheap watch after all (~$85). However, this is a brilliantly made watch. I had to change the strap after several years of use (changed to a NATO strap, same color from the original one). This watch, with no doubt, beats every single watch on that price range... and it's an automatic movement watch, go figure!... there are even more expensive watches based on quartz movements (hello DW?).
I brushed the case of my SNK809, it looks far better. Replaced nylon with a Zuccolo strap. Did the same to my SNZG09 as well, replaced with a leather strap, brushed bezel with 600 grit sandpaper. And at last waiting to get my Visodate at the end of month.
+Alican Sunalı I thought about brushing it as it is a type of finish I adore, however I did not feel confident in my own skill to make it look good, so I left it all bead blasted, better than ruining it :) If I had the skill though, I might have gone forward with it!
Thank you for giving me a renewed appreciation for this watch. You have reminded me of the old saying "What goes around, comes around." I love this watch again. Very thorough, thoughtful review! Liked and subscribed.
I agree. I just bought all 4 colors of SNK8_ _. All I heard was how bad the straps were. I think they are just as good as all the aftermarket straps I bought. The blue strap from the blue watch is especially cool looking, the blue is dark but vibrant. The quality of the Seiko straps is fine. It does not look lower quality that the leather straps I bought that were made in Germany. I bought a bunch of straps from Barton, and they are all nice, but not a noticeable difference to the stock straps. Also, I don't feel as the stock straps are rough on my skin at all, I can't even feel the texture when I am wearing it.
Great review about your love for this one. I went through a same process (buying, selling....). I sold my SNK809 but i will have one soon again. Greetings from The Netherlands and keep up the good work!
I've owned the same watch for over a year and I'm totally content with it. It does tend to gain about two minutes a month, but that's nothing to complain about considering the price of $50 on Amazon. And it doesn't really seem to gain time if I leave it on my wrist at night, I don't know why that is. I did change the strap to a leather one because the band that came with it was cheap and scratchy, although durable feeling. I'm not fond of nato straps because of the way they look on the top and bottom, they look awkward.
+Glen Daly mine was about 15 seconds a day fast, but after a regulation at my watchmakers, who did it for free it was within a couple of seconds a day. I am also not a fan of NATO straps which is why I put it on a two piece nylon
Great review/observations. I too own a custom SNK 809 with black dial, larger polished SNKK case SKX Hands and Invicta second hand on a brown two rivet strap with black shoe polish rubbed in to give an old distressed look. Out of my large collection it too is my most worn favorite.
I now own an SNK809. It's beautiful and looks very durable. I notice though that the casing easily scratches and it ooks like just a coating. A little bit disappointing.
I feel the same way about my Seiko 5 SNZG15J1. I'm a larger person so the 42mm of mine is nice. I like the idea of having a smaller automatic. Thanks for another great review. I love your channel.
I bought one of these recently. Not only am I very pleased with the understated and practical design, but I am amazed at its accuracy. On average it gains just under 4 seconds per day, which for such a keenly-priced mechanical timepiece is amazing. I don't want to wear a quartz watch ever again.
Totally agree with your view on Anti-Reflective coatings. I too would go for only a single AR coating on the inside of the saphire crystal and not on the outside surface. Never thought about it before you brought it up, thank you!
+k4M1a Geo glad to hear I am not the only one thinking that. I just did a review of an Omega 300 with double sided AR and the outer layer has a lot of little scratches which kind of shows what I mean. The video will be up this Wednesday if you want to check it out
Fantastic review. I’ll be buying this watch soon. I’ve had a Timex J Crew Army watch for almost 7 years and I love the size and style. This is the closest watch to what I’m looking for that is still something a step up from what I have. And it’s my first mechanical watch so I’m really looking forward to it
I kinda hate the hands you put on it, lol. I love the stick hands, especially the reverse lollipop second hand. Mine is the green one with a nice brown leather strap. I used it a lot as a paramedic, but went back to needing a bezel on my vostok amphibia. I started wearing it a ton after I started working at a hospital though. Really love how light and invisible it feels. Only problem I found is the green dial doesn't match a lot of my dress casual shirt colors. But it is a perfect jeans watch, and i love the subtle military queues on the green face so I'm still happy i got that color. The only thing I would add to the watch is a very small moving bezel. Its useful for timing seizures, drip rates on IV's, duration of codes, or just as a makeshift stopwatch. More casual/dress/non divers need small, subtle moving bezels, IMO
Nice mod with the hands. As soon as you showed it I was like “hmmmmmm something’s off with this watch but I can’t put a finger on it though” I did the same thing but with the same hands just with a black hands and lume and changed the date wheel to black. I hated the white date wheel.
Superb informative video. I've ordered one and waiting for its arrival, I was worried about water resistant restrictions but I'm glad you've said it stands up to swimming. Once again, great video and thank you very much. 👍
Been a watch geek myself for many years, and I agree with your opinions regarding the Snk805, which I own. I was wondering, how much did it cost to have the watch serviced by a watchmaker? Since most SNKs are selling for about $65, wouldn't it have been more cost effective to simply buy a new one?
In America you can buy anything you want and in most cases prices are low too. but here in Nepal this watch hasn't been introduced yet. i thought to order it from India but the price was around $ 170.00 and for which there is no easy ordering process.
I bought this green one back in 2016, starting wearing it 3 weeks ago, I think this OEM green strap is lovely, comfy on the wrist and seems really strong. One mistake I did was buying a leather strap for it from ebay and it is crap...
Got the green Seiko 5( first auto) two days ago, and I was seriously thinking about returning because it is a bit small for me, on the edge of being a women's size, and I am not a big guy. I decided to keep it for a work watch, matches my uniform, and it is good quality. I'll wear it some on days off to keep it running.
This looked like the 809 because of how dark it is but in other lights it clearly is green. It got me curious and I looked at images of this watch, I wonder if there are 2 different productions with different shades of green because some look similar to yours but some are a quite bright green like in the stock photos. Domed crystal is good on a functional standpoint because it is less likely to shatter afaik. Wow I thought the watch would just be good for splashes when washing my hands or dishes and when it rains, didn't expect it to be okay for swimming (ymmv). Considering getting this or the black or blue version as my first mechanical watch. I have a g-shock that I've loved but the battery is currently $23..I don't particularly want to spend that kind of money on a battery so I put price alerts for when the price goes down (often drops to about $11-12)
In the year of 2000 , my grandad bought me a skx007 for my 10th birthday from japan. That was the first thing that i adored so much. Every time i went to bed i put it back in the box. I treated it like my grail watch. After owned couple of watches (Rolex, JLC, Nomos, Lange) i became a watch snob. I had a burning hatred towards entry level watches (because that always reminds me from where i came from, poor family). Little did i know, my grandpa also bought me another skx007 just in case the one that he gave me fails or lost. When i was opening his safe deposit box, the watch was sitting there waiting for me to pick it up. And the name on the guarantee card was my name. It really touched me. Now i treat both my skx with love and wear them with pride
+Alex Tomo oh wow that is a nice and warm story!!!
Both of these SKXs should stay in your family as an heirloom, and what an heirloom!!!
I hope you enjoy them for a lifetime
Alex Tomo beautiful story. Enjoy 👍
Well, I wasn't expecting THAT in the "Comments" Section.
Not that it got to me a bit emotionally or anything...
Wow what a really beauty history ... Shasre some pictures of those please
Very nice story!!! I have an old Hamilton my granddad received on his retirement nearly 60 years ago, I should get it rebuilt and wear it!
Same thing happened to me with my Orient Mako- I bought it because it was on sale at Amazon during Black Friday one year. Didn't expect much. It's turned out to be the watch I wear the most by far. I wear it cycling almost every day jiggling around. I wear it in the heat, in the rain....The funny thing is that you wear beater watches so your "nice" watches don't get damaged but the you wear it so much that you get attached to it and would hate it if it broke. They made such a big deal out of the Swatch Sistem 51 when it came out which is, in actuality, a plastic piece of junk. Meanwhile the Japanese have been churning out cheaper, tank-like automatic watches for decades. Orients, Seiko 5s...you can't go wrong with any of them.
+Christopher Hawkins I agree completely, it is what happened with me as well, so I ended up selling most my watches
You are so spot on, this is the sort of thing I would have written. Japanese Watch brands are superb!
It's true even for the lowest of the low end Japanese watches. I always wore digital watches, one day I decided they look childish and I should learn and wear analog. I found Q & Q Falcon which had hours and minutes similar to Seiko in the video and fell in love with it, it costs like 4$ in japan but i got it for 22$ after shipping. Strap fell apart within 3 days but the watch is very nice looking especially with new bracelet, still no scratches on it after heave use after 2 years and is really water resistant. I am now looking for affordable mechanical watch to try out.
The Swatch Sistem51 is an impressive watch. Sistem51 is a more impressive movement than those japanese watches have. Seiko 5 is cheap and kinda crappy. Orient is good but nothing spectacular
You obviously haven't seen too many Sistem 51 watches 😃
This video touched me. I have the same watch in blue, at least 14 years old gifted by my mom n dad when i was a kid. Im not a watch enthusiast and opted to wear fashion watches that was gifted to me by loved ones. I became an audiophile instead as a hobby. Being an audio enthusiast taught me to appreciate high quality fancy metal work from my speakers and electronics. One day, I was digging around my closet and found this old gem and they are still working, looking amazing and i appreciate how the chassis and the whole thing looks! It certainly appears to be better built than my $200 fossil fashion watches lol. Some dings and scratches here and there but they tell a very personal story to me. 14 years late but this little watch is my gateway to this new hobby. Im getting an skx007 in the next few days bec of this and will be keeping my snk forever bec it reminds me of my old self.
"This video touched me" *hands you doll* Show me where the video touched you.
I have a Seiko 5 (7009) that my mom gave to me when I turned 18. I am 54 years old now and the watch is still going strong; I have put that watch thru hell and back and it has never ever failed me. I still wear it from time to time in my watch rotation and it is always a topic of conversation for sure. I am in the process of acquiring all the SNK color models. Thank you for sharing your experience.
That is an awesome story!!! And one that testifies to the quality of Seiko 5. The 7002 movement is considered a better quality movement than the 7s26, even my watchmaker thinks so
how many times did you get it serviced?
you have it 36 years. has it ever needed a service?
Ohhh waooooooo 😍 I wish I could steal it from you...😘 Seiko is magic.. even Rolex can't beat the Seiko for love it gets..
it's really refreshing to finally see a reviewer that focuses on the important stuff, and doesn't just say the same as every other watch collector.
I have the black version and have been loving it for the past 2 years. My daughter needed a trustworthy watch for her mission trip to Bulgaria so I sent it with her. I'll keep it always.
+Dale Taylor Jr. That's nice to hear :)
I hope it serves her as reliably as mine is serving me!
Thanks for watching :)
I'm from Bulgaria! I met some missionaries on the road a few years ago. They were caring for children with special needs. If your kid is doing charity work, she is an amazing human being! :)
This video describes why I love mine so much too. It’s been through everything and just keeps going. It was my first mechanical watch and it will stay in my collection forever.
It's automatic
@@strawman7428 Yes, mechanical automatic watch. Where is the problem?
My SNK805 has been an absolute Rock Star for just over 10 years. It's never been serviced, and has kept great time with minimal creep (which I would regularly adjust). It's been the only watch on my wrist except when dressing for an event that requires a little more. The watch has finally reached its life span. It still runs, but I can no longer adjust the creep out to make the watch a reliable time keeper. It gains literally 2-3 minutes per hour now. I just ordered its replacement, and I purchased the exact same model in the same black configuration. This watch literally only cost me $5. US a year to own. I'm like you. The watch is SO good, simple and reliable, that it's worth replacing with the same model. I like the upgrades you've done to yours! Cheers! Zip~
Finally a video when they appreciate a good seiko creations whit a good budget, to buy, have this wacht for 4 years now am a truck driver and has gone trough winter,summer, mud and it stills runs like a champ
Wearing my black one right now. I just love the movement of this watch.
I've watched this video 3 times. A beautiful tribute to a hard working time piece. I'm ordering one with a leather strap and a black NATO. Bless you
Congrats and enjoy it!!
Thanks to you I’m gonna get one of these tomorrow. Wanted something for work that will take a beating but also something I liked and was proud to wear (without breaking the bank). Great no nonsense video. I’ve just subscribed. Keep the videos coming. Thanks.
+Paddy Devine thanks and congrats on a new watch 😊👍
I've always wanted a Seiko 5 because my dad had one and I just fell head over heels with this one. It's so pretty to me with the brushed steel and aviator style dial, and of course it runs great. It's also wonderful that it's quite small for a men's watch because I'm a woman with tiny wrists.
I just bought one of these watches online today (its coming in the mail) and I am so glad that I came to your review right after.
I hope that I can describe my relationships like you described this watch lol.
I bought the same watch for my son's 20th birthday, just the black model and 23 jewels. It Reminded me when my own dad passed his seiko 5 automatic stainless steel 21 jewels 6619-7050 model to me when I turned 20 myself. I still use that vintage watch to this day. Its still elegant and classy looking. Am looking forward to when i can pass it over to my other kids. Its becoming an heirloom, this Seiko 5 :D.
I completely agree with what you said about the AR coatings. It makes absolutely no sense to coat such a durable material with a soft, easily scratch-able coating. Great video!
+Noctua thanks and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that about outer AR!
And thanks for watching :)
or ... you can buy a sapphire glass already AR coated.
20-55USD. However for a Seiko SNK is kind of an overkill.
It is more a matter of taste.
Quite a late reply but you use AR coating not for durability, but for, um, anti-reflection. That's why we have one-side coated crystals, usually the inner side
You coat them to cut down on reflectivity, not to make them any more durable
I have a seiko 5 7009-3041 that has served me 56years old and it still works to this day!
Just bought this last night. I don't know what it is about this watch, but I love it, and I don't even have it yet.
Great vid!!!
I have had my SNK805 for only a few months now but it is my absolute favorite watch. It was my first mechanical let alone automatic watch. I recently got a green Harris Tweed strap from Vario and the two go together beautifully (I always wear Tweed blazers whenever I can). It just feels very nice, and I bought it at my local, family owned watch shop and Seiko dealership, so it means a lot to me.
I love my little 805 as well and keep it in constant rotation.
I've surfed and swam in mine plenty. Also in a Casio CA-53w calculator watch not just a dip, months of full swimming at the beach... I'm Aussie so beach alot. The WR on these is massively understated
The hands are just wonderful and beautiful. It makes the watch look soo much better and more professional. What a great taste in modding!
Thumbs up for all people that bond with a watch (despite price) and give it so much love.
I also love Seiko 5, my grand grandpa gave one to my grand grandma as a gift 50 years ago (she was berried wearing it without opening it for maintenance... ever)
The SNK809k is my first mechanical watch. I still love it...
I finally pulled the trigger on the snk809 due to the new model. So I looked at this review. Thanks again
I'm using the same watch, only different in color (mine is black - SNK809). Not the most exact time piece (+/- 10 to 20 seconds a day), but always a pleasure to wear and use. Great to see another person that loves this watch. Kudos to your review!
Entry level Seikos are always the bang for the buck. Watches for a whole life
Juan Rubiera
Like the IKEA of watches!
I've just bought this watch yesterday and now I've stumbled across your video ;)
+FILIP98R haha, you bought a great watch that will serve you well for years :)
Glad to know that.
Does it still work?
Yup, still ticking strong
I did too. I got a cool Rally strap ,the business . Nice video love the story of that watch. One of a kind in its own way, excellent.
The original hands look much better, in my opinion...
I actually really like the sword hour + longer baton minute hand because it differentiates the two, but as they say, different strokes for different folks : ) Awesome watch either way.
i disagree the red is better
To be honest I didn’t even notice the difference until he said he had changed then
I agree.
I prefer the all-white second hand with the arrow tip. Dont Seiko offer that option from the factory?
Had this watch for 3 years , including 1 year on a combat deployment to east Africa, still ticking away , awesome watch
I was wondering if using a rifle could damage the watch you wear? (Because of the shockwaves through the arm)
nice review. I would say a few things of it:
1) I also like the original strap, although its important to note the original is not a NATO (which you should look up)
2) totally agree about the legibility of it, and also as you mentioned the hands. I too replaced my hands and they are from a Citizen divers watch which really makes legibility higher
3) hacking and hand winding are just a bunch of critera which watchWankers come up with to talk as if they know something. In my life I've never needed hacking and to be honest I don't miss needing to hand wind it.
4) good tip about AR coatings on sapphire
So glad to hear someone calling it a working watch not a Beater
On one channel, they showed a comment from a soldier in us military that bought one just before enlisting. He related all the abuse it took, & water combat & parachuting etc. It went for 5 years & only broke a spring bar.
+Vince White that's a great story, thanks for sharing, if you get the link to that video please post it as I would love to see it 😊👍
never trust a spring bar
Lol I saw that
I have the cream dial, and I wore it to work as a handyman for a couple of years before I realized that I was getting paint and plaster embedded into the crevices of a rally nice watch. I have since replaced it as my work watch, and have cleaned it up for everyday wear in my rotation.
Best carefree watch I have, this is one where you don't have to think about a watch being on your wrist. Small, lightweight, durable easily readable but also has a certain zing to it, so it's not an ugly thing.
When I need a watch for activities where I don't want to think about a watch (work, sport, swim, etc.), this is my go to one.
And now hearing your story, makes me feel even better about it.
Greetings.
Wow Sir! You honesty levels are off the charts! Keep up the awesome content! Cheers from Bengaluru India!
Thanks for watching 😁
To be honest, I was anticipating this review to be slightly disappointing since it was 21mins long. But oh boy was I wrong! I just really like your personality. You described extremely well the points you make and you are always trying to look at the positive even on negatives points. Congrats sir, you earned yourself a subscriber.
P.S. I also always thought the shape was kinda weird but it grew on me as I was wearing it. I always thought it looked like a small hamburger.
Thanks for the kind words and now that you said it I see it too, the hamburger that is 😄😄
Good eye!!
I have the same watch.. feel like wearing it after watching the review.. love your channel 🙂🙂
+ramesh cs Haha I know the feeling, and thanks for the kind words 😊
I have a simple Seiko 5 that I have worn 24/7 since 1995, and although I now own over 25 watches, my favorite go to watch is my trusty old Seiko 5. Forget the money involved, it’s one of the vest beater watches around. I have never babies it or even had it serviced and it just keeps on running!
Great video! I have had mine for almost 2 years now. So far I have really pampered the watch. Great to know that I can go swimming with it.
Amazing review of an excellent watch. You can't go wrong with a Seiko. My father wore a Seiko 5in the 70's, I have loved them since. I've got the sand version of this and I just love it. It's also the smallest and lightest Seiko I have, the rest are 42mm+. Can't wait to wear it tomorrow! 🌈🙏💖
Got my SNK809 6 months ago. Thanks for your real world analysis. Spot On!!! I shopped all the UA-cam reviews before I ordered mine. Glad I did. And this little watch is my best friend. It's a Dogged little Machine. Really cool style, really fun
Seiko is "The Watch " to have on the wrist
I've had two if these (lost my first at a concert) and I also had no problem swimming with it. It's not a diver, but if you're snorkeling, in a pool, at the beach etc, it is perfectly fine like he said. Fresh or salty ocean water, I had done both.
I just got mine in the mail yesterday. I love this watch
Awesome review and vid! I really like the long-term reviews. I'm thinking of getting one for my teenager as a first solid quality watch. I would get one for myself if it weren't for the low water resist.
So simple, so beautiful... and thats what i love about Seiko's
I keep my Tudor Black Bay in the box and just bought this. Love this watch! Very light and simple.
A rule I learned from an old friend about collecting: never give up the first item you bought.
I have this watch and like it very much. I really like the mod you did with the hands, the hour hand especially but personally would have wanted to keep a red tip to the seconds hand. Good to hear the story of your watch.
I ended up with SNZG15J - awesome one vs SNK809 not much but the case size is just right for me and I do love the double layer face of SNZG! And the lume has a special triangle mark at 12 o'clock!
I have both lol. Depend on the day if i want bigger watch or smaller one.
@@fteambjj 2 years.. wow. You know what I've done - i have swapped movements to NH36 a year ago - now i have THE watch) Highly recommend it!
@@jpgonly7034 what strap are you using for yours? Besides nato?
@@fteambjj I have one - "Diloy Elite 22 MM" it is sort of distressed leather but not really. I like it, it is sooooft and very comfortable on a wrist.
It's dark outside, and the lights in this room are dim. The dial of my SNK805, the first watch I bought when I became a "collector," and the my wrist, looks nearly black. Under sunlight or normal room lighting it is green, but as our host notes, it's not as GREEN as its pictures indicate. I chose green because the US Navy aviator's watch I was issued decades ago had a green dial. I've got mine back on the OEM strap after trying a NATO. The trick is to take that strap off the watch and beat the crap out of it for a while until it's much more supple.
I'm getting the Seiko snk807 (blue) tomorrow as my first watch, really exited. I'm also getting a leather strap for it.
You got a new wife...and I can assure you...You will never divorce this one...Seiko is for life...
The strap requires a solid break-in before it's comfortable but the OEM ones cost as much as the cheaper NATO bands. I soaked it in hot water, twisted it, and took a nail file to the coarse seams and seal points to smooth the material out. I haven't gotten a NATO yet because I love the transparent window on the back of the case.
The best review or the Watch ever!! Thank You!
Thanks for the kind words 😊
Very cool video. I wore a Fossil from 2007 to 2010. Then grabbed a Victorinox Infantry that I wore for years daily. The Seiko SNK 809 was my first automatic. And one of my favorite daily watches of 2016. Since then my collection has grown but the Seiko 809 is a comfortable go to. I like your mods. I wanted to replace my crystal with a coated sapphire. But you make a great point about how the coating can be damaged and defeats the purpose. I want to polish my case too but remember how rough my Victorinox case looked after all the wear. And your hands are rad! I'd love to change mine out but that seems really fragile. Overall great review and video. You really captured this watch as a work horse and a versatile piece for people who are new.
Cheers dude!
Thanks 😊, and yes, it's a great grab and go piece. It has definitely earned my respect! Also, before you decide to polish it, just remember polished surfaces show scratches like crazy, while this stock beadblasted finish handles them like a champ
I've been using the snk 805 since 2018. Still running well the only problem is that the day and number can be a little odd sometimes. Other than that it's lasted vacations and my intense labor work.
This, is a very complete review. This is what I need.. Seiko five, after five years. Nicee
I love Seiko. I own many watch’s including a Tudor black bay and a Tag Heur. But my Seiko collection is by far my favorite. I have Seiko 5’s including the blue version of this one. It has been put through the ringer. I’ve unintentionally beat the living hell outta this watch and it just keeps running! It’s + 4 seconds per day and keeps extremely accurate time. For less than $100 this is an extremely reliable watch for the money. If someone wants to get into mechanical watch’s this is an excellent introduction to the hobby. Seiko makes a great watch and if taken care of could last a lifetime
Thanks for the review. Bought this watch (with a metal bracelet) a month ago and love it. Perfect size for my wrist, amazing value, very easy to read and so far very precise timekeeping even across different positions - meaning I haven’t reset the time in a month and it is is still only out by +8s ! Perhaps this precision is just luck but it’s certainly given me a very good impression of the the 7s26 movement.
Oh wow that is amazing accuracy, you really got lucky!!
Congrats on a new watch 👍
Love this watch. This was my first mechanical watch and it basically caused my interest in watches. I just left mine alone, the original strap that these come with is perfectly fine for my needs and its also proven to be durable to. Good little everyday watch.
+Robert NES816 yes they are AMAZING little watches :)
How old is yours?
2020 and this watch is the only luxury in my life...
At least it will be a trusty companion trought these challenging times,i hope things gets better for you
I have a Seiko sne049 just a little cheap quartz watch I got for my 12th birthday and I'm now 20 and my Seiko has been through a lot with me and I'm very glad it's still ticking and going on strong
I ordered mine yesterday, can’t wait to receive my first automatic 😁
Jumpeex how did u like it bro?
I also purchased my first automatic not too long ago which was an Orient Gen 2 with the roman numerals but the SNK is definitely on my list.
Which one
I purchased today a seiko SNK805, I love this watch, i feel comfy with this is my favorite watch
Tasteful well done video... fell in love with Seiko as a kid..... would see my stepdad wear it as a kid everyday and I’m sure he used it (glance) every day and this was in the 80’s... never a maintenance and never missing..., honestly I would love to build custom watches and I would source a high end Seiko movement ..... and midrange Swiss movement... probably with the same end result! Thanks for the comprehensive video with a great narrative...
I'm glad you liked the video.
I too thought about making watches but never had the courage to invest into something like that
Just got mine today and I’m loving it so far
Thx bro. Even haven't known a thing about mechanic watches i just felt in love when saw them just browsing some shop. Point about real color is really important to me, because olive is my favorite and i'm really picky about different shades of green.
I have this watch, my only watch and wear it everyday. I wear it in the workshop and garden day in day out. They really take the punishment of life. I love it !
I have this watch and I didn't expect too much from it. I mean, it's a cheap watch after all (~$85). However, this is a brilliantly made watch. I had to change the strap after several years of use (changed to a NATO strap, same color from the original one). This watch, with no doubt, beats every single watch on that price range... and it's an automatic movement watch, go figure!... there are even more expensive watches based on quartz movements (hello DW?).
I brushed the case of my SNK809, it looks far better. Replaced nylon with a Zuccolo strap. Did the same to my SNZG09 as well, replaced with a leather strap, brushed bezel with 600 grit sandpaper. And at last waiting to get my Visodate at the end of month.
+Alican Sunalı I thought about brushing it as it is a type of finish I adore, however I did not feel confident in my own skill to make it look good, so I left it all bead blasted, better than ruining it :)
If I had the skill though, I might have gone forward with it!
Thank you for the honest review.
Thank you for giving me a renewed appreciation for this watch. You have reminded me of the old saying "What goes around, comes around." I love this watch again. Very thorough, thoughtful review! Liked and subscribed.
+ats7485 haha, thanks 👍
I agree. I just bought all 4 colors of SNK8_ _. All I heard was how bad the straps were. I think they are just as good as all the aftermarket straps I bought. The blue strap from the blue watch is especially cool looking, the blue is dark but vibrant. The quality of the Seiko straps is fine. It does not look lower quality that the leather straps I bought that were made in Germany. I bought a bunch of straps from Barton, and they are all nice, but not a noticeable difference to the stock straps. Also, I don't feel as the stock straps are rough on my skin at all, I can't even feel the texture when I am wearing it.
Great review about your love for this one. I went through a same process (buying, selling....). I sold my SNK809 but i will have one soon again. Greetings from The Netherlands and keep up the good work!
Thanks and congrats on making a full circle 😄
Great video! Really well done reflection on the ownership experience and how your tastes change. Well done mods.
I've owned the same watch for over a year and I'm totally content with it. It does tend to gain about two minutes a month, but that's nothing to complain about considering the price of $50 on Amazon. And it doesn't really seem to gain time if I leave it on my wrist at night, I don't know why that is. I did change the strap to a leather one because the band that came with it was cheap and scratchy, although durable feeling. I'm not fond of nato straps because of the way they look on the top and bottom, they look awkward.
+Glen Daly mine was about 15 seconds a day fast, but after a regulation at my watchmakers, who did it for free it was within a couple of seconds a day.
I am also not a fan of NATO straps which is why I put it on a two piece nylon
This 37mm looks good.. maybe even better than the 42mm? Slightly different layout but still looks good
High praise from excellent source. Great video. Thanks
Great review. Mine just arrived today, and I love it.
Great review/observations. I too own a custom SNK 809 with black dial, larger polished SNKK case SKX Hands and Invicta second hand on a brown two rivet strap with black shoe polish rubbed in to give an old distressed look. Out of my large collection it too is my most worn favorite.
+Steven Rowell oh wow, I would like to see a picture of that, can you send it to me at: watchgeekyt@gmail.com
Great video! I definitely can relate to all the pro’s and cons you mentioned in the video! And I agree, I certainly is a great little piece! Kudos!
I now own an SNK809. It's beautiful and looks very durable. I notice though that the casing easily scratches and it ooks like just a coating. A little bit disappointing.
I polished my snk809 and I love it
Great video. The Urban Gentry also has some amazing videos on the Seiko 5.
I feel the same way about my Seiko 5 SNZG15J1. I'm a larger person so the 42mm of mine is nice. I like the idea of having a smaller automatic. Thanks for another great review. I love your channel.
Thanks for the kind words and support
I bought one of these recently. Not only am I very pleased with the understated and practical design, but I am amazed at its accuracy. On average it gains just under 4 seconds per day, which for such a keenly-priced mechanical timepiece is amazing. I don't want to wear a quartz watch ever again.
That's funny 'cause I just bought one and its average precision is the same. I read a guy on the comments above who said the same.
+2s/d according to my clock app.
Totally agree with your view on Anti-Reflective coatings. I too would go for only a single AR coating on the inside of the saphire crystal and not on the outside surface. Never thought about it before you brought it up, thank you!
+k4M1a Geo glad to hear I am not the only one thinking that. I just did a review of an Omega 300 with double sided AR and the outer layer has a lot of little scratches which kind of shows what I mean.
The video will be up this Wednesday if you want to check it out
Fantastic review. I’ll be buying this watch soon. I’ve had a Timex J Crew Army watch for almost 7 years and I love the size and style. This is the closest watch to what I’m looking for that is still something a step up from what I have. And it’s my first mechanical watch so I’m really looking forward to it
Congrats on the future purchase 😊
You could have replaced the whole movement instead. Upgrading to a NH36. It only costs around 30 USD.
Can you share a link please
@@WatchGeek www.ebay.com/itm/SEIKO-SII-NH36-NH36A-AUTOMATIC-WATCH-MOVEMENT-DAY-DATE-3-WHITE-DATE-WHEEL-NEW/312107439185?hash=item48ab0d9451:g:X8IAAOSw9y1cmMID 💪
I kinda hate the hands you put on it, lol. I love the stick hands, especially the reverse lollipop second hand.
Mine is the green one with a nice brown leather strap. I used it a lot as a paramedic, but went back to needing a bezel on my vostok amphibia.
I started wearing it a ton after I started working at a hospital though. Really love how light and invisible it feels.
Only problem I found is the green dial doesn't match a lot of my dress casual shirt colors. But it is a perfect jeans watch, and i love the subtle military queues on the green face so I'm still happy i got that color.
The only thing I would add to the watch is a very small moving bezel. Its useful for timing seizures, drip rates on IV's, duration of codes, or just as a makeshift stopwatch. More casual/dress/non divers need small, subtle moving bezels, IMO
Nice mod with the hands. As soon as you showed it I was like “hmmmmmm something’s off with this watch but I can’t put a finger on it though”
I did the same thing but with the same hands just with a black hands and lume and changed the date wheel to black. I hated the white date wheel.
The strap was rough when I originally got it, but after a week of wear it gets MUCH softer and a lot more comfortable.
It's nylon maybe it just needs to be worked in to break the rough edges
I love your attitude mate.
I was going to polish mine, but it not only does it show finger prints easily, it shows scratches too. I’ll be replacing the hardlex crystal soon.
Superb informative video.
I've ordered one and waiting for its arrival, I was worried about water resistant restrictions but I'm glad you've said it stands up to swimming. Once again, great video and thank you very much. 👍
+Douglas Fanning congrats on a new watch 😃
I bought mine 10 years ago. With proper upkeep it is still accurate just as the day I bought it.
Been a watch geek myself for many years, and I agree with your opinions regarding the Snk805, which I own. I was wondering, how much did it cost to have the watch serviced by a watchmaker? Since most SNKs are selling for about $65, wouldn't it have been more cost effective to simply buy a new one?
At the time of the service I payed an equivalent of $9
very, very helpful...thanks so much for your thoughts...I am buying one now !!
+68cristian thanks for the kind words, and I hope you enjoy yours for years like I do with mine
In America you can buy anything you want and in most cases prices are low too. but here in Nepal this watch hasn't been introduced yet. i thought to order it from India but the price was around $ 170.00 and for which there is no easy ordering process.
I bought this green one back in 2016, starting wearing it 3 weeks ago, I think this OEM green strap is lovely, comfy on the wrist and seems really strong. One mistake I did was buying a leather strap for it from ebay and it is crap...
Congrats and enjoy it for years to come 😊
I love mine. It keeps better time than my Omega Seamaster.
Got the green Seiko 5( first auto) two days ago, and I was seriously thinking about returning because it is a bit small for me, on the edge of being a women's size, and I am not a big guy. I decided to keep it for a work watch, matches my uniform, and it is good quality. I'll wear it some on days off to keep it running.
@D C Yes, back in the day men's watches were even smaller than 37mm.
This looked like the 809 because of how dark it is but in other lights it clearly is green. It got me curious and I looked at images of this watch, I wonder if there are 2 different productions with different shades of green because some look similar to yours but some are a quite bright green like in the stock photos.
Domed crystal is good on a functional standpoint because it is less likely to shatter afaik. Wow I thought the watch would just be good for splashes when washing my hands or dishes and when it rains, didn't expect it to be okay for swimming (ymmv). Considering getting this or the black or blue version as my first mechanical watch. I have a g-shock that I've loved but the battery is currently $23..I don't particularly want to spend that kind of money on a battery so I put price alerts for when the price goes down (often drops to about $11-12)