Seiko 5 GMT: Don't buy!
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- After over 2 weeks of wearing the Seiko 5 GMT I have come to the conclusion that this is the very best and the very worst that modern Seiko has to offer.
And here's why.
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One thing is clear: no matter what the company does, Seiko buyers will always complain
Well said. Don’t know what he expected. He wants a true in-house GMT movement, with sapphire and ratcheting bezel, all for under $500. Unrealistic.
The biggest problem is QC and I always will complain when I get a watch that isn't put together correctly. A major brand like Seiko should be able to improve but as I experienced for the last 15 years, they don't. And it's not related to the price of a watch. You can buy a $2000 Seiko and get dust on the dial, misaligned printing, chapter ring, bezel etc. That's why buyers complain.
@@joeybossolo7 better QC, as always 😉
that's a sorry excuse for not doing your job. it doesn't matter the cost of the watch. do your job properly or don't do it at all. wtf is wrong with you?
@@joeybossolo7 “Hey Seiko, I know your watches are flying off the shelves faster than you can make them, but I want you to lower prices anyway, just to be nice.”
🤔
I have seikos with hardlex that has been worn daily for over ten years. And as a pilot when you wear them
in a cockpit there are many hard points that your can hit your hand and watch easily while you move your hands(to reach buttons, switches etc witout looking). And never managed to scratch one. Gmt function is only a gimmick. I can do all time zone calculations from my mind(also flight computers have digital clock for ETA:). So if it looks good its just enough for me to buy:)
Same here. I have several hardlex Seikos and none of them have a single scratch. And the GMT is absolutely a gimmick! But man I love that gimmick (only have one GMT watch and it’s a Seiko 6R.
@@AgonxOC DITTO!! My hardlex original Shogun is still scratch free. I just ordered this Seiko 5 sport in Orange.
i can attest to this, i have orange monster Gen 2 for some years. the scratch mark is unable to be seen and so small that one need a lope magnifier to be found
My I have several Seiko's with the hardlex crystal and all of them have scratches, some fairly deep.
🤝👌
To anyone reading this: Buy the GMT! It's a great watch and an amazing value for money. I have a huge watch collection and this one is a keeper.
Sheep
¹a@@Psysso
Dude, it’s a Seiko 5, not a Grand Seiko. It now costs less than $300. It’s an awesome watch for what it is.
You're right and I own one myself but I've never seen a Seiko 5 GMT for
@@enasnI127 Yes - I was referring to the standard version. Congrats on your Seiko 5 GMT. It’s a beautiful and ultra reliable timepiece.
Recently got one on sale through a department store for $280 and couldn’t be more pleased, the black dial on the jubilee is simply stunning. Movement +1 or 2 seconds depending on the day. I can agree the clasp isn’t great but I own plenty of other seikos and personally have kinda gotten used to it. Don’t really see the clasp as a dealbreaker for day to day use. Also I think on paper sapphire crystal sounds better from my experience hardlex doesn’t disappoint. I’ve owned multiple seikos with it for years and they still look flawless after daily wear. If you like it buy it, don’t get too hung up on the specs
That's a great price! If you get one with good QC that's wonderful 👍👍
Where did you buy it for 280$?
I know it looks cool to me .
@@zaindhorajiwala8571 ebay selling one right now, just got one
you can customise the watch and modify whatever you dont like as new.
Hello, as you said yourself, one has not necessarily the same POV than yours. I bought the 3 different Seiko 5 GMT last week. I have had no QC issue at all, all is perfectly aligned. The price is quite fair and I got 10% reduction on each watch. All the 3 watches are beautiful, and work perfectly. I am a big fan of the cyclop because at my age (63), reading the date without a cyclop is a big challenge. Hardlex is not a problem unless you want to use your watch as a hammer. By contrast, covering the bezel with hardlex is a very nice idea and makes it shiny and original. All in all, I really love these 3 watches, which for me near the perfection fat this price point (the only drawback for me is the stamped steel clasp). I hope sincerely that Seiko will put on the market in the next few months additional variations (black and green, black and red for instance) that I will buy instantly. Best.
Hello, I'm glad you enjoy them, that's the whole point of buying these mini time capsules 😊. As everyone was unanimous in saying that these were absolute bargains I wanted to present the other POV. Keep on enjoying yours!
Obviously, it's a bargain to someone who can afford to buy three $500 watches at a time, at the height of their sales value🙄. At 63, it's easy for you to defend hardlex, but the rest of us can scratch it up easily without "using our watches as hammers". Btw, it wasn't Seiko's "nice idea" to put it on their bezel insert. It was Seiko cutting costs by not using sapphire like other companies do.
Seiko has become the greediest watch company in the world today. It's a joke that (with their huge margins compared to smaller companies) they sell a $500 watch that doesn't include things like: sapphire, a signed crown, a milled clasp, a clicking bezel etc. when others can offer all those things for a fraction of the price. They can't even package it in a decent watch box for Christ's sake! All this, and the worst QC in the industry to top it off.
I hope you enjoy your five Seiko GMT's when the other color variations come out... you know, because the GMT function isn't gimmicky at all in today's world 🙄
I’m on the same page as you Michael! See my comment just added!! 👍
I like mine and disagree with most of what you’ve said, apart from the bezel not having a ratchet. You are right, that’s a big drawback and I knock mine all the time. I have no QC issues and I knew what I was buying when I pre-ordered. I like the cyclops as my eyes are not so good, it’s useful for me. The only complaint I really have is that the GMT hand moves when you reset the time to local when travelling. That’s the bit I didn’t know and rather surprised me. I would have thought that it should stay at the hour you set it, independently of the local time setting.
I actually enjoy the bezel not having a ratchet because it aligns perfectly with anything - I wish my Glycine GMT didn’t have it either instead of a 48-hour click one!
cant you just readjust the GMT hand back after you change to local time? It takes no time at all
This watch is an 'office GMT' not 'travel GMT' in the sense that you can freely adjust the GMT hand without the local time moving, but not the other way around. Google more about it, but hope it helps
At that price point, sapphire crystal, milled clasp and a cap on the seconds hand is the least they can do. They have been riding their brand name into the swamp because of greed and laziness 🤷🏻♂️
Well put sir
I bought the black GMT for $357 as I was lucky enough to get 25% on a July 4th sale here in the US. At that price it's a fantastic bargain. Yes, Seiko's QC problems are an issue and very disappointing. But I think folks don't understand that they are just operating at such a bigger scale than microbrands and Chinese manufacturers, so ensuring QC is much more difficult. Also, they are designing and selling watches to their ADs for not much more than the price of some of the better microbrands or Chinese companies. Whole sale price of watches distributed through ADs is about 50-60% of the suggested Retail price. So, Seiko is probably selling this watch to dealers at around $250-280, which is not that much more than a San Martin's retail price. Microbrands and Chinese manufacturers sell direct and thus don't have to allow for dealer profit. They can price much more aggressively. I'd be surprised if some of the Chinese companies are making more than 10-15% profit off each unit. They have minimal R&D, design, marketing costs and just crank out homages based on the work of the established brands, though some trying out new designs of their own making (though still influenced by old designs). So, of course, they can offer fantastic value with sapphire crystal, milled clasp (as all divers use the exact same clasp found on Ali-express for a few dollars). And when you see how many units they make and move on Aliexpress, it's sometimes as low as a couple dozen units per model (100-200 is a breakout seller). Finally the entire microbrand sector would not exist without Seiko and Citizen Miyota making and selling movements to them.
@@catlike1 hello Ed and thank you for your very sensible response. At around the 350 dollar mark I reckon this is fair value.
You are absolutely right about the challenges Seiko has to offer against what Chinese brands do. That's why I appreciate Chinese brands with original designs! They are few but they exist, even from San Martin 😉
@@Horologique I agree with pretty much everything you said and have made the same arguments myself in responses in several other reviews. The other side of the coin however…first, a 6r movement wouldn’t have worked (in my understanding of how they developed this movement) as it lacks the day to modify into the gmt and would have required the development of a new movement rather than a modification of an existing movement. The price at full msrp is definitely high when you focus on what it isn’t and I agree completely with you on the Hardlex, lack of screw down crown and clasp (the bracelet is ok…the clasp sucks). But if you consider what it IS….a functional GMT movement for sub $500 usd from a major manufacturer…..more importantly a manufacturer that provides movements that are going to allow some solid microbrands to bring gmt offerings to the market it’s a good thing. And once the “gotta have it first” rush dies off, the street price will drop dramatically and a year from now we’re going to be a lot happier with what it is.
I agree however that they put a better bracelet on it with a milled clasp, sapphire crystal and screw down crown and market it in the Prospex line and I’d pay $700 for one 😂
@@johnmoyer9719 now that you say it you are totally right about the 6r movement.
Totally, at $300 to $350 this is totally another proposition. My pet peev was hearing all the mainstream press praising this watch, I really had to give the other side of the argument 😉
I think a major problem with Seiko's QC is the AD's and boutiques. If they were doing their jobs properly they'd be returning misaligned shipments and declaring them unfit for purpose. A very fair review Olivier. Thanks.
Thank you Dave! Yes that's a good point! It's also up to us
Too true. I pointed out a major misalignment on a Seiko I was about to buy and they changed it for the one on display then put the dodgy one back in stock.
@@davids1194 that's really dissapointing. As long as we continue buying nothing will change
@@davids1194 we definitely deserve better 👍
Yes correct .. if im buying from a shop ill ask to see several n then pick best one
I got this watch a week ago, I have had 50+ watches, price ranges from low end to mid/high end and I have to say for 500$ this is an awesome watch. Looks amazing too. Its a true gmt from seiko with a great movement for the price and yes theres a few kinks but its great overall
I'm really glad you are enjoying yours! I but give my point of view here, stating that it's only that. Peace ✌️
The same here, is an incredible watch for the money
Nice review! I think it is a beautiful watch for a very good price. I do agree with some of the drawbacks, especially with the misalignment. But I find other drawbacks rather a non-issue. Who cares that a movement is not built up from ground but a modified nh35 movement? I think all affordable watch companies do that. Why entirely redesigning a thing that works well? And then the cyclops that is Rolex heritage? Who cares what the heritage is - if you like it then buy it. I also think buyers do not mind in which of their watch categories SEIKO puts the watch - either you like it or not; who cares how SEIKO advertises it...
I got mine 1 day after the release here in the UK on the 2nd. I love it. It is pretty, solid links and only +6 seconds a day. No screw down crown so every morning I reset at minus 3 secs. I have no alignment issues, my GMT hand lines up beautifully. Midnight they all line up spot on, and the date is changing. You must have a Friday afternoon one 😞
Haha then I've had a lot of Friday afternoon Seikos in my time 🤣
Just snapped this up in the back Friday sale for £300. Never pay retail for seiko they are always discounted if you are prepared to wait. It always surprises me when people complain about the retail prices for new releases. Be patient, shop smart you will get a bargain.
£280 at H.M Samuel
@@jamiek7289 that's a great price
@@jamiek7289
H Samuel's are rich pickings. My local branch seem always ready to do sweet deals.
Thanks for the review. I really like the watch but have decided not to buy one, mainly for the reasons you have highlighted. The one thing I disagree with is the cyclops being Rolex heritage (which it well may be); but for my old eyes, a decent cyclops is a life changer. It is like seat belts in a car… Volvo invented the seatbelt but all cars use it for obvious reasons. Thanks again for a well-balanced video.
Nonsense, this is a great watch.
I'm loving my ssk003. I'm lucky to have purchased one that was Made in Japan. Everything lines up perfectly. I have slept with my watch on and have not had any issues with the bezel moving. Just ordered the Marinemaster ratcheting clasp to swap out. I am considering on replacing the hardlex to sapphire in the future but for now I'm just enjoying the watch. 👍
I'm glad that you are enjoying it 👍. With Seiko QC is a matter of luck and at this price point it shouldn't be
Made in Japan, that's some kind of quality guarantee. 🎉
How can we get a Japan made ?
İt is a great watch! I have it and also I have longines quadriple which is 5000$ but seiko much more comfortable than it, so I didnt listen to you, I just wanna write after seeing the topic. I mean dont agree with you!
£450 and it has a pressed clasp is absolutely unacceptable, when you can pick up a £50 watch on Ali with a milled clasp and sapphire. Really lazy effort..
Why do people always complain, get that watch for 50£ and stop whining. The watch offers a lot for a reasonable prize. Seiko is seiko.
Rhis watch is perfect for me, I am 70 years old so the cyclops is essential, the GMT is perfect as I always need to know the time in adifferent time zone, I like dive style watches and a little misalignment does not matter as I can't see it anyway and a few seconds out on my decompression time doesn't matter, I have been wearing hardlex crystal watches working underground for years and change the crystal every ten years or so if I need to or not. I have six seiko divers both auto and quartz and they all do the job they are designed for.
Thank you dor your insight Steve, it's precious coming from a decades old user and lover of Seiko watches. Seiko used to be my favourite brand, and I wouldn't have minded all the classic quirks if their prices hadn't Risen so much without upping the quality
I think this is a fantastic watch . I actually just ordered this from my local jeweler. They had the black and Orange version but not the blue . It should be in in about a week. I’m looking forward to getting it in . Seiko is my favorite all time brand as well as Orient. I know there’s a lot of people who do nothing but complain about Seiko but I’ll buy and wear Seiko all day long 👍🏻💯
I love my Blueberry!! But didn’t like the heavily-beveled crystal, nor the slightly garish bezel insert. So I swapped those out for a no-bevel domed sapphire, and a sloped ceramic 24 hr Batman bezel, both from DLW. Very pleased with it. Love the dial, love the GMT hand, love the 40 hour movement, love the hacking and hand winding, love the solid link bracelet, I’m even happy with the clasp!! Very pleased with the whole watch.
Slightly garish insert? How? Where? WTF are you talking about? It’s a GMT bezel. I’ve never seen anyone else refer to it this way, and I’ve watched tons of reviews and read hundreds of comments.
Wow. Can you upload a photo of that mod aomewhere?
You described some really good pionts to not buy this GMT!!!! for 500 - 600 dollars...and you get ...."Hardlex", Non Ratcheting Bezel, Bad Clasp and Bad QC??? yeah this is a no go for me. I am gonna wait till the prices go WAY down on this and buy it second hand. For 500 - 600...i could get a prospex Seiko. I actually just bought an Automatic Seiko King Turtle for $450.....Sapphire Crystal and Ceramic Bezel with 200m water resistant. I think "Value" for your money is what people should be looking for in watches, try to get a bang for your buck guys...and this GMT is just not that at all.
Thank you, I'm glad you think so as well! You are absolutely right, this is almost Prospex Money for a watch that lacks Prospex advantages: WR, sapphire...
I still think I'm the only one on the UA-cam watch space holding these views, everyone else is praising this watch, at least major UA-camrs and many viewers as well, but I guess that almost $500 is nothing for them 😂
@@Horologique I have an opportunity to buy this watch in black for 350 but still on the fence about it. I think your video did do a very good job of highlight the goods and the bads.....it made a lot of sense to me. It is a very nice looking watch but looks can only go so far. I really like your view point!!! You review watches very well, love your Channel and got a new Subscriber!!!
@@Crimson_626 thank you so much for the support 👍👍
I like this watch a lot. My first automatic gmt watch. It looks so stunning compared to the other two $200 watches that I had.
The bezel is not a GMT bezel, it moves around so useless.
The watch is not waterproof enough to wear it outside in the rain.
The clasp is not a clasp for a €450 watch
The hardlex bezel and glass willl look scratched after a year.
The dial QC issues are worse than a €50 watch.
For half the price you buy a San Martin, with NONE of the above issues.
You are right about everything, except the water resistance part. 100m is more than enough to wash your hands.
Yep, basically what Lucas said 👍. Let's wait for what Sam Martin has to offer with this movement 😁
I am not talking about washing your hands, I am talking caught in the rain, everything soaking wet, or doing sports, sweating and having a shower afterwards, or walking outside in the mist and drizzle for hours. You will get moisture inside and you can throw away a €450 watch. Nobody dives to 200 meter, but doing the stuff I mentioned above is not uncommon.
@@renebense thank you for clarifying. I'm facing this very issue right now, I'm going on a beach vacation in a few days and I'm really debating on taking this watch or not 🤔
The beach is very harsh for any watch. You have the water the salt, the sun, the sand, the dive into the swimming pool afterwards, so chlorine, the shower, cold, warm, hot, cold. Then the cleaning of the watch, bracelet. Without cleaning the salt will destroy surfaces and crown sealing. That's why you need a 200m diver, not to dive, but to have a good working watch after 2 weeks of intensive abuse.
Seiko 5 watches almost traditionally decrease in price as time goes on. I predict this watch will eventually be available for around $270 to $300. BTW, the Steinhart has a unidirectional bezel because it is primarily considered as a dive watch. However, it is still the greatest value GMT on the market.
That price point doesn't make sense they will never let it get that low.
@@Chris-de2qc £280 atm at H.M Samuel.
@@jamiek7289 its 400 at H.M Samuel
@itskoota I just got this from H Samuel with their 30% discount. for £294.
Available here in Japan on Amazon for the equivalent of around £260 or $320.
I agree with this guy. I had the gmt seiko. And I sold it to get the orient ray 2 lol. I know they are different types of watches but I believe the orient is all around better watch. friction fit bezel sucks, and unless you are traveling the country everyday a diver are much more useful and more durable imo
I agree with you completely on this. but the modified movement is fine with me, why re-invent the wheel, the movement is solid, so to build upon it is a smart move.
Thanks mate. I'm totally for them building on what they already have but what pisses me off is the Hodinkee crowd prasing the fact it's "so affordable". It's just not when they are building in what they already have
@@Horologique lol the Hondinkee crowd are a bunch of apes
It's a Seiko, not a Grand Seiko. They will never give you the specs that Chinese brands give you. The money you pay for the fact that it is a Seiko and not a Pagani. If the QC problems bother you, go to a store and hand pick the one you're satisfied with. As long as you people keep paying the prices Seiko asked for it. Of course it won't get cheaper, they are in the game for the profit in the end.
I like mine, this is just complaining about something because there was nothing else around
I've had this model for about a year now and it's been great. No QC issues with mine at all. Movement is running about plus 15 seconds a day but apart from that no complaints and it looks so good.
That's wonderdul, as I say in the video as long as you don't have QC issues, you are ok with its weaknesses and you got it at the right price it's a good watch
I can't stand rotating bezels moving by themselves. Along with the Hardlex crystal it is what keeps from buying the watch. I don't mind cyclopses when they are well done, well aligned that is to say. I see this as a prelude to many interesting microbrand watches featuring this movement. I often hear watch reviewers giving expression to their hope Seiko finally get misalignment issues under control. I don't know whether there is even the will to improve on that. I just got caught out with another Seiko with horrendous alignment that goes back to the seller. Finally I noticed quite a lot of dust under the crystal on your macro footage.
Thank you for your comment my friend. To be fair most of the dust is over the crystal, it's my fault for not cleaning it up properly (although it's amazing how dust lingers under macro). What was the Seiko you bought?
👀
I’ve had mine now over a month. This watch has exceeded my expectations. It’s an excellent watch in every aspect. My only gripe was the clasp . I ordered and added a Marine Master clasp to the stock bracelet and it’s perfect 👍🏻. There’s no qc issues with alignment and I’m perfectly satisfied with mine .
That's wondeful, you got lucky! I still have mine but I really wish it didn't have those terrible alignment issues
@@Horologique I wish it didn’t either my friend.
I bought mine today! I traded the braclet for a black and orange rubber one ond got it for 320 euros. I'm very happy with the deal☺️
That's a correct pricing for this watch indeed, as long as it doesn't come with QC issues. Enjoy it to the fullest 👍
i been wearing this for the past week and i have no complaints. this is a cheap gmt and it does its job pretty well. im impressed its way better than what i expected but maybe its because this is my 2nd seiko watch. i personally think its the perfect beater watch and it looks good on nato straps.
Why not Quartz? Without the self winding boxes, what a pain in the 'A' to have to reset it. 10/15 seconds a day!? I bought the Bulova Moon watch. $400. 10/15 seconds a YEAR! Just my opinion. A far better watch (with Sapphire Crystal).
Well it's actually around 468 USD where I live and can be had for lower around 370 USD at launch everywhere. I think it is a fair price to pay for what is offered.
Totally, at that price and with no QC issues you wouldn't see me complaining, quiet the contrary
Don't buy!! It's really a bad watch. I sold it after I buy one day later. Now I bought a Steinhart and I am pretty happy. My humble suggestion to Seiko company is to transfer several quality managers from Toyota or Denso companies.
Great review. I’m so tired of the SKX case shape used for EVERY watch.
Thank you so much! It's true they have used the case design extensively!
Really honest and just review. These are (except the QC) the main reasons for my desicion not to buy this watch. Price it around $300 with pressed end links and an aluminium bezel; or install a sapphire crystal, a milled clasp and a ratcheting bezel and price it around $600.
Great looking watch . The misalignment of the dial is a trademark of Seiko ! Albeit a very very bad trademark . I don’t understand why after all these years why Seiko can’t get it right ? 😮
I really don't get it either, especially at this higher price point 🤔
I would have preferred a 6r34 in a Prospex model, but it would have been $600-800 and I probably would not have purchased it. At $450, I will buy these all day.
For my explained reasoning... I'm sticking with Tissot. Their qc is excellent.
It is indeed, better than Seiko for sure
I have a Tissot PRX auto. Top notch quality. If I was to spend the same money on a Seiko diver, the bezel would be misaligned for sure.
Great video and lots of interesting points for and against buying this watch! I’m glad you do however like it enough to keep it!!
I received mine on 1st July the day it was released and have worn in nearly every day since then. Like you I’m keeping mine! I love it and have become more fond of it as the month has gone by.
I have no problem with any of the negative points you’ve mentioned: no QC issues, love the friction bezel, happy with hardlex, like that my poor old eyesight can see the date through the cyclops etc.
My only negative is it not having a screw down crown. I get it’s not a diver watch, but my perfect holiday watch needs to be able to spend lots of time in the sea without any worries!!
Overall, I’m glad I bought it - and with my 15% discount think I got a real bargain!
Thanks for a great video. I’ve subscribed and looking forward to catching up with some previous videos 👍😎
Thank you very much for the support! As for the watch I'm really glad you got a deal for it and that you are enjoying yours, after all that's all that matters 👍
Unless you are actually going diving you’ll be fine. I wear my Seiko 5s (30m WR) to the beach all the time.
The idea that a crown needs to screw down for WR is a myth. And if you look at Seiko’s proprietary design you’ll see that unlike Rolex it doesn’t need the crown to secure the seal. So while a Rolex will or could let water in with the crown unscrewed a Seiko won’t have that problem.
Nice Timepiece but OP, will wait and see if they make way cheaper homages and sell with better specs on AliExpress.
I have a San Martin GMT Master II clone with sapphire crystal, ceramic 24 click bi-directional bezel, and screw down crown with 200 meters of water resistance. It costs less than what Seiko is asking for.
Thanks for buying chinese mr demo
You will certainly get that very soon 👍
I agree with a lot of what you said. I own quite a few Seiko watches and I enjoy them all but I remember a few years back when they decided to improve their image outside of Japan. and their prices began to creep upward. So many people said they were ok with it as long as they addressed the QC issues and offered better specs. I don't think it's too much to expect at least a sapphire crystal and a decent quality fully milled bracelet for 475 Rur
Hardlex is acceptable on their sub £300 watches, but they use it on £500+ models, and it becomes a deal breaker when you're spending that much. They have some beautiful models that got my attention, but I backed off when I saw their Hardlex specs. I'm not anti Seiko and have two Alpinists with sapphire crystals, but they were both £600+ so that seems to be the point where they use it.
I have my SKX Alpinist that's I bought $400 new... those were the days 😢
Too much for too little. Last week I bought the Seiko PADI Kinetic (brand new) with a TRUE GMT function for about $200 less than the asking price of this watch. I get a beautiful watch with Diver's certification and fantastic build quality.
That's an amazing price and an amazing watch 👍
I found the lowest price on the the black model Seiko SSK001 for only $255 with free delivery.
This blue model is the SSK003.
Wonderful price! Don't hesitate to share the link it tell us where you got it
I purchased the Tanfoglio GMT (Batman) for $99.00. NH 34. Everything is perfectly aligned. Sapphire crystal. Ceramic bezel insert. Unidirectional 120 click bezel. Claims 200 meters WR (I won't be testing that!). Screw down , signed crown. Nice finishing. On ss bracelet. Check it out!!😊
Thank you very much! Yes I heard the WR resistance is terrible but once you know to keep it away from water it's a bargain
@@Horologique the display back version failed a UA-camr pressure test.. I bought the solid steel case . I suspect the WR is better. However I use digital scuba equipment for actual diving.
A friction bezel for a GMT in that price range is really a joke, I will pass
I have to say after watching this review several times. This is the fairest and most honest review of a watch I have seen..The SK5 GMT is like Marmite, love it or hate it.
I agree, there are so many clever things about this watch yet so many wtf's!
The one off glass covered bezel, multi directional, I love that innovation.
Wake up Rolex ZZZ, boring!!
The irritating offset of the 12 hauret is somewhat cute in a deliberate clumsy error type of way.
If Seiko were to fix that, this release would be in demand, for ironically having a floor in it, like bank notes, stamps and coins.
Embrace the beauty of this watch and it's idiosyncratic nature.
Personally, I'm not selling. I think overall it's a wonderful piece. Some might say an "Ugly duckling" and we all know how that turned out right? 😁
Thanks for your opinion - although I don’t agree with anything you said - I think it’s just not a watch for you. Your bezel may be too loose, mine is stiff enough not to be accidentally moved. The only thing that bothers me is that the budget clasp may bend over time but it’s very comfortable and has a lot of microadjustments.
Thank you for sharing your opinion as well. That's what mine is, just an opinion, and I try my best to give both positive and negative points about this watch to all the viewers so they can make an informed decision 👍
Its actually 280-300$ here in Philippines and im about to buy it
That's a wonderdul price totally in line with what this watch has to offer. If you can check that you get one with good QC
For me I would never buy a watch where the hands don’t line up, I expect that from a $30 kids watch NOT from a mid tier Seiko
But the misaligned chapter ring is part of Seiko's heritage. It should remain 😂😅
😂
I love mine. I got the black/grey (SSK001) and can’t stop looking at it. I did have to send my first one back as there was a little blob of lume on the minute hand. Everything is perfect on the replacement though. I love the cyclops and the jubilee style bracelet (although I’ve put it on an oyster bracelet for everyday). If and when the hardlex gets scratched, I’ll put a sapphire in. I paid £360 so not bank breaking for something I love. I always wanted a SKX but never got one and I like GMTs so this was just right for me.
How did you end paying just £360? I found them for £400 everywhere. Which dealer? Would appreciate the inputs!
@@muhammaddaniyalubaidullah8363 I signed up to the mailing list for ‘First Class Watches’ and got 10% off 🙌
@@mattwebb4561 Thanks for that bro!
At that price and with no QC issues I can totally get behind this watch
Its would be perfect if they made it 39mm, iso certified and sapphire.
Love my seiko 5…switch it out with my seiko sport every other day. No complaints, only compliments. I don’t bring rocks with the crystal so no worry.
I’ve had a seiko 5 sea urchin on my wrist everyday for the last 9 yrs , im in the building trade mostly muck shifting and concrete work, it’s not very pretty anymore but hands down the best watch I’ve had . I’ve used seiko watches since the early 80s mostly all 5’s . Great quality and looks for not alot of cash. 😊
Thank you for sharing your great experience with Seiko 5s! Great watches indeed that used to cost way below $100, but that's in the past 😢
This watch is easily available at us400. It's around the same price as a turtle. I don't mind hardlex because it's clearer than non AR Sapphire. I agree the jubilee construction is crap but it is so comfortable.
Where
As a diver the non-screwdown and friction bezel are deal breakers. Had a Seiko for over 25 years and it took a beating. Good watch and it finally quit and was going to cost more to fix than the watch cost new. Went with an EcoDrive and seems pretty tough after 10+ years.
For this price, I consider the modified nh35 to be a good thing. It's been time tested and rock solid. And servicing will be easy and cheap.
I've looked at getting one as an alternative wear, and I thought I was going to disagree with your criticisms. But, on point. I still may pick one up.
Thank you! In spite of the title6of the video you can see that I point to both positives and negatives. And more than a year after I still have this watch 😁
Yes, I waited 1 years to buy it cos it went on sale and then I picked it up. I also concluded it was not worth the €470 price tag :)
We agree on that 👍. They will soon release a new GMT model, I just posted a video about it
Sincere question--I see lots of comments saying all the things a $400 automatic GMT watch SHOULD have that this one is lacking... a sapphire crystal, 200m WR, a 120-click bezel, and a milled clasp. Can someone point me to a $400 (or even $600) watch like that? I've been looking for a better alternative to this Seiko and haven't found anything...
Hello Jefferson. The alternative would be with Steihanrt, their Ocean One GMT line. Otherwise, if you want to stay below the $400 there's the San Martin GMT as well: ua-cam.com/video/tlBWpi0KKIM/v-deo.html
@@Horologique Those are just knock-off watches, homages at best
I'd rather pay more money for a better watch without these flaws.
That's great, some jew watches are coming 👍
But is this a watch that will become a dad watch? I have my farther’s yellow 6139 from 72, and it still looks and feels amazing.
It just might, with good care and servicing a mechanical timepiece can last decades
I don't agree at all with the negative. I bought this watch and its a great value for the money. Seiko IMO gives the most bang for the buck. I paid 399 off of eBay for mine. That was shipping and tax. Seiko is a good watch for those who want the most for their money.
Hardlex is why I refuse to buy Seikos at this price point. Even though most if not all micro brands use sapphire in their watches for equal or less money. This is my personal preference, if you love Seiko good for you, please do not come after me in the comments because you’re offended like a lot of Seiko owners tend to do. Thanks.
I have been looking at Sekio Automatic watches and have decided not to buy them now, as there are so many watches with hardlex, watches should be Sapphire Crystal nowadays I would gladly pay more for Sapphire Crystal.
I had a chance to look at one of these at the mall. Nice looking watch, but not a $450 watch. It’s a Seiko 5, it feels somewhat cheap, more like a $250 watch, but you’re paying for the GMT. I don’t need that feature. Hard pass for me.
Totally, it's not a $450 watch. If you can have it for around $300 without quality issues that should be much better value
Seiko conditioning buyers with higher prices on Seiko 5 to push buyers to the more expensive pieces and people still think they are getting a bargain
Yes they are and... yes they do 😞
Exactly my thoughts. The GMT version was a good excuse to try and get one of these on top of my divers, but at 500 bucks, even at 400, we got options.
I like this model and enjoy mine. The GMT function at this price is great. But these are all valid points.
Thank you! For the right price and with good QC this is a good watch, very attractive
I just watched the video, and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve watched quite a few people have negatives about the watch, but nobody put it quite as good as you just did. This is the first video of yours I’ve seen, I will be subscribing. Keep up the good work my friend, I look forward to more reviews and opinions.
Thank you so much for your support Mike! As you can see this is a very divisive subject 😂
I picked up mine for £300, I think it's a good price given what's on offer. I would not have paid full price for it.
But for £300 I get a GMT movement, SEIKO quality (and QC, unfortunately), a pretty solid jubilee bracelet and a gorgeous dial/bezel/GMT hand combination. Pretty good deal, IMO.
I agree with most of your points, but who sleeps with their watch on?? lol.
I do man, I'm a watch nerd😅
I do 🤣. That's a good price and at that price, of you get decent enough QC, I can totally get behind this watch
Where did you get it for this price
I went had a look at one with the intention of buying , but I must admit the watch for me did not match up to the hype , I agree about the bezel , I fact that was the main factor for me not buying
Yes, the bezel is very 1960s quality 😂
Seiko sheep and reviewers raving about this piece,but it does nothing for me, much like the entire new 5kx line. They killed it when they removed the ISO and chose not to give us milled clasps and sapphire. Why would they tho, since people seem to be buying them nevertheless.
Great video. Thank you. The lack of saphire and QC issues are not only maddening, but, not understandable
Totally, thank you for your comment 👍
I think Seiko miss a trick here, it looks good as does the SKX007/9. What I do not like is friction bezel (Uni ratchet would be better), Lacks a screw down crown, Micky Mouse clear back, Seiko 5 logo looks naff, I would also prefer an Oyster strap.
Totally agree with you man, I would also add tge lack os a sapphire crystal
I bought it for 330 € and I think it's great. it was used for a youtube video and passed on to me with a guarantee card.
At that price and if it has no QC issues it's a decent buy 👍
I have observed that all Seiko new releases come up with ever higher prices. Second thing is they will classify some as limited edition to justify price increase. Their marketing has not stop this stretegy which I believe they found it to be more profitable. It's the same for even the Prospex line which are now testing the market ranging more than 1k.
If the price goes up to the same as Longines, I would rather buy a Longines that enjoys a better prestige and will fetch a higher resale value.
Truth be told, I think the new GMT should be priced around 300-350 range. It will probably sells like hot cakes.
Mine doesn’t have any misaligned issues, the bracelet is a big upgrade, i paid 100 more than a entry level 5
my 25 year old Seiko Kinetic only gains 7 seconds a MONTH !! I bought an Omega Speedmaster Professional and it loses 2 seconds a DAY !! I'm going to keep the old seiko and get rid of the new Omega ! who wants to wind watches up anyway!!
It's normal, the Kinetic is a Quartz, so it should be within 15 seconds a month. The Omega is an automatic and at - 2 spd it's outstanding for an automatic, well within COSC
Hard disagree on all points except ratcheting bezel. Even that isn't terribly bad, easy to make a small correction to realign every other day or so. It mostly just feels better to adjust a ratcheting bezel, more premium. I'm sure there'll be a ratcheting mod in a few months for this watch as well.
Everything else is pretty awesome. Get a milled clasp for 20 bucks.
You were right, I just paid $350 on a black Friday deal!
That's a cool price, congrats 👍
It is mutton dressed as lamb hence your pros. As for the cons your first two are immaterial. However, the rest are poor flaws - as they affect the function of the watch and speak to a lack of integrity. Surely, it would be just as easy to do things correctly than to be so petty as to not.
The GMT movement is called NH34 and cost less than 40usd retail, same price point as the NH36 (day & date) or the NH35 (only date).
Once you understand that the movement cost the same regardless being GMT or not, where the extra 150-200usd that cost the GMT watch go? Easy, extra corporate profits from a product that cost the same to produce.
What do you honestly get for 500 euros these days? I think a lot of watch collectors need to realize that prices for ALL goods went up significantly since 2020. The days of thinking of Seikos as being sub $200 watches are long gone.
Seiko has a 6R64 movement and a presage GMT for thrice the price. So, they aren't going to launch a prospex GMT at 600 dollars.
Besides, the value proposition is crystal clear. It is an attainable GMT for most people with an iconic design.
It makes me laugh when people describe this as a 'budget' GMT. Close to five hundred euros is not budget!
I am looking to buy this same watch, but after your unbiased review, I decided to pause to see if Seiko will make the improvements in the crystal and clasp. I do want to ask the viewers about what is the issue with the chapter ring under the crystal?
Thank you very much for your comment. My version came with a very misaligned chapter ring as you can see in yhe6close ups. That's my major pet peev against this watch for the price asked. If you can find one for less money and with good QC then it might be worth it, they are beautiful after all, and that will be for you to decide. Good luck 👍
These are all really good points. Seiko always seems to give you just under what you would want at a price point. I see so many Seikos I want to own, but then I read about all the ways they cut corners to reach a price point and the alternatives haven't. It's a shame, because I've loved Seikos since my Dad wore one for years.
I have the 003 and cant fault it in anyway.
Dont get hung up on trivial minor specs most wont even notice.
It looks great, it tells the time, it will/does get favorable comments from people.
GO BUY IT 👍
Turning the date wheel into a gmt hand is neat trick and that's worth a few bucks, but not a few hundred bucks.
TOTALLY!
Got mine for 380€ and gpt lucky, no qc issues and after 2 weeks it stays in the range of +3~+5s a day
At that proce6and with those characteristics it's great! Just hope it had sapphire
what size is your wrist? This watch has short lug to lug distance so it seems like it wears well on small wrists
My wrist is 17cm or around 7 inches. Ot wears wonderdul
If you live outside of Japan, you don't need such accurate watches like Seiko or citizen, In Japan you'll need it because the trains and buses come exactly the time you were promised all the way down to the second.
People depend on their watches.
You'll understand only if you live there.
So much so that all high school students are given watches as a gift to become the high school student.
Best honest review I've heard...so between misalignment and their persistence for hardlex crystal, I'll pass...👍
Thank you!
Agree, clasp is crap, hardlex crystal, GMT hand doesn't line up (on mine) with hour hand, really thick. Overall, not horrible. Look at the Phoibos GMT, more for the money
Totally, many better options with this same movement