I almost didn't buy the watch because of this review. Anyways i did bought it, and it is fantastic for its price, yes the strap is kinda rubbish and the rotor i little too loud, but its pretty accurate. I run 4 to 5 times a week and I've set the time 2 month ago and time it is still correct to the minute. I could not be happier with my cheap ass watch.
@@salty_terminal_civilian5374 110 it went down a bit I think but definitely not worth that still, wish it still was it looks like a nice field watch beater, as a project you could regulate it yourself too (if the price ever goes back down to 50...)
Absolutely true. However the accuracy on some of the really cheap watches is so bad that even if you're not that concerned about accuracy it's not great. If you wear it from time to time and then it sits around for a bit and drains the power reserved then it doesn't really matter because you have to reset it anyways but if it's the watch you wear every single day, being 5 minutes off by the end of the week is less than ideal.
I've had this watch for around 5 years, beat the crap out of it and replaced the crystal with saphire. I found the day/date does move over very very slow. Considering I work nights I notice it even more than most people. Rattling rotors became a issue after a year but I since had it tightened it up.Accuracy is not abysmal as it is here with mine gaining 4-6 seconds a day. With waterproofness I hadn't known about the limitations of non-screw down crowns and went swimming many many times with the watch with no issues. At this price it may be quality control that is the cost cutting factor considering I have fallen in love with mine over the years of it being my constant companion.
Hey, cool, glad you've had better luck. No doubt it can be regulated to do better! And glad the water hasn't been an issue for you. Thanks for sharing!
I own one for the last 9 months and I've worn it in the pool once and I wear it in the shower on the regular.Of course, just make sure the crown is pushed in properly, not that I have to mention that. I would have no worry if I were you.
I love mine. Yes, the rotor is loud and the movement is very basic, but for the price it is amazing. Mine keeps very good time at +5 seconds. You got a bad one. This watch is not junk! I recommend this to anyone who looking to buy their first mechanical.
1 - The crown is recessed and positioned at 4 o'clock to not dig into and irritates someone's hand. 2 - This watch is just "Water Resist", or 30m, it's ok to wash your hands, but no showering or swimming. 3 - The dial is not busy, it's called Flieger style watch, is was designed and used by german pilots in WWII. 4 - Seiko's 7s26 is one of the most reliable mechanical movements out there, it's known to work for years without any service. 5 - I think you're just unlucky and got a bad sample, mine is getting +10 seconds per day consistently. But... 6 - Yes, the movement is non-hacking, has a noisy rotor and quality is not as consistent as some ETA out there, but for 50 bucks? You have to pay at least 300 for a ETA based automatic watch. And 50 dollars is even considered to be "strap money" by a lot of watch collectors. 7 - Yes, the strap is cheap and not comfortable, this is the only thing that I agree with your review. Good luck.
The dial is busy, you'd have to be a geriatric to require all those numbers spoonfed to you as though you can't read the indices , and just because it was used by German pilots in WW2 doesn't change that fact. What relevance does it being used by pilots have to do with it being busy? None. You know what's also busy? All the gauges in the cockpit of a plane. If anything, the watch being used by pilots reinforces the idea that it's busy. And the same use a pilot may have for the watch does not necessarily apply to the average wannabe-horologist-14-year-old who's purchasing this watch.
@@johndesper9425 Holy smokes! Who put a bee in your bonnet? @Chien Lin Chen is correct in his evaluation of the dial. German pilots in WW2 were not "geriatric", they just needed an ultra-legible tool that can be read at a glance. For the record, I highly respect individuals who buy these cheap mechanicals and not stupid low-quality fashion watches. It shows real character, a lack of snobbery, and noticeable interest in mechanical items.
Holy hell. 50 bucks, mechanical, proven work horse movement, beautiful design. I'm not sure there is any somewhat dislike here. 50 BUCKS!!! I think you have totally missed the point if this watch. The point being to get new people into cool reliable watches, at an affordable price. At $100 this thing kicks ass.
Yeah just came across this video. I completely disagree with your thoughts on the Seiko 7S26 movement. It's a workhorse. Let me just discuss where I find your review lacking: 1. Accuracy. Yes, because you can't hack the movement, it won't be as accurate as a hacking mechanical or a quartz. People who are into mechanical watches don't really care about that. As far as your report of it being 25 seconds off via not on the wrist, or 59 seconds fast while taking a walk, I can't confirm that. My SNK809 is accurate within 20 seconds a day. I've worn it just about everyday for the last six months and it's kept up. My only conclusion, then, would be that yours need to be serviced, or you were near a magnet and that's why it runs so fast. 2. The Rotor is loud, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's really only noticeable when you give the watch the old Seiko shuffle. 3. It's actually a rather decent looking movement, considering the price. Tons of more unattractive movements out there, even in a higher price bracket. 4. The reason the numbers are indicated the way they are on this watch is because it follows the Flieger style. Go look up what Fliegers look like. That's not at all a fair complaint. If you don't like the style, buy something else. 4. The movement is the same one found in the SKX series of divers. Really, what's your issue with the movement. Frankly, I don't believe your complaints. 5. The second hand moves backwards because you're turning the crown counterclockwise (which is not how it is intended to be used. In fact, that could damage a movement. That's totally user error. 6. For the price, it's a hell of a watch that can take a massive beating. The fact of the matter is that Seiko has built a beautiful entry level piece for people who can't afford a middle of the road ($150-$1500) piece. That being said, it's not perfect. I've got complaints about it (mostly the day-date function, which is similar to your complaint. I also don't like the brushed finishing, but it's easy to polish this piece) but for the price, tell me a better mechanical. In fact, I'll give you the allowance of another $100 to find a better entry level mechanical piece. I'll bet that watch has many of the same issues as the SNK809. There's a ton of beauty in this piece. It's something to admire. Now that I've got all of that off my chest, by watching this video I can only conclude that you don't know anything about watches. It's a shame that you'd attack Seiko, who is one of the world's finest producers in timekeeping. Maybe you should consider not posting watch reviews and stay with the knife reviews. You seem to be at least informed on that subject.
Joseph Jordan Are you sure that it's not good to turn the crown counter clockwise? I've never heard that. Besides, doing this is common, it's called the poor man hacking. I might be wrong tho, and I don't want to damage my lovely SNK.
Guy d'Andigne It's a hotly debated topic. For the most part, it's advised that you should only turn the crown clockwise while setting time (in order to avoid slipping a gear). Remember, we're only talking about setting the time. With the calendar function, that watch is designed to be used both clockwise and counter-clockwise in the first position. Whether or not damage actually occurs, I really don't know. Again, I think it's safer just to use it the way it was intended.
here's a size comparison, this is a Casio duro, this is a sinn, here's a us quarter, this is the relative size to the Eiffel tower, we can see it here next to the empire state, and here it is side by side with a football field
I owned this same watch. I think the dial is the best part of the watch. I love that it shows both the minutes and hours with numerals. It is a very cool pilot watch. I only wished that they made this exact watch with a bigger case. I have a big wrist and large hands. So it looked a little funny on me. But it will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first mechanical watch.
I have this watch, and I love it. It's not accurate, but I find that over time the inaccuracies sometimes average out. I just checked mine using an app I use to track the accuracy of my mechnical watches, and over the past 10 days, it's running 0.4 seconds/day fast. Now that's a fluke, I've often clocked it at 10 or 20 seconds a day fast or slow, or as much as a minute per day fast. But the reality is I wear this watch almost everyday, and I don't have to change the time that often to keep it within a minute or two of my cell phone.
A tip for making your life easier with non-hackable watches: Forget the seconds hand. Just adjust the minute hand. For example if your reference clock becomes 1:6:00 just now, push your minute hand forward to the minute 6 (you can already have it positioned at one or two minutes before minute 6 (for example like 1:4:[what-ever]), waiting for the reference clock to turn to 1:6:00). Then if at this moment your seconds hand is, for example, at the second 35, when your minute hand aligns at all the minutes it will always be at the second 35. But will not matter to you, as for reading the time you will also need to read the minute hand and forget the seconds hand. For example if the minute hand is exactly between minutes 17 and 18, you will know it is 17 minutes and 30 seconds. And if you really think about it, this is what people always do in practice, even if their seconds hand is adjusted. People usually just look at the minute hand and if it is for example between minutes 17 and 18 they will know it has passed the minute 17 and not yet has hit the minute 18 (and usually the amount by which it has passed is not important to us in practical applications. Although if you really want, you can make reasonable guess even about that, by just considering the position of the minute hand).
@NickShabazz you want it to hack because why so in less then a day it will with off even the most expensive watch will lose or gain time. But unless you're seal team 6 nick YOU DONT NEED IT. and if you are seal team 6 nick then you're getting a quartz watch SONITS ACTUALLY ACCURATE
About the lack of hacking function of the movement here's something to bear in mind: the 4500$ Omega Speedmaster Professional is also a non hacking movement.
Luís Cardoso There are some Patek Phillipe movements that do not hack either. I think the second hand on a mechanical watch is more to show that it is not dead than to give accurate seconds. I just read the hours and minutes and set the time in the morning when I wind the watch. Never missed a meeting with a mechanical watch.
@@seanpollard4844 it has some use in some situation but for most people it's not very necessary,for example in ww2 watches had to be hacking because they adjusted them everyday to be cordinated for attacks
Sidarth Kher You can't expect a guy who's comparing a mechanical watch to a Casio Quartz watch to know what he's talking about can you... Terrible review.
Seiko 5 is not a $50 watch it's a $50 gateway drug😱. Mine keeps perfect time. you can regulate it yourself if you do a Google search probably not as good as my freak of nature but somewhere close to +-5 seconds. I will say the non hand winding suck but that's why you buy more and more complicated watches (and costlier). Until one day you return back Seiko 5 and realize it's just a happy loud little friend whose loose tolerances, non hacking, non winding movement mean that it will (almost) never need servicing🤓.
The only annoying thing, due to me being an obsessive perfectionist, is the non-hacking quality. However, this is far from a dealbreaker and it's a chance to change my ways for the better.
I don't really think it's possible to have a crappy mechanical watch. The fact that you can have a watch with hundreds of little gears and springs and able to give you day/date mechanically is an amazing thing! I don't care much for accuracy. I'll usually adjust my watch one it hits + 5 min
I have purchased this watch after watching out video reviews. Unlike yours, mine was VERY accurate. I purchased it because I wanted a Flieger (German WWII Pilot's watch) B-type dial (with the 0-55 minute scale on the outer index with a triangle at the 12:00 position). What I found was disappointing, which you failed to disclose, was the lack of lume on the numbers and the lume on the wrong end of the second hand. Also there is no lume on the triangle at the 12 o'clock position to give you orientation in the dark with its 12 identical index dots. This is a major oversight on a watch designed to be a field watch. You may want to check out the SNZG series if you wish to have a Seiko 5 but in a Flieger A-type dial (simpler 1-11 hour index with triangle at the 12:00 position), with 100m water resistance (vs SNK's 30m WR), larger case (42mm vs 37mm) and 22mm strap width (vs SNK's 18mm), and lots of lume on the outer markers AND the triangle and the top AND the 1-12 numbers. And you can get an SNZG for about $110 for a Korean made version or about $150 for a Japanese made version. The SNG is a great first mechanical watch for your kids with smaller wrist.
I've had one for over 5 years. it's been rock solid and pretty darn accurate. I've had several more expensive movements fail, while this one keeps going.
I own one of these, and I wear it everyday. I've found the 7S26 movement to be very reliable and consistent. It's certainly been a great work watch for me and I love the aesthetics and size of this guy. I don't really agree with Nick's stance on the accuracy. Maybe this particular watch ran extremely fast, but mine is hardly off at the end of the day. I love this watch and I think you should definitely pick one up as a first mechanical watch, or just a work watch. Definitely a gem in my opinion, and I love it on a NATO strap.
Usually I agree with Nick’s reviews but not this one. I love my 807. It is actually very accurate. It’s a good size, comfortable, looks good, cheap. Very happy with my choice. I think you got a dud
If these watches are so terrible and that inaccurate mine must be broken, it's only gaining 5-6 seconds a day. All kidding aside, your "bad" list should be something more substantive then your very subjective opinions. The "dial doesn't need all this writing", lol. That's about as arbitrary as listing a black dial and white hands as being negatives. As far as the accuracy is concerned, it sounds like you got a lemon. Maybe instead of doing a review based off of a single outlier example you should have returned it for a replacement or repair and given it a fair and honest review. Otherwise you may as well have titled your review "broken watches suck". At its price point the 7S26 Seiko movement is actually regarded as being pretty darn good.
This watch is currently selling for $105 on Amazon. I would buy it, even with the primitive movement for $50 to $60. However, if Invicta can sell the 8926OB with a Seiko nh35a hacking/hand-winding movement for $85 then Seiko is making a killing off of this dinosaur! I’m out.
Do you understand what a review is? Do you understand that a review contains opinions, which are inherently subjective? Saying "your very subjective opinions" is redundant, you idiot. He doesn't like the horrible, overdone, toy-like dial of the watch. It's the simple.
That dial is because the watch is a "Flieger", part of a genre of watches based on the original "Beobachtungsuhren” or “B-Uhren”watches used by Luftwaffe pilots back in WW2. Specifically, this one has a "Type-B" dial, also seen in the Fliegers from Stowa, Hamilton, Laco, etc.
I just bought this watch (well the blue one, SNK807) against your recommendations, and I love it. The only bad thing about it, in my opinion, is the band it comes with. It's like someone just cut off a piece of a backpack strap, and fashioned it into a makeshift bracelet.
its very supportive if you give alternatives, wich mechanical watch should they buy, not just dont buy this! but what should i buy.. for beginers dady'o..
Quartz! Under $100, Quartz is king. You'll get a great, functional watch, which keeps great time, and the extra money can be spent on finishing and bracelets, rather than cobbling together a budget movement.
You’re wrong on this one, Nick. I own one and have always loved the simplicity, legibility and reliability. The hands are absolutely gorgeous. That’s why I didn’t opt for the larger SNZG11K1...it doesn’t have the gorgeous syringe style hands.
It takes courage to stand against the crowd, and for that Mr. S deserves admiration. His is the only negative review I've seen of the SNZ80x, and, I suspect, the only one I ever will see! It's very evident to anyone who knows what they are talking about that this watch is an outstanding time-piece, especially for it's price. IMHO, Mr. Shabaz is working very diligently to come up with bad things to say about this watch, exaggerating considerably, without recognizing it's very many good points. Have I got one? Yes. But I bought it sometime after seeing this video, which I am very glad I discounted. I hope this review doesn't discourage anyone from picking up one of these little jewels; To a near approximation the cost is $0.00 (33-65). Unless you are like Mr. Shabaz, and expect it to be just like a quartz watch, I think you will be surprised and delighted at how nice they are.
Hmmm...Agree with your statement about the rotor being extremely loud in these watches, when I got my first one I was concerned about that noise, but they all make that noise. I do not agree about the time keeping of the movement though. I have three different SNKs, and not a SINGLE one of them keeps time worse than 20 seconds a day. One of them I have not checked recently, but was under 20 seconds a day fast. The one currently on my wrist is keeping time at 12 seconds fast per day, and another SNK that I modded keeps time at 13 seconds fast per day...I have ETA movements that keep that time...a 2824 in a marathon GSAR of mine that is consistently at 12 seconds per day slow. The 7S26 is a basic, yet legendary movement and can be regulated to even better timekeeping specs. Im not a watchmaker, but this is my experience
First of all, this is a decent watch for the price. Automatic movements are not known for their accuracy. The craftsmanship that goes into a mechanical watch is much more than a quarts. Most of all: I appreciate the nod to the old flieger watches of WWII. Seiko did an amazing job capturing the iconic and historic features of those pilot's watches. If the numbers weren't on the face, that would be lost and ruined. Do your research and this watch becomes much more than a cheap "happy meal toy".
I got mine before I saw this review, and boy o'boy am I glad for the order of events. I love my SNK805, and even if I can't agree with this review in every detail, I must admit NS raises some very good points. Personally I have other grievances than NS, but that's me, not NS or the Seiko. The Seiko 5 is clearly not for all. That is the nature of the beast. If you really love the looks of it, get it. Its afforable, so why not? Seiko 5 comes in a bizillion different models, so I am sure you can find one that suits you eyes, if the Flieger dial isn't to your taste. Some are bigger, some more waterresistant, some even both. Take a look at the SNKK71, its still a Seiko 5, but a different design, or why not the SNZG09K1 (36mm) or the SNZG09J1 (40mm), both waterresistant to a 100m. The seconds hand on this Seiko is there to show us that the movement is ticking away. No more, no less. It is not there to keep accurate time. If you need to keep time to the second, get a quartz instead, at least at this pricepoint. A Casio G-shock is a decent and affordable wristwatch, and just as full of horological significance as the Seiko 5. It is made to take a beating. Can a Casio be the timepiece for you? Perhaps a Timex, or a Citizen? Maybe Seiko SNE095P2 will tick some boxes? Seiko's lume IS very good... We can always agree to disagree on which watch suit our diffent styles and needs. It boils down to personal preferances in the end. The important thing is that one wears a wristwatch.
I just bought this watch after much research. I have also ordered a few nato straps to give me more options than the original included band. The $50.00 price tag allows for this type of modification easily.
These Seiko 5’s have the tried and true 7S26 movements. An excellent inexpensive entry level movement. I’ve had my 5 for 9 years. Never serviced. It’s plus 4 seconds every day continuesly. Has never failed me and runs like a champ. Thought you were a little rough in your review. These in house Seiko movements are solid. Their plain as you can tell through the clear case back. But it’s an old school work horse.
Tried this watch for a few weeks. Slightly to small for my wrist and hated the strap that came with it. But the larger version of this with a decent strap I feel like would be a great deal or just replace the strap on the 5 and it's a bargain at this price point. Great review!
You should also try the vostok amphibia, a very cheap yet tough automatic watch built initially for the scuba divers of the russian army. Who knows, maybe you'll like the vostok more than this
Please don't misguide people on the seiko snk809, it's a great watch with a robust movement, if you really compare accuracy of quartz with mechanical, even Rolex has an average accuracy of +-2 sec/day, way off than a quartz. But that's not the reason we buy a mechanical watch, A mechanical watch allows us to express our appreciation for something done the best it can be done,Mechanical watches are outdated technology. And yet, people are willing to shell out thousands of dollars for them. A mechanical watch identifies you as a discerning buyer: one that cares about the tiny details, one that appreciates history and heritage, and one who spends their wealth wisely and intelligently.Don't mistake me - I'm not advocating you run out to the nearest boutique and buy a top-of-the-line $20,000 Patek Phillippe. Beautiful as they are, that wouldn't be a smart move. What if you grow to hate winding your watch with the movement of your wrist, or resent having to reset it every time the power runs out? You need to make an informed decision.Instead, invest in something relatively cheap like the Seiko 5. The Seiko 5 is a mechanical watch that isn't the least bit flashy - it has a military-inspired look and a solid, though not bulletproof, mechanical movement. It only lasts about a day without being worn and wound, but it's the perfect test run for your new interest in mechanical watches. Oh, and it can be had for less than 60$.Just like a real car enthusiast would never be caught dead with an automatic transmission, anyone who calls themselves a watch fan will choose the mechanical every time.
I dissagree with you here my Friend. I have this watch and it keeps excellent time. I have to adjust maybe 1 minute a week at best. It´s not noisy at all. Sure, I replaced the strap with a nice $20 leather one.......still, it´s makes for a great daily beater and i love the loom on it!!
I just purchased one of these watches and in terms of accuracy, wearing it all day it's about 6 seconds fast. The crown is also pretty nice compared to other watches with huge crowns. I agree with all the other points you make, especially with the rattling rotor. Oh well, we'll see how it goes! Thanks for the video!
I love your videos Nick, but I "Don't know where 25 is" because I have severe dyspraxia and struggle with numbers. So flieger style dials are a must for me. Not trying to bust your balls but saying that we cant all just "know where 25 is"
I have one and like it very much. If the (broken) watch you reviewed is authentic it has a 3 year Seiko warranty. It would be interesting to have it fixed and then review the Seiko service you got.
+photon No sense in throwing the time and shipping money after something with plenty of ugly even without the accuracy issue. I just returned the watch, and moved on.
So, I never hit the thumbs down button, but yikes man, you simply left me no choice. Your voice....well, you can't help that, but this review seems like something that would come from a watch novice that just happened not to like the looks of this watch. I know, however, that you're not a watch novice...so, what gives? This is such an important watch, the movement is so effing tried & true, & It's got an absolutely beautiful & classically military styling. I found this review tone deaf to say the very least, insulting to the entire watch world to be more accurate. Do better. Scott
I think you just got a lemon. I had one of these(it was too small for me so I sold it) but it was running 5-7 seconds a day fast. Not sure if you didn’t have the spring fully tightened or what, but the accuracy seems horrible and way off from anything i’ve ever seen from Seiko
The crown is recessed at the 4:00 position to keep it from braking off because its designed for military use. It’s water resistant up to 30 meters witch is almost 100 feet that’s why there’s confusion
I would wear this watch, but I found that my wrists get very sweaty and the strap absorbs the sweat and develops a smell. I'm looking into different watch bands so that I can not worry about cleaning it as often. Also, the strap is starting to fray at the holes.
I think U may hsve missed the purpose of all the numbers on the disl. The purpose of this watch is a rrplics WW2.U.S. Pilot's or Field watches. Most if not all of these type of watches have similar dials e.g. the Hamilton Khaki. Readinh watch in a dark cockpit or midnight in the woods. Dial is PERFECT!!! In my opinion.
I have one that is about 5 seconds fast per day. I purchased to decide if I wanted to get into mechanical watches. For my reasons and curiosity, I believe this is the best $45 bucks I could have spent. Its plenty accurate, If I wanted perfect I would have gone quartz. But I bought it to test the waters on mechanical watches. To understand the nostalgia. It is a cheap watch, but has a cheap price. It is worth what you pay for it, and if your lucky like I was you get one that keeps decent time and is fun to customize/modify. If youre entering the market this is a great entry level watch, if you have other mechanical watches.... nothing here to see.
I may be the only one like this, but in some weird way I actually like when a movement is clunky. As I write this, my Vostok Kommandirskie is sitting off to the side of me with a movement that is more basic than the one in the SNK-809. My Vostok is manual wind, does not hack, and does not have a quick change date. In addition, the movement is loud and consistently makes a funny "tick-ting-tick-ting" as it runs as opposed to the usual "tick-tick-tick-tick" made by other watches. The Vostok also runs a minute slow per day. But I still love it, not in spite of, but because of its clumsiness. It's a beast.
Thanks for the straight talk Nick. Very good review. Would you consider 5 sec or less off per day good for a mechanical watch? What should someone look for knowing that it will not be as good as quartz?
Currently wearing this watch (well the 807 version which is just a colour change, blue). Even though it does have some downfalls, it's great for smaller wrists, and very useful for everyday. But it's a automatic watch under $10 AUD. Also it's a Flieger styled watch (field hybrid), originated for pilots, so the minutes are more pronounced to monitor flight time and such.
no stress man. I have also the SNK809. you can regulate the movement very simple by yourself. i have do it myself and now it runs perfect. i love all my seiko,s
I bought the Casio Royale and Duro based on Nick's review. He was spot on, they are good. I bought this Seiko and it's not as bad as he says. 12 seconds a day fast - seems bad because we are used to quartz but it's ok for a bunch of springs and gears. Quartz watches are better, no argument, but if you want a cheap mechanical piece the 809 will satisfy.
Well Nick as you know, mechanical is a lot more complex than quartz. You are not going to get hacking for 50 bucks, you just aren't. Even a much more accurate overall better say Orient Bambino in the 100-150 range you still won't get hacking, but you will get hand winding. Just remember, Seiko 5 is a cheap dime a dozen brand. It is the Z Hunter of watches basically. That said the cheap Casio is a pos too. It's dial indices don't match with the second hand, the second hand literally shakes when it moves, and a good swift thwap against a hard floor or wall would probably kill it dead. As for the dial.... it's a "watch romance thing" :p It is based on the German B-Uhr dials from their planes in WW2 and all the history and blah blah that implies. It is definitely too much for such a small dial.
long ago I worked my way up the automatic watch chain, cheap ones are awful, I finally settled on a Tissot and a Seiko titanium Kinetic, they both keep good time, though the Tissot has to be serviced every couple years. if your a watch wearer invest in a good one (or two) and your done for a long time. Leave the goods deals and cheap stuff on shelf.
Dude, you're making me doubt, because I always thought this was kind of a classic in the Seiko 5 range. If this model is bad, the skx007/skx009 are also bad?
They aren't bad. I own an SKX and an SNK. Yeah, I might have to make an adjustment every few days - no big deal. It's a mechanical, it comes with the territory. It takes a few seconds and you are done. I synchronize with my phone every few days anyway, just to be sure. Sometimes I have to make an adjustment, sometimes I don't. This is still a great first mechanical.
You need to regulate your watch movement. I got 7s26c , and now after I regulated movement bymyself -3 to +3 seconds a day accuracy. Believe it or not sometimes 0 (zero) seconds per day !!
This is a very good entry level mechanical watch. I see you thrashing it so much, can you find a better mechanical watch for $50 ? Mechanical aren't supposed to compare to a quartz, it's the old technology , I agree that quartz is much more practical. Yet therein lies its vintage in the mechanical watch. Accuracy wise quartz always win, hands down. It's the love of the gears ticking around. Furthermore, mechanicals aren't shockproof, a drop from 5 feet could send you packing to the watch service center. The only advantage I could find is that mechs are emp proof. Now after commenting so much, I still use a quartz, simply because I'm a rugged person.
By far your worst review, Nick. I own an SNK809, and mine runs +/- 10 seconds per diem. That seems to be the average, for the 7S26 movement. I paid 53 dollars, shipping included, for my SNK809. There aren't any other decent automatic watches, near this price point. Good in house moment, hardlex crystal (IMO, good scratch resistance), see through case back, and great lume... What more can you ask, for 50 bucks?
Strike Ecozzocn sometimes they go up to 120 bucks, but a lot of reviewers told me that the price would drop again once new arrive as they’re still production.
first: its 79.98 on Amazon, not including shipping. second: its non-hacking, not hand windable and inaccurate. A Casio waveceptor has better build quality with a radio synchronization and a whole lot more features. third: when something is bad, you just live with it, you don't deny it, inaccurate and outdated is a fact so don't justify your purchase. And DONT PICK ON NICK :(!!
You're talking smack about a watch everyone already loves. It's widely regarded as the best entry level mechanical watch and the best watch under $100, sometimes even under $200 or $500. You appear to be the only one to have such a drastically different opinion, which suggests your watch was malfunctional. Also you judged a little strangely; the dial doesn't need that much writing? It's a field/flieger watch, that's just _how they are_ ...
Best watch under $500? Lol what are you smoking? It’s a good value for under $100 but I wouldn’t get carried away. This is a navigator B style dial not a field watch
It actually can get worse than this. I had this and got another Seiko 5, an SNX111. It has the same movement, but the ticking sound escapes the case and drives me up the wall. I've had it distract me when working in an open plan office. I gave my SNK809 to a coworker who just sort of started getting into watches, and he loves it. Going from no-watch to a-watch, it's more of a fun toy for him to track the accuracy of than anything. As for the watch, you could add the case getting rust spots and the strap getting wrist cheese to be two other negatory aspects of the ownership experience.
Fair review, and I own one. I bought it to be used and abused for work and travel. Potential to be modded for fun. And I keep the nicer watches safe away. Its a good cheap watch, good for kids. Dont buy this if you like nicer watches, but do buy this if you want something low maintenance.
Mine averages about -6 seconds per day worn. But when left face up, it is about +4 seconds...so if I leave it face up at night, it's pretty much at -3 seconds/day, which is chronometer territory. I may have just gotten lucky though, but this little watch is one of my favorites in my collection. :) The only two things I dislike are the lack of handwinding, and lack of hacking. But really, for the price, both those features are sacrificable.
It's hard to beat that price for a mechanical watch. If all you care about is accuracy, you should just use the phone that you have in your pocket, it's more accurate than the most accurate quartz watch. Mechanical watches, even cheap mechanical watches, are things of beauty. The fact that we can even come close to telling accurate time without any power source, just by using mechanical gears is impressive as hell. Not to mention the fact that you don't need a power source for automatic watches at all, if you never take it off, it will never stop running (unless it breaks, of course). Automatic and hand wind watches are what you should be getting if you are interested in watches. Everyone has a digital watch on them at all times, it's called a phone. And quartz watches are just less accurate, analog versions of that, that are less convenient because they are something extra you have to have on you, whereas you will always have your phone on you no matter what. So if you're looking for a watch, look at mechanical, if you're looking for one that you don't care that much if it breaks or goes missing, that you can wear wherever you want without fear, get one of these because they are inexpensive. If you are looking for something special, then Nick is right, save your money and get something a little nicer.
I agree with you on 99% of what you said. Here is my problem.. i wish more high end seikos had the same crown setup as this, being so far in the bezzle and at 4 o clock. i work with my hands all day and most of the time in confined spaces so a crown sticking out gets caught... hence why i baught this watch for that reason. the size is perfect, the crown is perfect, the price is perfect but why is the movement so bad.. yes the face isnt plain enough but for the price who really cares. i would have purchased a more expencive watch but so far it is the only seiko i have seen with such a crown and in this size... Please correct me if im wrong as i would love to know. thank you for review
In general these are great watches. Maybe yours got magnetized, or taken some hard knocks in shipment. Maybe it is a good watch and is just out of regulation. I have bought plenty that needed regulation, and were great time keepers after regulation.
This is one of the cheapest watches I've seen that have hardlex, which is significantly tougher from what I've read. I'll be getting this or another Seiko 5 for that reason, but it's nice to see someone promoting quartz. As much as I think mechs are cool, they're objectively inferior.
i just ordered my seiko 5 through amazon..im gonna use it only for weekend.does anybody know ,if i leave the watch in my dresser for 5/6 days does it harm any mechanical stuff.
Muhibur Alam are you talking about if it stops running? Because it doesn't have to run all the time. I've heard people say to give automatic watches a full wind once a month.
I almost didn't buy the watch because of this review. Anyways i did bought it, and it is fantastic for its price, yes the strap is kinda rubbish and the rotor i little too loud, but its pretty accurate. I run 4 to 5 times a week and I've set the time 2 month ago and time it is still correct to the minute. I could not be happier with my cheap ass watch.
Got mine at $79 and it runs +5s or sometimes -7s not bad for a $79 automatic watch😁😁😁 so much happy with it
@Sam Zhang yeah it's 130 now lol
@@salty_terminal_civilian5374 110 it went down a bit I think but definitely not worth that still, wish it still was it looks like a nice field watch beater, as a project you could regulate it yourself too (if the price ever goes back down to 50...)
If your greatest concern is accuracy, then getting a mechanical at any price wouldn't be wise.
Absolutely true. However the accuracy on some of the really cheap watches is so bad that even if you're not that concerned about accuracy it's not great. If you wear it from time to time and then it sits around for a bit and drains the power reserved then it doesn't really matter because you have to reset it anyways but if it's the watch you wear every single day, being 5 minutes off by the end of the week is less than ideal.
I've had this watch for around 5 years, beat the crap out of it and replaced the crystal with saphire. I found the day/date does move over very very slow. Considering I work nights I notice it even more than most people. Rattling rotors became a issue after a year but I since had it tightened it up.Accuracy is not abysmal as it is here with mine gaining 4-6 seconds a day. With waterproofness I hadn't known about the limitations of non-screw down crowns and went swimming many many times with the watch with no issues. At this price it may be quality control that is the cost cutting factor considering I have fallen in love with mine over the years of it being my constant companion.
Hey, cool, glad you've had better luck. No doubt it can be regulated to do better! And glad the water hasn't been an issue for you. Thanks for sharing!
Yes I have the same 7s26 in the skx007 and when i wear it daily it gains or loses no more than 3secs a day after the adjustment period of the movement
I have a current issue with mine (rotor jingles, likely loose) what tools did you use to tighten it besides the caseback opener ?
Are you really saying you have had no problems with water? It is the only issue putting me off buying one.
I own one for the last 9 months and I've worn it in the pool once and I wear it in the shower on the regular.Of course, just make sure the crown is pushed in properly, not that I have to mention that. I would have no worry if I were you.
I love mine. Yes, the rotor is loud and the movement is very basic, but for the price it is amazing. Mine keeps very good time at +5 seconds. You got a bad one. This watch is not junk! I recommend this to anyone who looking to buy their first mechanical.
In todays technological junky age, its good to have nice mechanical things. For 50 bucks, its a bargin.
Sadly mechanical watches have come a long way and overtaken SNKs and SKXs :( being hackable and hand-winding. It's not good enough anymore
1 - The crown is recessed and positioned at 4 o'clock to not dig into and irritates someone's hand.
2 - This watch is just "Water Resist", or 30m, it's ok to wash your hands, but no showering or swimming.
3 - The dial is not busy, it's called Flieger style watch, is was designed and used by german pilots in WWII.
4 - Seiko's 7s26 is one of the most reliable mechanical movements out there, it's known to work for years without any service.
5 - I think you're just unlucky and got a bad sample, mine is getting +10 seconds per day consistently.
But...
6 - Yes, the movement is non-hacking, has a noisy rotor and quality is not as consistent as some ETA out there, but for 50 bucks? You have to pay at least 300 for a ETA based automatic watch. And 50 dollars is even considered to be "strap money" by a lot of watch collectors.
7 - Yes, the strap is cheap and not comfortable, this is the only thing that I agree with your review.
Good luck.
The dial is busy, you'd have to be a geriatric to require all those numbers spoonfed to you as though you can't read the indices , and just because it was used by German pilots in WW2 doesn't change that fact. What relevance does it being used by pilots have to do with it being busy? None. You know what's also busy? All the gauges in the cockpit of a plane. If anything, the watch being used by pilots reinforces the idea that it's busy. And the same use a pilot may have for the watch does not necessarily apply to the average wannabe-horologist-14-year-old who's purchasing this watch.
I rather like the dial, and this watch just-so-happens to go great with a NATO strap
For 75$ these days you get miyotas and other Seiko movements that are much more reliable, hand windable and hacking :( it's been overtaken sadly.
@@johndesper9425 Holy smokes! Who put a bee in your bonnet? @Chien Lin Chen is correct in his evaluation of the dial. German pilots in WW2 were not "geriatric", they just needed an ultra-legible tool that can be read at a glance.
For the record, I highly respect individuals who buy these cheap mechanicals and not stupid low-quality fashion watches. It shows real character, a lack of snobbery, and noticeable interest in mechanical items.
Holy hell. 50 bucks, mechanical, proven work horse movement, beautiful design.
I'm not sure there is any somewhat dislike here.
50 BUCKS!!!
I think you have totally missed the point if this watch.
The point being to get new people into cool reliable watches, at an affordable price.
At $100 this thing kicks ass.
Yeah just came across this video. I completely disagree with your thoughts on the Seiko 7S26 movement. It's a workhorse. Let me just discuss where I find your review lacking: 1. Accuracy. Yes, because you can't hack the movement, it won't be as accurate as a hacking mechanical or a quartz. People who are into mechanical watches don't really care about that. As far as your report of it being 25 seconds off via not on the wrist, or 59 seconds fast while taking a walk, I can't confirm that. My SNK809 is accurate within 20 seconds a day. I've worn it just about everyday for the last six months and it's kept up. My only conclusion, then, would be that yours need to be serviced, or you were near a magnet and that's why it runs so fast. 2. The Rotor is loud, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's really only noticeable when you give the watch the old Seiko shuffle. 3. It's actually a rather decent looking movement, considering the price. Tons of more unattractive movements out there, even in a higher price bracket. 4. The reason the numbers are indicated the way they are on this watch is because it follows the Flieger style. Go look up what Fliegers look like. That's not at all a fair complaint. If you don't like the style, buy something else. 4. The movement is the same one found in the SKX series of divers. Really, what's your issue with the movement. Frankly, I don't believe your complaints. 5. The second hand moves backwards because you're turning the crown counterclockwise (which is not how it is intended to be used. In fact, that could damage a movement. That's totally user error. 6. For the price, it's a hell of a watch that can take a massive beating. The fact of the matter is that Seiko has built a beautiful entry level piece for people who can't afford a middle of the road ($150-$1500) piece. That being said, it's not perfect. I've got complaints about it (mostly the day-date function, which is similar to your complaint. I also don't like the brushed finishing, but it's easy to polish this piece) but for the price, tell me a better mechanical. In fact, I'll give you the allowance of another $100 to find a better entry level mechanical piece. I'll bet that watch has many of the same issues as the SNK809. There's a ton of beauty in this piece. It's something to admire. Now that I've got all of that off my chest, by watching this video I can only conclude that you don't know anything about watches. It's a shame that you'd attack Seiko, who is one of the world's finest producers in timekeeping. Maybe you should consider not posting watch reviews and stay with the knife reviews. You seem to be at least informed on that subject.
I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts, even if I disagree with them. :)
Hey, maybe I was a bit harsh in response. I'm a big Seiko guy LOL. Best wishes, man!
+Joseph Jordan No worries! I want a GS Spring Drive GMT, they make some great stuff :)
Joseph Jordan Are you sure that it's not good to turn the crown counter clockwise? I've never heard that. Besides, doing this is common, it's called the poor man hacking. I might be wrong tho, and I don't want to damage my lovely SNK.
Guy d'Andigne It's a hotly debated topic. For the most part, it's advised that you should only turn the crown clockwise while setting time (in order to avoid slipping a gear). Remember, we're only talking about setting the time. With the calendar function, that watch is designed to be used both clockwise and counter-clockwise in the first position.
Whether or not damage actually occurs, I really don't know. Again, I think it's safer just to use it the way it was intended.
This reviewer sounds like Bugs Bunny....
That’s very insulting! (to Bugs Bunny).
I love the guy, but I think he sounds more like Gilbert Godfrey
Hahaha
JERRY LEWIS
here's a size comparison, this is a Casio duro, this is a sinn, here's a us quarter, this is the relative size to the Eiffel tower, we can see it here next to the empire state, and here it is side by side with a football field
I owned this same watch. I think the dial is the best part of the watch. I love that it shows both the minutes and hours with numerals. It is a very cool pilot watch. I only wished that they made this exact watch with a bigger case. I have a big wrist and large hands. So it looked a little funny on me. But it will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first mechanical watch.
Christian Cerna They do make a bigger one, the Seiko 5 Sport (SNZG)
I have this watch, and I love it. It's not accurate, but I find that over time the inaccuracies sometimes average out. I just checked mine using an app I use to track the accuracy of my mechnical watches, and over the past 10 days, it's running 0.4 seconds/day fast. Now that's a fluke, I've often clocked it at 10 or 20 seconds a day fast or slow, or as much as a minute per day fast. But the reality is I wear this watch almost everyday, and I don't have to change the time that often to keep it within a minute or two of my cell phone.
A tip for making your life easier with non-hackable watches:
Forget the seconds hand. Just adjust the minute hand.
For example if your reference clock becomes 1:6:00 just now, push your minute hand forward to the minute 6 (you can already have it positioned at one or two minutes before minute 6 (for example like 1:4:[what-ever]), waiting for the reference clock to turn to 1:6:00). Then if at this moment your seconds hand is, for example, at the second 35, when your minute hand aligns at all the minutes it will always be at the second 35. But will not matter to you, as for reading the time you will also need to read the minute hand and forget the seconds hand. For example if the minute hand is exactly between minutes 17 and 18, you will know it is 17 minutes and 30 seconds.
And if you really think about it, this is what people always do in practice, even if their seconds hand is adjusted. People usually just look at the minute hand and if it is for example between minutes 17 and 18 they will know it has passed the minute 17 and not yet has hit the minute 18 (and usually the amount by which it has passed is not important to us in practical applications. Although if you really want, you can make reasonable guess even about that, by just considering the position of the minute hand).
Good point. Or you can just buy a watch worth a damn that hacks! :)
@@NickShabazz my Omega doesn't hack lol
@NickShabazz you want it to hack because why so in less then a day it will with off even the most expensive watch will lose or gain time. But unless you're seal team 6 nick YOU DONT NEED IT. and if you are seal team 6 nick then you're getting a quartz watch SONITS ACTUALLY ACCURATE
About the lack of hacking function of the movement here's something to bear in mind: the 4500$ Omega Speedmaster Professional is also a non hacking movement.
Yep. And both watches are *far* weaker for it.
Luís Cardoso There are some Patek Phillipe movements that do not hack either. I think the second hand on a mechanical watch is more to show that it is not dead than to give accurate seconds. I just read the hours and minutes and set the time in the morning when I wind the watch. Never missed a meeting with a mechanical watch.
@@NickShabazz there's no point in hacking with a watch with this kind of accuracy. It's an entry-level mechanical that's it selling point
@@seanpollard4844 it has some use in some situation but for most people it's not very necessary,for example in ww2 watches had to be hacking because they adjusted them everyday to be cordinated for attacks
dial is supposed to be a flieger design, hence the 60sec indices.
Sidarth Kher You can't expect a guy who's comparing a mechanical watch to a Casio Quartz watch to know what he's talking about can you... Terrible review.
Some people hate it, some people love it. I happen to be in the latter category, but if you don't like it, just get another Seiko 5.
There's Type A and Type B Flieger style watches. Type A wouldn't have the indices in that way. Type B, a slightly more complex design, does.
There's Type A and Type B Flieger style watches. Type A wouldn't have the indices in that way. Type B, a slightly more complex design, does.
There's Type A and Type B Flieger style watches. Type A wouldn't have the indices in that way. Type B, a slightly more complex design, does.
Seiko 5 is not a $50 watch it's a $50 gateway drug😱. Mine keeps perfect time. you can regulate it yourself if you do a Google search probably not as good as my freak of nature but somewhere close to +-5 seconds. I will say the non hand winding suck but that's why you buy more and more complicated watches (and costlier). Until one day you return back Seiko 5 and realize it's just a happy loud little friend whose loose tolerances, non hacking, non winding movement mean that it will (almost) never need servicing🤓.
Well said. I have never spent a better $44 in my life. I bought two of the damned things because I love 'em so much. Gateway drug, indeed!
The only annoying thing, due to me being an obsessive perfectionist, is the non-hacking quality. However, this is far from a dealbreaker and it's a chance to change my ways for the better.
I don't really think it's possible to have a crappy mechanical watch. The fact that you can have a watch with hundreds of little gears and springs and able to give you day/date mechanically is an amazing thing! I don't care much for accuracy. I'll usually adjust my watch one it hits + 5 min
The watch is a fleiger style that is why the dial is like it is.
I bought the 803(beige face) and put a brown leather pilot strap on it, pretty sweet piece for under $100.
You bought a 50 dollar watch, not a Rolex
A 50$ crap watch:( Nowadays there's too much competition
@Andrew Burton a 10 dollar watch can tell better time than a Rolex if it's quartz
I have purchased this watch after watching out video reviews. Unlike yours, mine was VERY accurate. I purchased it because I wanted a Flieger (German WWII Pilot's watch) B-type dial (with the 0-55 minute scale on the outer index with a triangle at the 12:00 position). What I found was disappointing, which you failed to disclose, was the lack of lume on the numbers and the lume on the wrong end of the second hand. Also there is no lume on the triangle at the 12 o'clock position to give you orientation in the dark with its 12 identical index dots. This is a major oversight on a watch designed to be a field watch.
You may want to check out the SNZG series if you wish to have a Seiko 5 but in a Flieger A-type dial (simpler 1-11 hour index with triangle at the 12:00 position), with 100m water resistance (vs SNK's 30m WR), larger case (42mm vs 37mm) and 22mm strap width (vs SNK's 18mm), and lots of lume on the outer markers AND the triangle and the top AND the 1-12 numbers. And you can get an SNZG for about $110 for a Korean made version or about $150 for a Japanese made version.
The SNG is a great first mechanical watch for your kids with smaller wrist.
I've had one for over 5 years. it's been rock solid and pretty darn accurate. I've had several more expensive movements fail, while this one keeps going.
I own one of these, and I wear it everyday. I've found the 7S26 movement to be very reliable and consistent. It's certainly been a great work watch for me and I love the aesthetics and size of this guy. I don't really agree with Nick's stance on the accuracy. Maybe this particular watch ran extremely fast, but mine is hardly off at the end of the day. I love this watch and I think you should definitely pick one up as a first mechanical watch, or just a work watch. Definitely a gem in my opinion, and I love it on a NATO strap.
Andrew Slater I'm looking for my first real automatic watch and I'm confused between the snk809 and skz007, what would you recommend?
Usually I agree with Nick’s reviews but not this one. I love my 807. It is actually very accurate. It’s a good size, comfortable, looks good, cheap. Very happy with my choice. I think you got a dud
If these watches are so terrible and that inaccurate mine must be broken, it's only gaining 5-6 seconds a day. All kidding aside, your "bad" list should be something more substantive then your very subjective opinions. The "dial doesn't need all this writing", lol. That's about as arbitrary as listing a black dial and white hands as being negatives. As far as the accuracy is concerned, it sounds like you got a lemon. Maybe instead of doing a review based off of a single outlier example you should have returned it for a replacement or repair and given it a fair and honest review. Otherwise you may as well have titled your review "broken watches suck". At its price point the 7S26 Seiko movement is actually regarded as being pretty darn good.
JustBlueFish Watch Reviews - Guy...Nick's BAD affect him, the UGLY affect others. Chill a bit.
This watch is currently selling for $105 on Amazon. I would buy it, even with the primitive movement for $50 to $60. However, if Invicta can sell the 8926OB with a Seiko nh35a hacking/hand-winding movement for $85 then Seiko is making a killing off of this dinosaur! I’m out.
Do you understand what a review is? Do you understand that a review contains opinions, which are inherently subjective? Saying "your very subjective opinions" is redundant, you idiot. He doesn't like the horrible, overdone, toy-like dial of the watch. It's the simple.
That dial is because the watch is a "Flieger", part of a genre of watches based on the original "Beobachtungsuhren” or “B-Uhren”watches used by Luftwaffe pilots back in WW2. Specifically, this one has a "Type-B" dial, also seen in the Fliegers from Stowa, Hamilton, Laco, etc.
Good video. For 17cm or 6.75 inch wrist, which one is more suitable, this SNZG or SNK? Thanks.
I just bought this watch (well the blue one, SNK807) against your recommendations, and I love it. The only bad thing about it, in my opinion, is the band it comes with. It's like someone just cut off a piece of a backpack strap, and fashioned it into a makeshift bracelet.
I use mine on a leather strap as I felt the supplied canvas one was too floppy. The supplied one is OK on lighter watches though.
I bought a silicone rubber strap for mine, it's a huge improvement.
mine loses 10 sec per day so i move the minute hand 1 min up every 6 days. not much hassle
So you’ll be pairing this up with the Z Hunter?
More size comparisons in 10 seconds than in a 30 minute bukkake clip.
its very supportive if you give alternatives, wich mechanical watch should they buy, not just dont buy this! but what should i buy.. for beginers dady'o..
Quartz! Under $100, Quartz is king. You'll get a great, functional watch, which keeps great time, and the extra money can be spent on finishing and bracelets, rather than cobbling together a budget movement.
You’re wrong on this one, Nick. I own one and have always loved the simplicity, legibility and reliability. The hands are absolutely gorgeous. That’s why I didn’t opt for the larger SNZG11K1...it doesn’t have the gorgeous syringe style hands.
It takes courage to stand against the crowd, and for that Mr. S deserves admiration. His is the only negative review I've seen of the SNZ80x, and, I suspect, the only one I ever will see! It's very evident to anyone who knows what they are talking about that this watch is an outstanding time-piece, especially for it's price.
IMHO, Mr. Shabaz is working very diligently to come up with bad things to say about this watch, exaggerating considerably, without recognizing it's very many good points. Have I got one? Yes. But I bought it sometime after seeing this video, which I am very glad I discounted.
I hope this review doesn't discourage anyone from picking up one of these little jewels; To a near approximation the cost is $0.00 (33-65). Unless you are like Mr. Shabaz, and expect it to be just like a quartz watch, I think you will be surprised and delighted at how nice they are.
K Schuman Yeah over 20 seconds off a day sounds like an amazing experience, the only reason people like this watch is because it's mechanical.
Hmmm...Agree with your statement about the rotor being extremely loud in these watches, when I got my first one I was concerned about that noise, but they all make that noise. I do not agree about the time keeping of the movement though. I have three different SNKs, and not a SINGLE one of them keeps time worse than 20 seconds a day. One of them I have not checked recently, but was under 20 seconds a day fast. The one currently on my wrist is keeping time at 12 seconds fast per day, and another SNK that I modded keeps time at 13 seconds fast per day...I have ETA movements that keep that time...a 2824 in a marathon GSAR of mine that is consistently at 12 seconds per day slow. The 7S26 is a basic, yet legendary movement and can be regulated to even better timekeeping specs. Im not a watchmaker, but this is my experience
First of all, this is a decent watch for the price. Automatic movements are not known for their accuracy. The craftsmanship that goes into a mechanical watch is much more than a quarts. Most of all: I appreciate the nod to the old flieger watches of WWII. Seiko did an amazing job capturing the iconic and historic features of those pilot's watches. If the numbers weren't on the face, that would be lost and ruined. Do your research and this watch becomes much more than a cheap "happy meal toy".
I just ordered one, Nick! We’ll see how it is!
2023:226usd without taxes and shipping, around 300 usd to actually get it , jumping from 50 to 300usd
I got mine before I saw this review, and boy o'boy am I glad for the order of events.
I love my SNK805, and even if I can't agree with this review in every detail, I must admit NS raises some very good points.
Personally I have other grievances than NS, but that's me, not NS or the Seiko.
The Seiko 5 is clearly not for all. That is the nature of the beast.
If you really love the looks of it, get it. Its afforable, so why not?
Seiko 5 comes in a bizillion different models, so I am sure you can find one that suits you eyes, if the Flieger dial isn't to your taste.
Some are bigger, some more waterresistant, some even both.
Take a look at the SNKK71, its still a Seiko 5, but a different design, or why not the SNZG09K1 (36mm) or the SNZG09J1 (40mm), both waterresistant to a 100m.
The seconds hand on this Seiko is there to show us that the movement is ticking away. No more, no less.
It is not there to keep accurate time.
If you need to keep time to the second, get a quartz instead, at least at this pricepoint.
A Casio G-shock is a decent and affordable wristwatch, and just as full of horological significance as the Seiko 5. It is made to take a beating.
Can a Casio be the timepiece for you? Perhaps a Timex, or a Citizen?
Maybe Seiko SNE095P2 will tick some boxes? Seiko's lume IS very good...
We can always agree to disagree on which watch suit our diffent styles and needs. It boils down to personal preferances in the end.
The important thing is that one wears a wristwatch.
You don’t understand a Flieger style watch do you?
SKX007 and SKX013 use the same mechanism, and they seem to be popular and liked.
i have a seiko 5 from 2008 and it's still ticking... pretty good on the accuracy - accurate enough...........
I just bought this watch after much research. I have also ordered a few nato straps to give me more options than the original included band. The $50.00 price tag allows for this type of modification easily.
It’s $104 CAD... should I get it? Or does it go on sale ?
These Seiko 5’s have the tried and true 7S26 movements. An excellent inexpensive entry level movement. I’ve had my 5 for 9 years. Never serviced. It’s plus 4 seconds every day continuesly. Has never failed me and runs like a champ. Thought you were a little rough in your review. These in house Seiko movements are solid. Their plain as you can tell through the clear case back. But it’s an old school work horse.
Tried this watch for a few weeks. Slightly to small for my wrist and hated the strap that came with it. But the larger version of this with a decent strap I feel like would be a great deal or just replace the strap on the 5 and it's a bargain at this price point. Great review!
You should also try the vostok amphibia, a very cheap yet tough automatic watch built initially for the scuba divers of the russian army. Who knows, maybe you'll like the vostok more than this
Please don't misguide people on the seiko snk809, it's a great watch with a robust movement, if you really compare accuracy of quartz with mechanical, even Rolex has an average accuracy of +-2 sec/day, way off than a quartz.
But that's not the reason we buy a mechanical watch, A mechanical watch allows us to express our appreciation for something done the best it can be done,Mechanical watches are outdated technology. And yet, people are willing to shell out thousands of dollars for them. A mechanical watch identifies you as a discerning buyer: one that cares about the tiny details, one that appreciates history and heritage, and one who spends their wealth wisely and intelligently.Don't mistake me - I'm not advocating you run out to the nearest boutique and buy a top-of-the-line $20,000 Patek Phillippe. Beautiful as they are, that wouldn't be a smart move. What if you grow to hate winding your watch with the movement of your wrist, or resent having to reset it every time the power runs out? You need to make an informed decision.Instead, invest in something relatively cheap like the Seiko 5. The Seiko 5 is a mechanical watch that isn't the least bit flashy - it has a military-inspired look and a solid, though not bulletproof, mechanical movement. It only lasts about a day without being worn and wound, but it's the perfect test run for your new interest in mechanical watches. Oh, and it can be had for less than 60$.Just like a real car enthusiast would never be caught dead with an automatic transmission, anyone who calls themselves a watch fan will choose the mechanical every time.
Is the measurements same as the snk789?, it’s just this model has an all brushed right?
I dissagree with you here my Friend. I have this watch and it keeps excellent time. I have to adjust maybe 1 minute a week at best. It´s not noisy at all. Sure, I replaced the strap with a nice $20 leather one.......still, it´s makes for a great daily beater and i love the loom on it!!
I just purchased one of these watches and in terms of accuracy, wearing it all day it's about 6 seconds fast. The crown is also pretty nice compared to other watches with huge crowns. I agree with all the other points you make, especially with the rattling rotor. Oh well, we'll see how it goes!
Thanks for the video!
I love your videos Nick, but I "Don't know where 25 is" because I have severe dyspraxia and struggle with numbers. So flieger style dials are a must for me. Not trying to bust your balls but saying that we cant all just "know where 25 is"
I have one and like it very much. If the (broken) watch you reviewed is authentic it has a 3 year Seiko warranty. It would be interesting to have it fixed and then review the Seiko service you got.
+photon No sense in throwing the time and shipping money after something with plenty of ugly even without the accuracy issue. I just returned the watch, and moved on.
So, I never hit the thumbs down button, but yikes man, you simply left me no choice. Your voice....well, you can't help that, but this review seems like something that would come from a watch novice that just happened not to like the looks of this watch. I know, however, that you're not a watch novice...so, what gives? This is such an important watch, the movement is so effing tried & true, & It's got an absolutely beautiful & classically military styling. I found this review tone deaf to say the very least, insulting to the entire watch world to be more accurate. Do better. Scott
I think you just got a lemon. I had one of these(it was too small for me so I sold it) but it was running 5-7 seconds a day fast. Not sure if you didn’t have the spring fully tightened or what, but the accuracy seems horrible and way off from anything i’ve ever seen from Seiko
It's still a nice watch! I don't mind adjusting it when it's not accurate. I got it knowing that and because of the price.
Where did you buy this watch from? I’m looking for the cheapest price but the lowest i can find is it for $70.
The crown is recessed at the 4:00 position to keep it from braking off because its designed for military use. It’s water resistant up to 30 meters witch is almost 100 feet that’s why there’s confusion
Can you recommend an alternative watch under $50? Automatic? Without those cons you have mentioned for this watch.
+Cyrus Vyrus Under $100, go Quartz. You will not find a good automatic.
I would wear this watch, but I found that my wrists get very sweaty and the strap absorbs the sweat and develops a smell. I'm looking into different watch bands so that I can not worry about cleaning it as often. Also, the strap is starting to fray at the holes.
I've never seen a Nick review of anything that is so off base as this.
I think U may hsve missed the purpose of all the numbers on the disl. The purpose of this watch is a rrplics WW2.U.S. Pilot's or Field watches. Most if not all of these type of watches have similar dials e.g. the Hamilton Khaki. Readinh watch in a dark cockpit or midnight in the woods. Dial is PERFECT!!! In my opinion.
I have one that is about 5 seconds fast per day. I purchased to decide if I wanted to get into mechanical watches. For my reasons and curiosity, I believe this is the best $45 bucks I could have spent. Its plenty accurate, If I wanted perfect I would have gone quartz. But I bought it to test the waters on mechanical watches. To understand the nostalgia. It is a cheap watch, but has a cheap price. It is worth what you pay for it, and if your lucky like I was you get one that keeps decent time and is fun to customize/modify. If youre entering the market this is a great entry level watch, if you have other mechanical watches.... nothing here to see.
I think I'll buy one just to take it apart. In order to glean a better understanding of how automatics work. I think thats worth $50.
I changed the strap to a red leather...beautiful...My only take is the size and the crown slightly small.
Somewhere in this review is a sequestered metaphor on the future of mankind. Thank you for your time, Nick.
I may be the only one like this, but in some weird way I actually like when a movement is clunky. As I write this, my Vostok Kommandirskie is sitting off to the side of me with a movement that is more basic than the one in the SNK-809. My Vostok is manual wind, does not hack, and does not have a quick change date. In addition, the movement is loud and consistently makes a funny "tick-ting-tick-ting" as it runs as opposed to the usual "tick-tick-tick-tick" made by other watches. The Vostok also runs a minute slow per day. But I still love it, not in spite of, but because of its clumsiness. It's a beast.
you mentioned you prefer nano oil. there are three grades. can you tell us what grade you use or it does not matter.
10wt for pivots, 85wt for the detent path.
thanks for the rapid response. what is the 5clp??
too many questions Nick? again, what is the nano 5 clp oil used for?
+zero 4U For me, I can't figure out why anybody would use the 5wt. Maybe some more specialized task, but for me, useless.
+Nick Shabazz thanks man!!
Thanks for the straight talk Nick. Very good review. Would you consider 5 sec or less off per day good for a mechanical watch? What should someone look for knowing that it will not be as good as quartz?
I've got two of them slightly different from each other, I love both of them.
Currently wearing this watch (well the 807 version which is just a colour change, blue).
Even though it does have some downfalls, it's great for smaller wrists, and very useful for everyday. But it's a automatic watch under $10 AUD.
Also it's a Flieger styled watch (field hybrid), originated for pilots, so the minutes are more pronounced to monitor flight time and such.
no stress man. I have also the SNK809. you can regulate the movement very simple by yourself. i have do it myself and now it runs perfect. i love all my seiko,s
I bought the Casio Royale and Duro based on Nick's review. He was spot on, they are good. I bought this Seiko and it's not as bad as he says. 12 seconds a day fast - seems bad because we are used to quartz but it's ok for a bunch of springs and gears. Quartz watches are better, no argument, but if you want a cheap mechanical piece the 809 will satisfy.
Well Nick as you know, mechanical is a lot more complex than quartz. You are not going to get hacking for 50 bucks, you just aren't. Even a much more accurate overall better say Orient Bambino in the 100-150 range you still won't get hacking, but you will get hand winding. Just remember, Seiko 5 is a cheap dime a dozen brand. It is the Z Hunter of watches basically. That said the cheap Casio is a pos too. It's dial indices don't match with the second hand, the second hand literally shakes when it moves, and a good swift thwap against a hard floor or wall would probably kill it dead.
As for the dial.... it's a "watch romance thing" :p It is based on the German B-Uhr dials from their planes in WW2 and all the history and blah blah that implies. It is definitely too much for such a small dial.
Thanks for the review. It helped.
A very nice watch for very little money ,a bit on the small side but a nice watch .The strap is poor but that is not a big deal.
long ago I worked my way up the automatic watch chain, cheap ones are awful, I finally settled on a Tissot and a Seiko titanium Kinetic, they both keep good time, though the Tissot has to be serviced every couple years. if your a watch wearer invest in a good one (or two) and your done for a long time. Leave the goods deals and cheap stuff on shelf.
Very interesting. Thank you.
Dude, you're making me doubt, because I always thought this was kind of a classic in the Seiko 5 range.
If this model is bad, the skx007/skx009 are also bad?
+MaAu No clue there, sorry!
They aren't bad. I own an SKX and an SNK. Yeah, I might have to make an adjustment every few days - no big deal. It's a mechanical, it comes with the territory. It takes a few seconds and you are done. I synchronize with my phone every few days anyway, just to be sure. Sometimes I have to make an adjustment, sometimes I don't. This is still a great first mechanical.
+knox2613 thanks for the input. I too can live with a few adjudtments now and then.
You need to regulate your watch movement. I got 7s26c , and now after I regulated movement bymyself -3 to +3 seconds a day accuracy. Believe it or not sometimes 0 (zero) seconds per day !!
This is a very good entry level mechanical watch. I see you thrashing it so much, can you find a better mechanical watch for $50 ?
Mechanical aren't supposed to compare to a quartz, it's the old technology , I agree that quartz is much more practical. Yet therein lies its vintage in the mechanical watch. Accuracy wise quartz always win, hands down. It's the love of the gears ticking around. Furthermore, mechanicals aren't shockproof, a drop from 5 feet could send you packing to the watch service center. The only advantage I could find is that mechs are emp proof.
Now after commenting so much, I still use a quartz, simply because I'm a rugged person.
The printings on the dial reference a German WW2 pilots watch: Beobachtungsuhr Baumuster B.
By far your worst review, Nick. I own an SNK809, and mine runs +/- 10 seconds per diem. That seems to be the average, for the 7S26 movement.
I paid 53 dollars, shipping included, for my SNK809. There aren't any other decent automatic watches, near this price point.
Good in house moment, hardlex crystal (IMO, good scratch resistance), see through case back, and great lume... What more can you ask, for 50 bucks?
Where did you find it for fifty? The median price seems to be about $80 and I doubt it went up $30 in a year.
Strike Ecozzocn sometimes they go up to 120 bucks, but a lot of reviewers told me that the price would drop again once new arrive as they’re still production.
first: its 79.98 on Amazon, not including shipping. second: its non-hacking, not hand windable and inaccurate. A Casio waveceptor has better build quality with a radio synchronization and a whole lot more features. third: when something is bad, you just live with it, you don't deny it, inaccurate and outdated is a fact so don't justify your purchase. And DONT PICK ON NICK :(!!
You're talking smack about a watch everyone already loves. It's widely regarded as the best entry level mechanical watch and the best watch under $100, sometimes even under $200 or $500. You appear to be the only one to have such a drastically different opinion, which suggests your watch was malfunctional. Also you judged a little strangely; the dial doesn't need that much writing? It's a field/flieger watch, that's just _how they are_ ...
Janco van der Westhuizen "widely regarded " doesn't make up for dated movements:(
Best watch under $500? Lol what are you smoking? It’s a good value for under $100 but I wouldn’t get carried away. This is a navigator B style dial not a field watch
I've worn a slight variation of this same watch for ten years with no problems.
What you expect from mechanical watch with $50 tag price?!
It actually can get worse than this. I had this and got another Seiko 5, an SNX111. It has the same movement, but the ticking sound escapes the case and drives me up the wall. I've had it distract me when working in an open plan office. I gave my SNK809 to a coworker who just sort of started getting into watches, and he loves it. Going from no-watch to a-watch, it's more of a fun toy for him to track the accuracy of than anything.
As for the watch, you could add the case getting rust spots and the strap getting wrist cheese to be two other negatory aspects of the ownership experience.
Fair review, and I own one. I bought it to be used and abused for work and travel. Potential to be modded for fun. And I keep the nicer watches safe away. Its a good cheap watch, good for kids. Dont buy this if you like nicer watches, but do buy this if you want something low maintenance.
My SNK 809 runs 5 seconds slower a day... Did I win some kind of a lottery or something? Or you got a bad piece?
Precisely adjustment of second hand make no sense when accuracy is +-25second per day...
Mine averages about -6 seconds per day worn. But when left face up, it is about +4 seconds...so if I leave it face up at night, it's pretty much at -3 seconds/day, which is chronometer territory. I may have just gotten lucky though, but this little watch is one of my favorites in my collection. :)
The only two things I dislike are the lack of handwinding, and lack of hacking. But really, for the price, both those features are sacrificable.
you can regulate your automatic watch to improve it's time keeping accuracy ( where the plus and minus is )
It's hard to beat that price for a mechanical watch. If all you care about is accuracy, you should just use the phone that you have in your pocket, it's more accurate than the most accurate quartz watch. Mechanical watches, even cheap mechanical watches, are things of beauty. The fact that we can even come close to telling accurate time without any power source, just by using mechanical gears is impressive as hell. Not to mention the fact that you don't need a power source for automatic watches at all, if you never take it off, it will never stop running (unless it breaks, of course). Automatic and hand wind watches are what you should be getting if you are interested in watches. Everyone has a digital watch on them at all times, it's called a phone. And quartz watches are just less accurate, analog versions of that, that are less convenient because they are something extra you have to have on you, whereas you will always have your phone on you no matter what. So if you're looking for a watch, look at mechanical, if you're looking for one that you don't care that much if it breaks or goes missing, that you can wear wherever you want without fear, get one of these because they are inexpensive. If you are looking for something special, then Nick is right, save your money and get something a little nicer.
I agree with you on 99% of what you said.
Here is my problem.. i wish more high end seikos had the same crown setup as this, being so far in the bezzle and at 4 o clock. i work with my hands all day and most of the time in confined spaces so a crown sticking out gets caught... hence why i baught this watch for that reason.
the size is perfect, the crown is perfect, the price is perfect but why is the movement so bad.. yes the face isnt plain enough but for the price who really cares.
i would have purchased a more expencive watch but so far it is the only seiko i have seen with such a crown and in this size... Please correct me if im wrong as i would love to know. thank you for review
In general these are great watches. Maybe yours got magnetized, or taken some hard knocks in shipment. Maybe it is a good watch and is just out of regulation. I have bought plenty that needed regulation, and were great time keepers after regulation.
This is one of the cheapest watches I've seen that have hardlex, which is significantly tougher from what I've read. I'll be getting this or another Seiko 5 for that reason, but it's nice to see someone promoting quartz. As much as I think mechs are cool, they're objectively inferior.
The glass fitted to these is much less hard than what they fit to more expensive Seikos.
It seems you are looking for attributes that are present in a more expensive mechanical watch.
Would like to see it compared to Low end mechanical watches,
hahahahhha "Dora the freakin explorer watch that you found in a McDonalds happymeal" 😂😂😂 Nick you crack me up everytime
i just ordered my seiko 5 through amazon..im gonna use it only for weekend.does anybody know ,if i leave the watch in my dresser for 5/6 days does it harm any mechanical stuff.
Muhibur Alam are you talking about if it stops running? Because it doesn't have to run all the time. I've heard people say to give automatic watches a full wind once a month.
talks accuracy of a $50 watch, compares it to quartz and COSC standard mechanicals