Seiko Men's Analogue Automatic Self-Winding Watch with Stainless Steel Bracelet – SNXS73K

Product Information

There are also a couple of versions that have aged-looking hour markers to make the watches look a bit more vintage, like the blue SRPD93 and black SRPD95, a personal favorite in my collection reviewed here. Having a watch case with so many precisely machined edges that vary in their finish, from brushed to polish, is rare in most watches, let alone watches this affordable. While it’s not solid gold, Seiko is known to do a great job of plating their gold watches so that it doesn’t come off after wear. It doesn’t last for an extremely long time, but fades out gradually and helps the watch be more legible in the dark and at night.

Of course, this watch would look just as at home on a brown or black leather band, to enhance that rugged, tool-watch look. In my opinion, the 79 is the most ‘rich’ and ‘luxurious’ looking, though the blue version looks good also. The dial appears black at first but exposes itself as a rich, very dark sunburst brown when exposed to direct light. In fact, I think the subtle texture adds a spark of interest that a plain silver dial otherwise might lack. While the watch can, of course, tell the current time, the dive bezel allows you to track the time of anything up to 60 minutes, although traditionally used to track how much time a diver’s oxygen tank can allow them to remain underwater.The radiant blue sunburst dial of the SRPE53 compliments the polished bezel, and brushed bracelet, although this watch would look just as at home on a NATO strap or leather band. Sunburst watch dials can be a bit flashy, as they vary greatly in different lighting conditions, while glossy or matte dials usually look rather neutral.

Taking a look at this particular model, the SRPE53 is part of the “DressKX” lineup, a nickname given as it’s a dressier version of the SKX one of Seiko’s most popular dive watches of all time.

There are plenty of great vintage models out there, like the Sportmatic and DX series, and I urge you to explore them, with a word of caution. The rich, dark dial juxtaposed against the pronounced bezel of the bright, polished case really packs a punch. As someone I know spoke of the Seiko 5, you can just rest on the couch all day, and get up only when you need to, and it’ll still give that movement just enough motion of the rotor to keep it going.

They were made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Seiko and became the go-to suggestion for new watch collectors. The more expensive variants are watches with the reference number SNXS79J1, which are JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) models, produced and sold only in Japan.

In late 1990s I purchased a Seiko battery Chronograph which is a great watch as well no probs at all no servicing just a battery change every 5 years. However, since Rob is the source of entry-level Seikos for the Seikoholics in Germany, I asked a German friend of mine about that. Previously, it was Malaysia and Singapore, currently – as per the sticker I’ve peeled off of mine – it’s China. I do appreciate craftsmanship and inginuity of many Swiss pieces, but like you said, as far as reliability and affordability, Seiko is hard to beat. Not only do you have to choose a dial color and layout that suits you, but also one with the right finish.

Pick up the SNKL41 if you want a clean, minimalist white dial watch that can pair well with quite literally any outfit or watch strap. At the time, after wearing a dive watch for a couple of months, I thought the Seiko 5 looked too small and effeminate on me. The top-brushed lugs are accented by a polished bevel that really adds some visual dimensions when viewing this watch from different angles.However, the SNXS79 would also look great on any black, brown, or taupe leather – the simpler, the better. The bar indices are filled with Seiko's own luminous material, LumiBrite, and the watch's baton hands also glow in the dark. Although a bit unusual, this is a specific design trait of the 5 that makes the watch more comfortable to wear when on your wrist. The crown at the 4:00 position certainly helps to add to the comfort, but I’ll admit, it’s such a tiny crown, it can be difficult to pull out and use.