SEIKOMen's SNK789 SEIKO 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch with White Dial

I wanted to wait a week and a half to make a good review. Simply, the watch is outstanding for the money. To put it plainly, Seiko 5 is an entry level high end watch. This watch looks really nice. It is simple but definitely looks like a higher end timepiece. Now, how does it work? I was actually fairly skeptical after reading some reviews both on Amazon and other sites. At first, I was attracted to the nicer look, yet still remaining simple and plain but some of the reviews are not favorable. In my opinion, I just don't see that. Some people say it doesn't run long enough as an automatic. The watch I have has zero problems at all keeping time. All I do is give it a little movement once at night and once in the morning for only 30 seconds max. I do not wear it every day, maybe only half of the week. It has never stopped and keeps very good time for an automatic. Automatics barley run a little fast and this personally doesn't trouble me. In a week and a half I've noticed only a second or two faster than another clock I have with exact time that I used to set the watch. Please note: as this is an entry level nice automatic, it does not wind from the crown. It only winds from manual movement. But as I mentioned, moving/shaking/whatever you want to call it, twice a day for 20 or 30 seconds is no big deal for $70 and never needing a battery. Indoors at night, there is a perfect, slight glow to view the time - not obnoxious at all, only what appear as small dots to show the numbers and hands very dimly yet enough to see. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this Seiko 5 model. I paid $70 for the watch and if you can wait it out, perhaps there will be a vendor who will sell it for this price again with free shipping/free returns. I have no regrets whatsoever. If you want more you certainly can pay more. But this is a watch. It tells time and that is all we really are seeking with it. Thank you for your time.

The Seiko 5 series of watches are a welcome addition to a line of watches that has a storied past and a bright future. The Seiko 5 SNK789 is a great watch that has been featured on the watch blog hodinkee.com. I bought this watch to add to my growing collection and I have enjoyed the watch for almost 3 months now.The watch itself is just beautiful to look at. From the eye-catching red seconds hand, to the simple yet subtle day-date window, this watch looks like more than a $65 piece. The bracelet is the Seiko oyster link bracelet with push button deployment clasp. The bracelet is one of my favorite parts of the watch; not too tight yet flexible and light. Speaking of weight this watch is very light and at times it can almost feel as though you aren't wearing a watch at all. The watch comes in at 36mm, which is very small by today's standards of 40mm, but the watch doesn't seem that small when placed on your wrist (especially my small wrist!). The lume of the watch is also quite good, it can be read in a very dark theater or room, depending on how long you've allowed it to be in direct light. Overall, a beautiful piece that catches the eye with subtleties.The case is stainless steel and of simplistic construction. Flip the watch over and you get a great view of the 7s26c movement via the exhibition case back. This movement is the same one found in the impeccable Seiko SKX007, Seiko's premier diving watch. The 7s26c is a fairly reliable caliber with a -/+ of 5-26 seconds/day. Mine has clocked in at about 24 seconds fast, so every so often, if I haven't let the watch die, I reset it. Overall a great movement in a great watch.This watch is beautiful and a good starter watch. In my opinion, one has not truly become a watch collector until one has owned at least one Seiko. If that characterizes you, start with this and graduate to the SKX007J, or go big with a watch from the grand Seiko or Prospex line. I highly recommend this watch which is truly a watch that looks like a million bucks for less than $100.

I bought a similar Seiko 5 watch for my father when I was in Dubai International Airport from the local gift shop. I paid 67 dollars for it and I was so impressed by the quality of the fit and finish that I wanted to buy one for myself whenever I would get the chance. Mind this, I wore it around town and I banged my wrist into doors or walls since I am a little clumsy. But my father's watch was a champ and didn't have any scratches on it. I have to add this fact that my father's watch was made in Japan and it was written everywhere; on the winding wheel, on the the clasp and also on the dial.So, when I bought this watch from Amazon I was expecting a similar quality even though I knew this wasn't made in Japan. The example I received is very beautiful and well made. But the links and the metal aren't of the same caliber of my father's watch. It scratches very easily even though I didn't bang into anything. Plus the winding wheel has this smudged ink on the side of it. Its very annoying to look at and feels like some careless worker left a seal on it or something. It tarnishes an otherwise pretty image of mechanical sculpture in motion.In conclusion, I would say that if you're a frequent traveler to the middle east of South East Asia don't bother buying it from Amazon. They charge way too much for an sub par product. But if you want to buy it from Amazon this is a good buy since I think this is a better watch than the Invicta Pro Diver. The Invicta's movement will only keep it powered for 24 hours without winding while this will go up to 40 hours.UPDATE: November 21st 2008I would like to add that buy this watch with the expectation of not getting accurate time. This watch has the tendency to gain like a minute over a period of 4-6 days depending on how much you move your hands. I am not very alarmed since this is a common caveat amongst automatic watches since the springs within the watch might be too tightly wound.In conclusion, if you don't mind dialing the time back every once in a while but desire a good looking watch at a decent price then go for it. After purchasing this, if the opportunity arises next time I will go for something that is sold by Amazon.com and probably a Citizen Eco-Drive around 90-100 bucks.