SEIKO 5 - first steps into a new (to me) world ...

Jul 07, 2014,03:30 AM
 

SEIKO 5 - it all started with a Seiko Sportsmatic 5, back in 1963. The idea was to set a new standard in accessibly priced mechanical watches with its innovative combination of an automatic movement. The 5 Sports series started in 1968. Both series haven´t been on my "radar" until recently. I am in hunting mood ...

Sidenote: At a friends wedding I detected a nice "vintage" watch on a gentleman´s wrist. It was in steel and with a "slim" (almost like AP RO 5402; thickness & style) bracelet. The case looked like an octagon, if I remember correctly. First I thought it was from AP or maybe IWC, but there was Seiko written on the dial. I liked what I saw, but failed to ask the owner about more details - unfortunately. Was it Quartz or even something really sophisticated? I don´t know, yet. Hunting started already, but it is not easy with the information I have and the lack of deep knowledge about the brand. Any kind of support is more than welcome smile

In the past I almost bought a Grand Seiko several times, but didn´t for several reasons at the end.

On Friday I decided to start my journey with Seiko and my choice for now is a Seiko 5 Sports SNZH55K1. I will come back to the watch after some time of ownership, but for now I will start with some first impressions and pictures if you don´t mind.

Based on the amount of pictures I will share you can guess if I like it or not smile







































First impression: a simple but serious watch. I like it a lot for what it is!

Oliver

This message has been edited by small-luxury-world on 2014-07-07 03:31:06


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Getting Started..

 
 By: MervC : July 7th, 2014-03:41
Getting started on Seiko is opening a Pandora's box. They have a great entry price, and its so easy to collect so many. You should look into the classic Seiko diver SKX007 Pic stolen from Nilo (Sorry!) ...  

"its so easy to collect so many"

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-01:33
Why, just because it is affordable (what ever that means; it´s relative)? To learn and to choose for your own reasons is probably the toughest part when (serious) collecting. Nonetheless the diver shown is nice, but I guess it doesn´t fit to my current "h... 

Very nice, Oliver!

 
 By: jporos : July 7th, 2014-07:04
Really like the typography on the bezel. Congrats!

Thanks, jporos.

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-04:47
.

Very, very nice....

 
 By: KIH : July 7th, 2014-08:54
.. cost/ satisfaction wise, you will never regret... :-) Ken

Ken, it is like testing a new Italian Pizza restaurant ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-04:50
you have to eat a simple Margherita first. It they pass that test you can go further ... :-) Thanks for your PM, my friend! Oliver

Congratulations my friend...

 
 By: shipkeeper : July 7th, 2014-09:24
....has entered a one-way road that would provide you... only pleasure!!! In my collection my favorite is a diver SEIKO ref.: 6306. All the best Juan

SEIKO ref.: 6306 is looking good as well ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-04:52
:-) Thanks! Oliver

Congrats! :-)

 
 By: SALMANPK : July 7th, 2014-10:08
Your pictures are amazing, really brings out the beauty of the piece, the watch you saw at your friends wedding was it by any chance this one?: S

Salman, thanks for your reply and support ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-04:55
but it was another one. Oliver

Oh the Mystery Deepens :-)

 
 By: SALMANPK : July 8th, 2014-10:41
Now I am intrigued to see what watch was on the wrist of the guest at your friend's wedding. S

Oliver, that looks REALLY GOOD!

 
 By: MichaelC : July 7th, 2014-10:26
I have been excited to learn about Seiko in person. I really like this model. Congrats!

"REALLY GOOD!" Michael that means 100 points for ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-04:56
Seiko :-) Thanks my friend! Oliver

The cost to performance ratio, as Ken noted . . .

 
 By: Dr No : July 7th, 2014-16:12
. . . is off the charts. Received this one from my brother thru Dad, who gave it to him decades back. Little brother never wore it, and transferred possession to yours truly about five years ago. After it came back from its first-ever service (and please ...  

Your brother, are you sure he is your brother ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-05:00
The watch is lovely and it is hard to believe that it didn´t see any wristtime. Great story, anyway! "cost to performance ratio" - this could be the start of a nice study, even when it is relative :-) Thanks my friend! Oliver

Watches mean something very different today...

 
 By: jporos : July 8th, 2014-06:18
they have sentimental and collectible aesthetic value. To your Dad, it was just a reliable watch. Thanks for telling the story, Art.

Very true, j . . .

 
 By: Dr No : July 8th, 2014-11:15
. . . it was 'just a watch' for Pops . . .

Sliding down the slippery slope to join us, eh?

 
 By: cazalea : July 7th, 2014-23:26
There are thousands of Seikos and hundreds of intriguing and lovely ones, so watch your wallet? Could the watch have looked like this one, perhaps? Cazalea ...  

"There are thousands of Seikos and hundreds of intriguing and lovely ones ..."

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-05:01
That´s my current status as well, after some research - only :-) Sorry, it was a different one :-( Thanks my friend! Oliver

Welcome at Seiko

 
 By: stere : July 8th, 2014-02:40
Dear Oliver, last year I bought also a Seiko like yours from Amazon for < 150€ for holidays. The first one I sent back because I was of the opinion the winding system was broken. But shame on me, I didn't realize that I have to shake the watch for wind... 

"Shaking Seiko"

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-05:05
Well, my case was almost similiar but I was reading the manual more carefully :-) Did you get the same reference? It gets a lot of wristtime at the moment ... let´s see. Thanks my friend! Oliver

I've never...

 
 By: stere : July 8th, 2014-05:21
...thought I have to read a manual for a wristwatch :-) ...my fault. Here are some pictures of the watch at my last vacation. And the one million question is: Where I spend my vacation? :-) regards stere PS: As you see, it's not the same reference. I pref...  

Couldn´t afford the blue one ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-05:29
as it was about 20% more expensive. But maybe yours came without a manual and was reduced ... :-) Serious - the blue one is nice as well and I gave it a thought as well. Netherland´s at the sea? Cheers, Oliver

of course...

 
 By: stere : July 9th, 2014-13:49
...you're right: It was uncle Edwins Netherlands :-) Thanks Stere

Or as my wife says, a "Sheiko"

 
 By: cazalea : July 8th, 2014-05:15
She cleverly cut it down to one word, saving all that redundancy whereas Seiko by their cleverness took out one function we all took for granted and saved themselves a cent or two on each of millions of watches per month. I've been unable to determine how... 

ROFL

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-05:18
We know a lot about watches, but our wifes "nail it" from time to time :-) Oliver

Regarding hunting ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 8th, 2014-05:09
just got another hint: The owner bought it after he was seriously disappointed with his Rolex - even after some service visits. His Seiko get´s the energy for the accu from the balance wheel ... and the price was below € 500,- ... at the moment it is in f... 

Nice watch!

 
 By: Kong : July 11th, 2014-01:48
You are not alone, this is indeed a very nice Seiko 5! Kong ...  

Kong, I must say ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 24th, 2014-09:42
it fits you as well :-) Thanks my friend! Oliver

Congratulations!

 
 By: Jack Forster : July 11th, 2014-15:49
As it happens I just bought that exact model and have been wearing it very happily. After twenty years of being fascinated by watches and nearly a decade of making a living writing about them full time I still find Seiko, and particularly the entry level ... 

I can tell that you chose...

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 13th, 2014-10:25
very passionately and precisely what fits great in your collection Well done dear Oliver I must confess I didn't expect that one coming by far Yours Damjan

Damjan, thanks a lot for your kind words ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : July 24th, 2014-09:41
and I hope you have a great summer together with your family! Just came back from my holiday and took lots of new pictures ... :-) Cordially, Oliver

Looking forward

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 24th, 2014-11:15
to your connoisseurs imprints from holiday I'll try to make some as well All the best to you any all yours Damjan