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I've been trying to get hold of the Seiko SRP043K1 (200m diver with the 4R15 movement) for months. As the overwhelming demand drove prices beyond what i'm willing to pay for one, i thought of getting the SKA427 Seiko Kinetic Diver instead. I almost pulled the trigger on one at a retail outlet. It was only a difference of S$10, yet i walked away from it. The truth of the matter is i'm not convinced that Seiko's kinetic technology is suitable for me. As i'll probably be wearing the watch for only a day or two before storing it away for a week or more, there may not be sufficient wrist time to charge the cell.
I started looking at other Seiko automatics, such as the Monster and the FrankenMonster. I'm not so fond of the scallop bezel on the Monster, neither are the ugly studs and plastic case protector of the FrankenMonster any more appealing. I almost thought of shelving the idea of getting a Seiko until i saw this one on Ebay. Its the Seiko SNZE93J1. The design is almost like a cross between a Monster and a FrankenMonster.
I like the design of this blue dial. Under reflection, the dial gives off a very nice blue colour in the middle. Its surrounded by a grey ring up to the edge. The white markers and hands makes a nice contrast, providing clear legibility for reading time. The white tipped second hand adds a nice touch.
This model is a little bigger than most other Seiko 5s. It has a case size of 44mm excluding crown, with a thickness of 13.5mm. The non screw-down crown is located at the 4 o'clock position, just like the FrankenMonster. The bezel turns unidirectionally with 120 clicks. The turns are smooth and positive, with hardly any free play. Unlike the divers, this watch is rated for only 100m of water resistance.
The watch comes with a display caseback, housing the Seiko 7S36, a non-winding and non-hacking automatic movement. This watch is made in Japan, with the J designation indicating Japan domestic distribution.
The watch comes with a 22mm Oyster style bracelet that is big enough to accomodate 8" wrists. Together with the micro adjustments, it should fit almost any wrist. The links are solid but the end-links are hollow. It has a brushed finishing for most parts except for the sides. A push button deployant clasp together with a flip lock secures the bracelet. The folding clasp does feel a little low quality. In addition, i would prefer to have solid end links instead but at such an affordable price, i'm probably nit picking.
Seiko's lumibrite is indeed impressive. Here's a lume shot of the watch. The watch is glowing even under indoor lighting. To get a really bright glow, all you need is to expose the watch to a few seconds of window lighting.
At this moment, my initial impression of the watch is positive. Its pretty well made considering its price. It wears comfortably on the wrist and despite of the hollow end links, the watch case does not wobble. If you are looking for an affordable automatic that does not feel cheap nor lacking in quality, you should include this one on your shortlist.
I started looking at other Seiko automatics, such as the Monster and the FrankenMonster. I'm not so fond of the scallop bezel on the Monster, neither are the ugly studs and plastic case protector of the FrankenMonster any more appealing. I almost thought of shelving the idea of getting a Seiko until i saw this one on Ebay. Its the Seiko SNZE93J1. The design is almost like a cross between a Monster and a FrankenMonster.
I like the design of this blue dial. Under reflection, the dial gives off a very nice blue colour in the middle. Its surrounded by a grey ring up to the edge. The white markers and hands makes a nice contrast, providing clear legibility for reading time. The white tipped second hand adds a nice touch.
This model is a little bigger than most other Seiko 5s. It has a case size of 44mm excluding crown, with a thickness of 13.5mm. The non screw-down crown is located at the 4 o'clock position, just like the FrankenMonster. The bezel turns unidirectionally with 120 clicks. The turns are smooth and positive, with hardly any free play. Unlike the divers, this watch is rated for only 100m of water resistance.
The watch comes with a display caseback, housing the Seiko 7S36, a non-winding and non-hacking automatic movement. This watch is made in Japan, with the J designation indicating Japan domestic distribution.
The watch comes with a 22mm Oyster style bracelet that is big enough to accomodate 8" wrists. Together with the micro adjustments, it should fit almost any wrist. The links are solid but the end-links are hollow. It has a brushed finishing for most parts except for the sides. A push button deployant clasp together with a flip lock secures the bracelet. The folding clasp does feel a little low quality. In addition, i would prefer to have solid end links instead but at such an affordable price, i'm probably nit picking.
Seiko's lumibrite is indeed impressive. Here's a lume shot of the watch. The watch is glowing even under indoor lighting. To get a really bright glow, all you need is to expose the watch to a few seconds of window lighting.
At this moment, my initial impression of the watch is positive. Its pretty well made considering its price. It wears comfortably on the wrist and despite of the hollow end links, the watch case does not wobble. If you are looking for an affordable automatic that does not feel cheap nor lacking in quality, you should include this one on your shortlist.
However, this is good news for those with a small wrist as the watch does not appear as big as it should be for a 44mm case.
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