Seiko Opinion

[Mort]

With all the talk of the Orange Monster and how well Seiko's are made, I have thought of getting one. I am not a big fan of dive watches so i want to go with a little more dressy with out spending Grand Seiko or Spring Drive money.

Does anyone here own a Kinetic Seiko? I was wondering if the second hand sweeps or does it hack like most quartz watches? I have not seen the watch in person.

Here is an image of the one I may be interested in along with the description from Amazon.

Opinions and or suggestions would be appreciated.


• Premier Collection.
• Black dial with silver tone hands and markers.
• Stainless steel case.
• Sttractive black leather strap with push-button deployment strap.
• Polished bezel.
• Roman numerals on inner bezel.
• Hour, minute and second hands.
• Perpetual calendar - Once set, the calendar automatically adjusts for odd and even months including February of leap years up to February 28, 2100.
• Automatic kinetic power generator - powered by the motion of your wrist.
• When the watch senses 24 hours of inactivity it puts itself into suspended animation (sleep mode) to conserve energy. The date continues to advance correctly while the watch is asleep. Wake it up with a few shakes of your wrist and it automatically resets itself to the correct time even if it's been asleep for up to four years.
• Overcharge prevention function.
• Window indicates the number years since the last leap year.
• Large fluted crown.
• Oversized dual date windows.
• 24-hour and 12-month subdials.
• Energy depletion forewarning function.
• Precise Kinetic movement - High accuracy - monthly loss/gain rate of less than 15 seconds.
• Push-button deployment clasp.
• Scratch resistant sapphire Crystal.
• Water Resistant to 100m.
• Case measures 40mm diameter by 12mm thick.
• 3 years original manufacturer warranty.

[astcell]

Between 3:15 and 6:35 you won't see the hands.

[SLRdude]

The second hand ticks on a kinetic watch.
A kinetic watch has a standard quartz movement that uses an oscillating weight/rotor to charge a battery/capacitor.

[Mort]

Originally Posted by SLRdude

The second hand ticks on a kinetic watch.
A kinetic watch has a standard quartz movement that uses an oscillating weight/rotor to charge a battery/capacitor.

Thanks, you answered my question.

To me a sweep hand is what would set apart this Seiko from the standard quartz ones.

[SLRdude]

There are numerous Seiko models that are automatic watches and they do not cost a fortune.
If you are looking for a dressy model, look at the Spirit line.
If you want a diver, check out the Prospex line.
All those are bullet proof reliable, and they will last a lifetime without breaking the bank. (the Prospex divers can go up to 5k though, but they start around 450)

Here are some examples.
This is a Spirit owned by a friend of mine (photo credit Wetowne).


And a diver.



Both of those are in the 300 dollars range.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I have a Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay, Sports 100. Very cool watch. Doesn't get much wrist time, though, but when I on an occasional basis fetch it out of the drawer where it lies with another Seiko (mid 1980ies TT moon phase Seiko Sport's 100, btw.), I just give it a little shake, and it "tunes in" on the exact time since it stores energy.

The second's hand moves in 1 second intervals, btw., and does not run continously.

I really like Seiko as a brand, and Seiko is one of the few watch companies that make their own movts.

[Mort]

Thanks everyone, it will help me in figuring out if I buy one which model to get.

[haakon59]

Seiko makes good watches and I have an orange monster and a few others too. When a movement hacks, this means that you can get the second hand to stop completely (often in order to synchronize the time.) Quartz watches (seconds hands) move in 1 second increments, while automatic watches will move in (sweep) seconds which are divided into units depending on the rate of the movement (21, 600 or 28,800 are common).

[Obsession]

I had owned this one also as well as lots of Seikos I owned till today,I bought from EBAY I weared it just 1 time for even a half day and I didnt like it so much, all Seikos are not as nice as seen at internet, and I sold the watch with 50 dollars profit.I shared one of my Seiko purchase here till to sell it but nobody wrote anything so I didnt need to share this baby's photos, I just sold it in few weeks. IF you ll buy a Seiko so please check also COUTURA and WORLDTIMER and also model with silicon bezel looks like ceramic I forgot the name, those models are also nice, but not perfect in my opinion.

[vukotab]

I own that one right now!That`s remarkable watch!It`s quality can be compared with ANY Swiss manufacturer and it`s precission is simly amazing.Yes,it is true that second hand ticking like the none on the quartz watches,but thats what Kinetic movement basicaly is - a quartz with rotor that charging special battery.Believe me If you want to buy classy watch and not to spend big amount of money,that is the perfect watch for you.And there`s nothing more beautiful then sight of your watch while performing auto-winding process!
Here are some photos of mine!

[frostie]

Good looking seiko Vukota.

[Mort]

Nice looking Seiko. I really like the large date.

[TheDude]

I have a black Samurai - similar to the second one in Chip's post. Cheaper than his since mine is SS - not titanium. It also has a hobnail dial and different hands/markers. I like it better since the bezel and the crown have a glossy dark coating on the metal. I wear mine on a Seiko rubber dive strap.





Seiko has a relatively new workhorse (cheap) automatic movement that hacks. I don't recall the exact designation, but you might look into getting one of those.