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If you’re looking for an automatic timepiece without the associated worries, then a kinetic watch is the best choice for you.
Kinetic movement is the most advanced movement technology today. Imagine owning an elegant (or rugged, if you’d like), low-maintenance, and environment-friendly watch, that doesn’t need periodic battery changes or winding. Instead, kinetic watches are powered by the energy received from human movement.
Human movement? This doesn’t mean you have to do a marathon or undergo a demanding gym session to energize your swanky new kinetic watch! Just swing your arm or shake hands with someone and your watch is powered up for up to 6 months.
Sounds amazing? Look no further! Being the original inventor, Seiko makes the best kinetic watches in the world!
Whether you’re a sportsperson, business executive, outdoors enthusiast, or a combination of these, Seiko has a watch for everyone. Every Seiko watch is a masterpiece created with more than a century of experience and innovations.
In this guide, we’ve listed and reviewed the 10 best Seiko kinetic watches. Selection of the top 10 was based on our first-hand experience, hundreds of online reviews and customer forums, and of course, analysis of each model’s inherent features.
Here they are:
Product
Type
Band
Water Resistance
Price
Type: Dress
Dress
Band: Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Water Resistance: 100m (330 ft)
100m (330 ft)
Type: Dive
Dive
Band: Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Water Resistance: 200m (660 ft)
200m (660 ft)
Type: Dress
Dress
Band: Nylon
Nylon
Water Resistance: 100m (330 ft)
100m (330 ft)
Type: Casual
Casual
Band: Genuine Leather
Genuine Leather
Water Resistance: 100m (330 ft)
100m (330 ft)
Type: Dive
Dive
Band: Urethane-Strap
Urethane-Strap
Water Resistance: 200m (660 ft)
200m (660 ft)
Type: Dive
Dive
Band: Silicone
Silicone
Water Resistance: 200m (660 ft)
200m (660 ft)
Type: Dress
Dress
Band: Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Water Resistance: 50m (165 ft)
50m (165 ft)
Type: Office/Dress
Office/Dress
Band: Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Water Resistance: 100m (330 ft)
100m (330 ft)
Type: Dive
Dive
Band: Rubber
Rubber
Water Resistance: 200m (660 ft)
200m (660 ft)
Type: Lifestyle Watch
Lifestyle Watch
Band: Leather
Leather
Water Resistance: 100m (330 ft)
100m (330 ft)
The 10 Best Seiko Kinetic Watches of 2022
1. Seiko SKA366 Two-Tone Kinetic
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 39.5 mm
Case Thickness: 11.2 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Hardlex
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Stainless Steel
Band Width: 20.5 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Black/Black
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 m (330 feet)
First on our list is the SKA366 two-tone kinetic dress watch. This is a bold, yet subtle, Seiko kinetic watch, that ranks high in the good looks department.
It’s a stunning, glossy finish, two-tone (gold and black), kinetic dress watch. The glamorous and magnificent design of the SKA366 is sure to fetch you compliments in the office, and otherwise.
It made it to the top of our list for its unique attractiveness, amazing online reviews, and of course, for its superior Seiko quality and quartz timekeeping technology.
Typically, dress watches have silver cases and bands, that make them stand out. With the SKA 366, Seiko designers have selected a magnificent black and gold combination with the correct dose of subtlety. They’ve created a dress watch that can be worn all the time.
It’s not the elegant design alone that make the SKA366 a great timepiece. It’s kinetic features, durability, and versatility, and other design features, make it an exceptional watch.
As a kinetic timepiece, it’s powered by Seiko’s 5M62 caliber. It has a 39.5 mm case diameter with 11.2 mm thickness, that fits comfortably. It’s a bit heavy, but again, kinetic watches can be even bulkier. It’s a sturdy, durable, and masculine stainless steel watch; its color scheme makes it look modern and expensive. There is a calendar placed on the 4 o’clock mark instead of the usual 3 o’clock mark, giving the watch a subtle feel. It’s also waterproof, so you can wear it while swimming.
Overall, the Seiko Men’s SKA366 Kinetic watch is a perfect watch for discerning men who are looking for a high-end, elegant, classic and functional watch at an exceptional value. Beyond all that it’s also reasonably priced. This watch will never disappoint you.
PROS
- Classy yet subtle design, with a stunning two-tone color scheme
- Suitable for all occasions formal to casual (especially formal) and sure to get you compliments
- Great value for money for a high-quality classy dress watch
- The 100 m (330 feet) water resistance is quite high for a dress watch
CONS
- Some elders find the date window too small to read
2. Seiko SKA371 Kinetic Dive Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 14.8 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Hardlex
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Stainless Steel
Band Width: 24 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Silver/Black
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 200 m (660 feet)
Another matter of pride for Seiko’s kinetic watch collection is the SKA371 kinetic dive watch. This sleek and masculine looking dive watch is a design masterpiece, that is loved at first sight. Having a kinetic movement inside ensures the watch is accurate (due to quartz timekeeping) and low-maintenance (due to self-charging mechanism).
It has a water resistance of up to 200 meters (660 feet), making it a true to the core dive watch. It’s tough heavy stainless steel case and proportionately heavy stainless steel band, makes it a robust and durable timepiece, whilst looking great.
It has a dial window made with proprietary Hardlex, ensuring cracks and scratches won’t be cause for concern. Like typical dive watches, the SKA371 too has a unidirectional bezel. The bezel is made of stainless steel.
On the face, you’ll find a date display, that displays only the date counter, from 1 to 31. If you’re in a month with 30 days or less, then you’ll need to manually reset the day to 1 at the beginning of the new month.
The Seiko SKA371 has a 3-Dimensional watch dial face, due to an attractive double layer watch dial. Also, on the face, it uses index markers instead of numerals, which is characteristic of most dive watches. The reason for this is to put in maximum lume on the markers so as to maximize legibility to see in the dark.
So, if you’re looking for a durable and accurate watch that looks great anywhere, the SKA371 may be right for you.
PROS
- Robust case craftsmanship, being made from stainless steel
- Amazing rugged look for outdoors yet compliments office wear as well
- 200 m water resistance makes it capable of withstanding dives
- LumiBrite technology makes the lume outstandingly bright
CONS
- The skeleton design hands look may look slightly out of place amongst the other elements on the watch
- It's a hefty watch, but most people love that
3. Seiko SKA705 RECRAFT Kinetic Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 12 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Hardlex
Bezel Material: Black Stainless Steel
Band Material: Nylon
Band Width: 22 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Black/Black
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 m (330 feet)
Next, we have the SKA705 Recraft Kinetic. This watch is designed to give a sleek and masculine look, with a black ion finish and a gear-edge bezel. Adding to the uniqueness; its band is a NATO-style nylon braid with buckle closure. A welcome relief for those that struggle with segmented metal bands.
The SKA705 is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet). This implies, its suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not diving.
The transparent back panel of the case is quite a sight for sore eyes and curious lot, that wonder – what makes my watch tick? You can easily see the internal mechanisms through this transparent panel.
The amazement doesn’t end there, underneath the Hardlex dial window there’s a sleek, minimalist face. The face has stick indices and bright luminous hands, making this a great watch in the dark.
At the two o’ clock mark there is a power reserve indicator. Upon pressing it, the seconds hand notches up a certain number of degrees. The farther the seconds hand moves away, the more energy the watch has in reserve. Like with all other Seiko kinetic watches in our list, the winding mechanism within the SKA705 too can power up the watch for as long as six months.
On the flip side, a perceived downside of this model is the noise. This is more a concern for those new to kinetic watches. When in quiet places like a library or a lecture hall, the winding mechanism may seem loud. But this is something you can easily get used to.
The SKA705 is a very popular kinetic watch. After all, it too is backed by Seiko’s more than a century old experience and innovations. Like the other watches on our list, this one also has the most advanced kinetic movement technology. The reviews and forums online indicate its huge popularity. Also, it’s often priced relatively lower than other kinetic watches, so the high value you get from this robust timepiece, is insane.
PROS
- Sleek and masculine design with the uniqueness of black ion finish and gear-edge bezel
- The band is NATO-style nylon braid with buckle closure - a plus for metal band haters
- Bright lumen makes the watch useful in the dark
CONS
- Some people may find the nylon strap slightly uncomfortable while others cherish it
4. Seiko SKA723 Casual/Lifestyle Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 12 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Synthetic Sapphire
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Genuine Calf Leather
Band Width: 22 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Brown/Grey
Movement: Hybrid-Quartz-Automatic
Water Resistance: 100 m (330 feet)
The SKA723 is a classic, sturdy, and active feel watch, that has rightfully claimed a sweet spot (well-deserved rank) in our top 10 Seiko kinetic watch list. Its overall look matches the kinetic properties of the timepiece.
It has a stainless steel case, a brown calf leather strap, and simple markers at the dial. Due to its sturdy and straightforward design, this watch gels well with every lifestyle and type of clothing. It’s a handsome timepiece that can be worn in the office, while playing a sport (including swimming), and for other casual and formal occasions. It’s not suitable for diving.
The SKA723 field watch is powered by Seiko’s 5M82 caliber; a relatively more recent caliber version by Seiko.
The Seiko SKA723 is a great choice if you want a classy looking, sturdy and casual field watch. It has all the basic features in place and matches well with any lifestyle. It also has a transparent back panel to let you see the internal mechanisms.
PROS
- Casual styling with robust kinetic technology
- Large dial numerals are easy to read at a glance
- Active feel coordinates well with any lifestyle and clothing
- Can swim and snorkel with it on, as it has 100 m (330 feet) water resistance
CONS
- Some may think the genuine leather strap looks too simplistic
5. Seiko SKA413 " Adventure" Kinetic Diver Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 45 mm
Case Thickness: 14.8 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Hardlex
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Urethane-Strap
Band Width: 22.5 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Black/Black
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 200 m (660 feet)
Another great kinetic movement watch that deservingly made our list is the Seiko SKA413 “Adventure”, men’s watch. It features a polished finish stainless steel case with screw down crown and the unidirectional rotating bezel. It has a highly scratch resistant hardlex crystal, a 22.5 mm wide black rubber strap with buckle clasp, and a black dial with date display. Luminous hands and hour markers make it truly versatile.
Much like the SKA371, the rugged SKA413 “Adventure” has a water resistance of up to 200 meters (660 feet), making it a true to the core dive watch. You can scuba dive worry-free with this watch.
As a safety feature for divers, the bezel is unidirectional and rotates anti-clockwise only. The reason for this being: a bezel bumped in the wrong direction can mislead the diver to believe he has spent less time underwater than actual time spent. The bezel tracks elapsed time up to 60 minutes. Additionally, the crown screws down to avoid being accidentally pulled out while under water.
Another unique feature of this popular watch is the ribbed band made of rubber. Interestingly, the hefty-looking band actually feels quite light on your wrist. Fret not if you change your mind later and prefer a different type of band. The rubber band can be easily removed using a band removal tool, to facilitate changing of the band.
If that’s not enough, like all the other winners on our list, the SKA413 is also quite accurate. Even after months of use it’ll only gain or lose a couple of seconds.
PROS
- 200 m water resistance makes it capable of withstanding dives
- Looks great and is surprisingly light because of its rubber strap
- Bright and long-lasting illumination of indices and hands
CONS
- Fairly chunky-looking, but that's just the way many like it
6. Seiko SUN065 Special Edition Padi GMT Diver Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 47.5 mm
Case Thickness: 15 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Anti Reflective Sapphire
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Silicone
Band Width: 24 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Black/Blue
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 200 m (660 feet)
The SUN065 has a lot going on in itself. No wonder it made our top 10 list. It’s absolutely beautiful. A true masterpiece of craftsmanship. It defines masculinity.
The more overboard Seiko went into designing this watch, the more successful the outcome was. In the end they seem to have stopped at the perfect end result. It’s a feature-rich beauty run with the powerhouse caliber 5M85 Kinetic quartz movement.
Besides being ‘pretty’ outstanding looking, the Seiko’s Lumibrite coating help you see the watch in the darkest places in the ocean. The deep groves ensure the diver can turn the bezel with ease, even with gloves on. The dial window material is sapphire crystal with an anti-glare coating.
The 47.5 mm case somehow doesn’t feel that big; it feels right. A good portion of that size is due to the protective outer metal ring that partially protects the diving bezel.
The four hands aren’t just for looks. Besides the hour, minute, and second hand, this model has a GMT hand for a second time zone on the dial, indicated in 24-hour format. The date function is stylishly displayed through a window located at 4.30 positions.
Fun fact: PADI is “the Professional Association of Diving Instructors”. It is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization. PADI and Seiko started out serving the diving industry in 1965. In order to celebrate their special relationship, Seiko announced a couple of special edition watch models, one of which is the SUN065.
Though categorized ‘special edition’, this watch is by no means limited in numbers. If you’re looking for one of the best kinetic dive watches that is great looking yet powerful and versatile, then go for the SUN065 without a second thought.
PROS
- Colorful (not gaudy) and well designed
- Light-weight silicone strap makes it quite comfortable to wear even on a wetsuit
- 5M85 movement caliber
CONS
- Large heavy watch, not for the limp wristed
7. Seiko SMY111 Kinetic Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 37 mm
Case Thickness: 7 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Hardlex
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Stainless Steel
Band Width: 20 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Silver/Blue
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 50 m (165 feet)
The SMY111 is a beautiful and modestly priced traditional looking Seiko kinetic watch. Its design is perfect for any business meeting or event. The stainless steel case with a dark blue sunray dial portrays a subtle elegance.
It is water resistant to 50 meters (165 feet), which means it’s suitable for short periods of recreational swimming only. The watch has baton hour markers, and a pleasing day and date window at the three hour mark. It has a blue dial with luminous silver-tone hand and hour markers.
Its comparative slimness to other kinetic models on our list is another plus point. The SMY111 is perfect for those that want a kinetic movement watch that is not hefty, nor too big, for their wrists.
Also, it has all the regular Seiko features such as the power level indicator that shows how much energy is left. It also has a scratch resistant finely crafted Hardlex crystal. No wonder this watch is so popular!
PROS
- Fantastic watch at a modest price
- Not as bulky considering it's s a kinetic timepiece
- Handsome looking with nice shine and tones in the bezel and band
CONS
- Only 50 Metres (165 feet) water resistance
8. Seiko SRN064 Coutura Kinetic Retrograde Two-Tone Watch
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 43 mm
Case Thickness: 12.1 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Synthetic Sapphire
Bezel Material: Two-Tone Steel
Band Material: Stainless Steel
Band Width: 12 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Two-tone/Silver
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 m (330 feet)
The attractive SRN064 Coutura Kinetic Retrograde is an elegant dress watch powered by the caliber 5M84, offering reliable kinetic movement to power it up. The bold and sophisticated look of the watch reflects the inner gentleman in you.
The stunning look of the SRN064 is matched perfectly by its precision performance. It features a smart silver dial with gold accents, day and date calendar, luminous hands, and a durable sapphire crystal dial window for protection.
This simple, yet elegant dress watch, has a silver band with gold accents that appear on the dial, bezel, and the middle row of the band. Sharpness in aesthetics is enhanced further by the stylish bezel. The bezel is enveloped by a gold lining at the outer edge, giving it a modern and elegant look.
The addition of the day-of-the-week indicator adds flair along with a date window at the 3 o’clock mark.
The SRN064 is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet). It’s suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not diving.
Beyond all that style and sophistication, you can see the most advanced electric movement technology (kinetic movement) in action, through the transparent back panel. All in all, It’s a great timepiece.
PROS
- A bold and sophisticated watch with a stylish two-tone finish
- Impressive looking dial and stainless steel band
- Waterproof to a level enough for brief sessions of swimming and snorkeling
CONS
- May feel heavier than it appears
9. Seiko Prospex SUN023 Kinetic GMT Divers
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 48 mm
Case Thickness: 15 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Anti Reflective Sapphire
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Rubber
Band Width: 24 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Black/Black
Movement: Hybrid-Quartz-Automatic
Water Resistance: 200 m (660 feet)
Next on our list is the sporty and playful timepiece – Seiko Prospex SUN023 Kinetic GMT divers watch. Overall, It’s a culmination of dive watch traits and a true GMT complication.
At first, the 48 mm case diameter of the SUN023 seems rather large, but when you actually try it on, you’ll be surprised, it wears smaller than you’d expect. It appears smaller because the outer case is black and visually less noticeable than the bright orange font on the bezel.
The watch features standard time, the 5M85 caliber (for kinetic movement), a push-button power reserve indication (button at two o’clock), a date display, an independent 24-hour hand, and a jumping local hour hand for moving between time zones (the GMT function). It also features LumiBrite technology. All these features make it an ideal travel watch, especially for divers.
The crown and the handy power reserve button, both screw down and the watch is water resistant to 200 meters (660 feet). The dial window is made of anti-reflective sapphire crystal (not Hardlex); sitting below the edge of the bezel. The unidirectional bezel has been designed to work with dive gloves or bare hands.
The design is such that it includes large and legible hands, markers, and symbols, to help people read the watch underwater or at night. The orange and white bezel markers, white hour markers, orange minute hand, and the blue and white hour markers, add color and splendor to the watch.
Internally, it is powered with the 5M85 caliber, which ensures equal to more charge retention than caliber versions of the past.
Given its size and multicolored design, this may not be the ideal watch to wear to your office. If you’re looking for a tough tool watch that you can take while going diving, hiking, or any vacation, the outdoorsy SUN023 is the right choice.
PROS
- Fun, sporty, and detailed design
- LumiBrite technology helps in reading the watch underwater or at night
- Large and legible hands, markers, and symbols along with large overall size and weight makes functions easier to view
- Its 5M85 caliber offers more charge retention than previous versions
CONS
- Rubber strap may not be to everyone’s taste
- It's a model suitable primarily for informal or outdoor activities
10. Seiko SRN049
FEATURES
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 14 mm
Dial Window Material Type: Scratch Resistant Sapphire
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Band Material: Genuine Leather
Band Width: 20 mm
Band Color/Dial Colour: Black/Cream
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 m (330 feet)
The Seiko SRN049 looks much more expensive than it is, whilst being a high-quality timepiece. If you’re in search of a dressy watch that looks, feels, and functions as an expensive luxury watch, without the cost, then this is your watch.
It’s a beautiful round watch featuring a textured white dial, with rose gold-tone numbers, and a stylish inset weekday subdial. The design is clean, uncluttered, and multilayered. The see-through case back panel allows viewing of the impressive kinetic movement.
The SRN049 has a 42 mm stainless steel case with hardlex dial window. The band is a croco-embossed genuine leather band (black in color) with buckle closure. The watch Is water resistant to 100 m (330 ft), making it suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving. It has an energetic 5M84 caliber.
In terms of design, the contrast between the rose gold accents and the vertical line pattern is very attractive. Some people may find the band slightly stiff at first, but it softens with time.
This impeccable timepiece is a well-crafted piece of jewelry. Depending on the light, the steel shines a bit like gunmetal. The watch fits snugly – even on thin wrists.
Overall, the watch is well made. We can’t expect anything less than perfect from Seiko.
PROS
- Stunning textured dial
- Smooth and comparatively less noisy kinetic movement
- Elegant gold accents on the dial
- Stylish inset weekday subdial
CONS
- Some find the leather strap to be slightly stiff
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of kinetic watches?
Seiko’s watchmaking heritage stretches back to their beginnings in 1881. Since then, it has been innovating for more than 135 years and has many watch-world firsts to its credit. In 1988, Seiko combined automatic and electric watches, and achieved a new milestone in technology; they came up with the Seiko ‘Auto-Quartz’ watch, with automatic quartz movements called A.G.S. (Automatic Generating System). In 1997, Seiko renamed these watches “Kinetic”.
How do kinetic watches work?
As the wearer of the watch moves, the rechargeable battery charges itself. This rechargeable battery requires replacement much less frequently than the conventional cell battery found in a quartz watch.
Basically, with human movement (such as shaking someone’s hand or swinging your arms), a pendulum turns and causes the pinion to oscillate at high speeds. This powers the mini internal electrical generator which charges the tiny capacitors. These capacitors can store enough power to run the watch for up to six months.
Which watch is right for you?
Seiko was the first to introduce the technology of a kinetic watch; an important innovation that has yielded over fifty patents. As mentioned in the intro, a quartz watch powered by human movement is called a kinetic watch.
Given the fact that the most advanced movement technology is backing all the watches on our list, the final choice is a matter of personal style. So, which watch to choose, is really something that you can decide on your own, now that the main technology in all of the 10 listed is almost the same.
Asking yourself a few basic questions should help determine the watch suitable for you:
- Do I prefer an elegant dressy watch, a rugged outdoorsy watch, or a multi-purpose/occasion one?
- Am I comfortable with a bulky masculine watch, or am I more particular about size due to my narrow wrist?
- What are my favorite colors for a watch?
- What aquatic activities do I frequent: swimming, snorkeling, light diving, deep sea diving?
- What kind of band do I prefer: leather, rubber, nylon, stainless steel?
- Do I like an easy to read dial or a busy multi-function one?
- Do I travel to other time zones frequently?
- What is my budget?
Tabulating your answers, you’ll be able to pinpoint a suitable watch.
You can’t go wrong owning a kinetic watch from Seiko. Once again, the great things about a kinetic watch are that they are very low-maintenance, extremely durable, never need winding, never need a battery, and are environment-friendly.
There are other companies who have attempted to foray into the kinetic watch market, but they haven’t attained much success at all.
The common factor – kinetic movement technology, makes all the watches on our list commendable timepieces. It’s the fact that kinetic watches are powered by the movement of your body, powering them up for up to 6 months in a go, that make them popular.
