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Seiko
If you haven’t already, next time you look at your watch, think of it as a personality statement. A reflection of you and your likes. Elegant, sporty, fashionable, or a combination, your watch speaks for you.
Assuming that you’re looking for an affordable watch that won’t break the bank, Seiko is an excellent first choice. Seiko watches are competitively priced for their value, they are fashion-forward yet timeless, and they hold their value well.
Seiko has also recently incorporated higher-priced luxury watches into its portfolio, and they are worth every penny. When deciding which Seiko watch is right for you and your lifestyle, this article will help you make an informed decision.
Here, we’ll introduce you to the brand and its diverse collections, so that you can get to know Seiko and/or grow your Seiko collection to include some newer models or ones you might have missed.
Let’s get into it!
Seiko History & Concept
Seiko is one of the most renowned Japanese brands in the world of quality watches. The brand was established in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori. The 22-year-old entrepreneur named his watch repair and retail shop after himself but later changed its name to ‘Seikosha’ in 1892. ‘Seikosha’ is a Japanese word for ‘House of Success’ or ‘House of Elegance.’
In the same year that the brand was renamed, its first self-branded clock was made. Three years later, Seikosha launched the ‘Timekeeper’ – its first pocket watch. In 1913, Seikosha went further with its innovations and the ‘Laurel’ was birthed. This was Japan’s first wristwatch and it was the beginning of something big.
Seiko went ahead to make its first branded watch in 1924. Soon the Seiko brand became well-known for its high precision and quality watches. Throughout the years, Seiko has continued to manufacture many innovative and sophisticated timepieces. Most of these timepieces are the preliminaries of their famous watch lines today. Even the low-level Seiko watches are of good quality, and will easily outmatch counterparts from other brands at the same price level.
All Seiko watches are made in-house and are given the same amount of attention to detail, regardless of their price range.
Seiko Collections
As we mentioned earlier, Seiko watches are great buys. It doesn’t matter at which price-point you’re investing in, any Seiko watch is worth the money. Seiko has an impressive amount of collections, and in this article we’ll inform you of some of the brand’s top models.
We’ll help you to make an informed decision regarding your next Seiko masterpiece. Also make sure to check out our 10 Best Seiko Watches, a complete buyer’s guide with reviews, for further reading on popular styles.
Seiko Astron Collection
This collection of watches by Seiko features the world’s first watch powered by solar technology. Yes, this means that your Astron timepiece doesn’t need or run on batteries, and it’s working based on a GPS signal far far away.
With the Astron Collection, you can always get an accurate time on your Seiko watch with just the press of one button, or by holding it up to any bright light. Now that’s what we call a smart watch!
Seiko Prospex Collection
Commonly referred to as the first watch for deep sea divers, watches from Seiko’s Prospex Collection still hold true to being the ultimate watches for men who love to get wet.
‘Prospex’ stands for ‘Professional Specifications’ referring to this collection’s sophisticated and advanced technology that allows these deep sea diving watches to perform under water. These iconic Seiko dive watches make the perfect gift for the adventurous man.
For more on these and other Seiko dive watches models, check out our guide “Best Seiko Dive Watches – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews!“
Seiko Presage Collection
The Presage Collection highlights the brand’s detailed and mechanical watchmaking skills. This collection has a series of watches similar to the Prospex collection. The similarities are in their affordability, durability, and vast styles that range from modern to retro.
Find more Seiko’s models in our article Best Seiko Watches.
Seiko 5 Sports Collection
The Seiko 5 Sports Collection includes many famous Seiko watches that you might have already heard about. These watches always receive positive feedback and they are very reasonably priced, making them ideal options. These affordable Seiko watches only look like they cost a fortune. A perfect example is Seiko’s famous military watch, the Seiko SNK805, which is from this 5 Sports Collection.
The many functions of these Seiko sport watches highlight the brand’s excellent craftsmanship. The sport watches in this collection are sleek with classic designs, and they possess 5 key characteristics. These key features include:
- automatic winding
- a day/date display window
- water resistance
- a recessed crown at the 4 o’clock mark
- a durable bracelet and case
Seiko Premier Collection
The Seiko Premier Collection highlights the Kinetic Direct Drive – a motion-powered technology. The Premier Collection has impressive dress watches for both men and women. Whether you want a kinetic, mechanical, quartz, or solar watch, you can find it in Seiko’s Premier Collection.
Find more Seiko kinetic models in our article Best Seiko Kinetic Watches.
Grand Seiko Collection
The Grand Seiko Collection is the priciest of the bunch, yet the workmanship and technology invested into these beautiful timepieces justifies their steeper prices. Each handmade by experts using the most advanced technology, and the brand notes that “each Grand Seiko watch is instantly recognizable because of its simplicity of form and its understated elegance.” With this in mind, who wouldn’t want to wear such an esteemed timepiece?
The Grand Seiko collection is divided into Elegance, Heritage, and Sport categories— and you can find the SBGC229 model of the Sport Collection amongst the limited-edition standout models of the Grand Seiko Collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Are Seiko Watches Made?
Seiko watches are made in Iwate, Japan, in the Shizuku-Ishi Watch Studio.
Are Seiko Watches Good?
Seiko watches are great watches! Seiko has an impressive reputation, being extremely well-known for making watches that are precise, long-lasting, and elegant.
You’ll find most of Seiko’s watches equivalent to other Swiss watch brands that cost many times more. Based on the models and collections covered in this article, you’ll see that you don’t need to break the bank to own one.
How Does a Kinetic Watch Work?
A kinetic watch uses kinetic energy, which is created by the body’s movement while in motion. This motion can include arm swinging while you’re walking, as well as other simple everyday movements.
These motions cause the rotating weights within the watch to rotate, and each time you move, the pendulum turns and spins the pinion at a high speed. This charges a storage device (a capacitor or a rechargeable battery). Sorry, we had to get technical for a minute!
Now that you know how a kinetic watch works, making an informed decision about your next Seiko kinetic dress watch should be easy! Kinetic watches are low-maintenance timepieces that will save you money on batteries. All you need to power your kinetic watch is your everyday movement.
Are Kinetic Watches Better Than Automatic?
First, let’s talk about the differences. The main difference is that an automatic watch stores the power in a spring, while a kinetic watch stores power in a capacitor. Kinetic watches are basically automatic watches with higher power reserves. This means better accuracy, as automatic watches lose accuracy after they run out of power.
However, kinetic watches need occasional capacitor replacement, which is a major disadvantage. This isn’t the case with an automatic watch as it’ll keep running. Hence, answering the question of which is better will depend on what you’re looking for in a watch. For instance, if you want a Seiko watch with a higher power reserve, then a Seiko kinetic watch will be perfect for you.
Are Kinetic Watches Durable?
Yes, kinetic watches are durable. There’s no difference in durability when it comes to comparing a kinetic watch to any other type of watch.
Final Thoughts!
It’s always exciting to purchase something new for yourself or for others, and if you choose to purchase a Seiko watch, you won’t be disappointed.
Whether you opt for an iconic Seiko dive watch such as a Seiko automatic diver, a Seiko watch from the Astron Collection, a Grand Seiko, or any other Seiko model, you can rest assured that you’ve made a great investment that will last you a lifetime!
