Seiko Is Up To Its Old Tricks Again!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2024
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Thanks to Chris for the loan if his new Seiko! I liked it more than I thought I would, but not enough to fully recommend it, even at the best discounted rates currently available. Cheers, Jody
Seiko is quickly turning me into a Citizen fan. Or you know, microbrands.
Seiko is turning me into a Pagani fan ...
Some of the new Citizens look incredible as well with great specs for less than this. I'm on the Citizen hype train as well
oh yeah, citizen for sure.
A San Martin with a finish as good as a Rolex will cost you less and be better.
Seiko is just crap these days. It was the brand that made me fall in love with watches in the early 2000s..but these days...oh god, no thanks. The last I bought was a 5 GMT and it was full of QC problems - totally misaligned, dust on the dial.
Citizen yes, I'd say it is my favourite brand these days. I own 6 atm. Best band per buck watches out there. It is the brand I recommend to all my friends when they ask me which watch to buy. At least they give us sapphire and solid bracelets for 200ish bucks.
Glad you enjoyed it Jody, my pleasure to help your channel. At the affordable end of the scale, I’ll buy em so you don’t have to 😅
Nice!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
At $625 it should have at least a decent bracelet and a sapphire crystal is a must.
In the US retail is $395, and you can get one for around $300
@@ajmarionStill overpriced for what it is.
At my Seiko's shop it's 390 why 625 here ?
@@trambertramber9280 $625 is the retail but $390 sounds like a far more realistic price. Still needs sapphire. Citizen and loads of independent brands have sapphire at less than even $390. If they can do it, Seiko should be able to as well.
@@trambertramber9280 different currency
Next up: Seiko makes 5 "special edition" variants
With Street Fighter characters
limited edition limited to 8989898989899779979797997979 pieces!
A special limited edition of only 100'000 watches...
"Since we can't align a bezel, let's focus on watches with smooth bezels!" I've got my eyes on you, Seiko....
(👁️)/=\(👁️)
The size is certainly not an issue, for those like me who have a small wrist, it's actually a pro. The market is saturated with 42/44mm watches, leaving very few options below 38mm
Agree. I have seiko snxs79, seiko (don't remember reference, but it's 7009 movement on the back), some casio (f91, wa500) and 1 swiss military hanowa. All watches have 36-38mm diameter (afraid swiss military, it have 40). And it's look so great. They don't too big, they don't small. Look perfect, sophisticated i think.
Also think that crown no't issue. It's feature of this watch.
Other cons - subjective except of price - agree, that 300$+ it's too much for them.
I basically only wear vintage watches because of the ridiculous size of modern ones. Even this one would be a little too large for me with a lug-lug of nearly 45mm. Even my 37mm "jumbo" vintage Longines only have 42mm lug-lug.
I genuinely like it. And I would do the one that looks champagne since I already have another Seiko (SZSB015) that looks similar with a black dial. You’re not wrong about the on-ramp. This was my first automatic watch a couple years ago, found a Scotsman living Australia talking about watches, and I’ve never looked back. 👍🏼
That's an insane price. I picked up a couple of Addisdive watches this weekend. A 39 pilots style on an engineers bracelet. NH35 and Sapphire crystal, it was just over £40 posted. I also picked up the AD2118 with the light blue sand ripple style dial. It's also a 39mm but more of an Explorer styled watch. Milled clasp, Sapphire, NH35 on a jubilee bracelet. It cost me about £60 posted.
Yes these are not Seiko and Seiko is a known brand but wow, Seiko are robbing us blind with this.
I agree. Wasn't happy with a white seiko5. Too hard to read at night. Bought Addisdive also. Easy to read lume at 5am. Daylight it's great. Good 24 hour beater.
It cost $700 to make a Rolex submariner purchase price $10,000
@@earlbee3196Quelle? Source?
IN Europe, it's 390 on my Seiko's shop !!! Why 625 here ?
That's insane value. How on earth do they make any money off that £40!
Thanks to you and the person who loaned it to you. Inflation is bad - but they’re really pushing it.
Greedflation.
There's a US knife company named Benchmade that's recently decided to copy all of Seikos practices like limited runs and re-releases under new names with luxury price tags, and just like them they used to be the everyday everymans brand. Sad to see.
I know exactly what you mean. Sad to see with benchmade
Yup. Spyderco does the same with sprint runs.
Shoutouts to Seiko for convincing everybody to buy an ETA equipped Swiss piece instead or get the same kind of thing cheaper from Citizen.
At this price you are getting Swiss quartz or powermatic with 23 jewels which is crap.
@@chosearmandoarmando3864Yeah, why get a factory-regulated freesprung balance wheel movement that usually gets chronometer accuracy straight out of the box and boasts double the power reserve when Seiko can get you half the accuracy and power reserve with a hardlex crystal instead? And besides the Powermatic there are also watches equipped with the classic lever-regulated 2824-2 and the all metal Hamilton H-10/40 if the plastic concerns you. All I'm saying is that as much as I love Seiko, they really are inflating the prices of watches with pathetic specs.
@@chosearmandoarmando3864Powermatics bum me out man, theyre made to be replaced rather than serviced. Which turned tissot into Swatch+ with half their catalog.
Seiko must have fallen and bumped their head.
I have 12 or so seiko automatic bought -saw all this coming just before they discontinued the skx007😢
I will not buy anything seiko releases now.
Hopefully, they didn’t ding the hardlex on the way down
@@brianmccord7387😂
@@surfside75 nobody care man, you do you
Picked mine up (champagne dial) for under 300 US at a local AD and I couldn’t be happier with it. Not a single complaint and I can’t think of anything around the price-excluding mail-order-only brands-that compares.
Nice one!
Enjoy.
I’ve got two of the older models
On uncle straps bracelet.
Seiko is becoming the next Bolex.
Solesx
You can have the Japan version for 250 USD. In Japan it even comes with a nice pair of Seiko socks. In case you are living under a rock, inflation is a thing since 2019. If this is too expensive for you, you can always compromise yourself in "Homages"...
Those are diamond cut hands Jody, thats why they look so nice. The bracelet is also mirror polished
This long-awaited new Seiko 5 release convinced me to buy the Citizen Fujitsubo. Cheers from Italy!
The Fujitsubo's a great watch. Enjoy!
yeah, seikos so 2015 , back then they used the same movements in $300 watches as 1100$ watches today 😅
Enjoyed this presentation! I take exception to your #1 Pro as I believe Citizen has pushed Seiko out of "best watch under $500" category.
Definitely. One can get a Citizen Promaster NY0040 or an Orient Kamasu for the price or slightly less than a "5KX", which is a poor competitor.
@shj2000
Could you give me an example
@@AndySmith4501 Two quickies, Tsuyosa and the new titanium NJ018080X. Both automatics with sapphire crystals and nicer bracelets. The Ti model has a metal treatment making it 5X harder than steel. And both well under $500. Browse their catalog - they have a ton of new offerings.
No contest with my own personally experienced failure rate of almost 50% on Citizen, with my dozen+ Seiko calibres still ticking without failures!
@@owenlaprath4135Damn. I appreciate your comment.
The original watch was a work horse, reasonably priced and practical. The new one still lacks all the charm and has minimal upgrades. I'm not surprised they are struggling to sell it.
They are struggling ? lol you don’t know what you are talking about
The first Seiko 5 that I bought was 30 quid brand new from a shopping mall store. The second was a Yellow Frankenmonster from a grey seller on ebay for just over 100 quid. Modern Seiko prices are just silly.
Jodie had a giggle at the tee shirt, just classic mate.
Remember when seiko 5s were THE go to budget watch? What happened 😢
Greed.
and remember when Seiko 5 did not have any collabs with cartoons..?…look at now….🤦🏻♂️🙆🏻♂️
To be fair they did also used to be pretty shite and their quality reflected their price. I like the old Seiko 5s but you can't deny the build quality these days is many levels above those
The same thing that's happened with every brand in every category of product - there is no (or very little) money to be made in the lowest end of the market.
Some days it sucks to realize you gotta dig deeper into your wallet to get what you want but that is the new reality of the marketplace.
@@runningawayvagabond5876 Yes. Most of Seiko's profits are from quartz watches, not mechanicals. These are just produced to give them reputation and attention from the watch community, not to be their bread and butter, much the same way a brand of automobile might produce a super car for brand recognition but make most of their money from selling mini-vans and small sedans.
I went back & rewatched the video & didn’t hear any dimensions being listed. Unusual for a JOMW video.
I was undecided whether to order this watch or not. While I was browsing, I came across the srpe03 king turtle sapphire glass and ceramic bezel waffle dial watch. I think it was 400 dollars because it was the last stocks. I ordered the snxs79 and a beautiful bracelet at the same time. The total amount coincided with the cost of this watch. These two watches I bought may be the last Seiko watches I buy... Seikos are ridiculous. rose to deviant prices.
Just what I needed a new video dropped from Jody!
Thanks John! Have a great day mate.
The last time I was this early, Jody was still in Scotland.
Ha! Good job mate!
A few weeks ago I recommended the OG SNXS to a non-watch geek work colleague of mine as a cool daily wear piece that won’t break the bank. He got it for around 130€ after customs, and he seems to be loving it. He doesn’t seem to care much that the bracelet is garbage, and appreciates it as it is with the plus of it being an auto.
I like the flushed recessed crown on the old one.
The Islander Brookville is currently on sale for $249 US. It looks like a cross between a SARB and an OP. Its specs absolutely blow this out of the water.
We’ll look back on this as “Citizen’s rise to power as Seiko shat the bed” in a few years
You will cry as badly as did, when your Citizen watches and Miyota calibres in others start failing after a year or 2.
So far 4 out of 7 are DEAD, with Seiko/TMI still ticking after 35 years for the oldest. You get what you pay for, but not with Citizen, because the failures were my most expensive watches!
Nothing good coming out from Citizen either
@@owenlaprath4135 The Citizen 82XX is a better movement than the NH35 in all but look.
@@neutronalchemist3241 i have 8205 in my NY-0040 it Is better than 7S26 but not then 4R series.
I'm thankful to Seiko for selling affordable movements cause we can avoid the current Seiko watches XD
I got a certina ds action diver for $350 USD which is a better value than anything from seiko under 500 imo.
Yeah but it’s not a seiko ,
Not good for us seikohollics.
Only kidding.
Agreed.
Not sure who Seiko thinks they are these days.
Absolutely spot on
It's a great US$250 watch. Therein lies the problem.
Seiko was known for providing really good watches at reasonable prices. They've decided to throw their hat in the ring with the big boys, but I'd sooner buy an Omega (or better) or a microbrand than a Seiko at this point.
Seiko is too expensive but not Omega? What a joke
There's nothing like this next to Tsuyosa
The Tsuyosa is a cracking watch
The fact that it’s 100 m water resistant is a big pro for me, compared to 30 m on the old SNX.
The beauty of the originals was that you could go a Singapore grey-market dealer and buy one for £70 which was exactly what they were worth. That avenue appear to be closed and Seiko are expecting we non-JDM scum to pay San Martin money for a Timex. I think they seriously need to give their head a wobble. I suspect they will cease to be trading within the next 10 years.
The grey dial version will be along shortly as a not-so-limited edition of 10,000 pieces 😏
What's interesting to me is that Citizen charge about the same for their basic automatics, and no-one says a bad word.
Maybe because everthing else is better on those Citizen? The price is also lower, lol.
@@replix0r
Citizen are not cheaper
I think I’ve reached a point in my life that so many things are getting disappointing. I used to know if I grabbed a Seiko watch it was a boost of happiness. Now it Could go either way
Yes I totally agree.
I just switched to Casio. I know its not an automatic, but automatics aren't that value packed below 500 USD anyways.
I like the older Seiko 5 badge reminds me of Superman logo
But Jody .. it's more sparkly .. and don't you know the Seiko brand is an up market brand? ... 🤣 ... Ok i couldn't keep a straight face with that last one either ...
On the SNXS79 the dial was the best thing. Why in gods name did they not make their signature grey dial again.
Also, the date window especially the frame looks way better on the old one. I did not mind the white day and date wheel as the balanced out the 9oclock marker. I think the case finishing is way better on the new one and the hands look drop dead gorgeous. Not sure whats up with that off white chapter ring though, I don't like it.
The MSRP is a bit steep, but usually, the prices will come down on grey- and second hand market. At 250.- USD and with a grey dial .. maybe I would get one.
Thanks for the great hands on review Jody. Cheers!
I’m really happy with mine, picked it up for £295 and more than happy with it
These TH-camrs are a joke, this piece is great, you don’t review a watch without wearing it, 😂😂😂
@@JowcoII know right! Quality wise it’s amazing, looks incredible on the wrist
I think seiko finally realized no one was paying full retail and then jacked up the prices so even when 50% off they are still getting close to what full retail was. I was collecting turtles but the new ones are now well over 1k and as such discounted they are still too much for what they offer and makes me rethink my collection choices.
Make it 38-39mm case diameter, sapphire crystal, and lower the price by 30% then maybe I’d be interested.
Erebus Ascent?
No sapphire in the seiko 5 range since the 60’s, is it hard to understand ?
I don’t care if it says Seiko on the dial, with those specs that’s a 100$ watch at max.
Its always this. Youre always going to pay for "heritage".
We think Swiss watches are worth their prices, absolutely not!
@@a0r0a7 absolutely agree ! But at least they’re status symbols. Seiko is not a status symbol, it was a value oriented product with a brand name that has heritage. Now it’s just a heritage name with no substance to back it.
@@achraftahir faux status in many cases. The awful quartz movements fitted in certain Swiss brands and exorbitant pricing is way beyond what Seiko are doing. I can get a replacement movement in a well known Swiss diver for £18, the Swiss sell said watch for £1200. As for paying £650 for a mechanical with plastic escape wheel and pallets I would advise sticking with movements that have jewelled lever pallets and metal escape wheels. Don't get me started on the Moonswatch, one I will happily name as truly overpriced rubbish. Yes Seiko were budget orientated in the 5 line but you forget King Seiko etc.. Seiko has many levels of watch class but only watch snobs will never accept Grand Seiko, so yes they are a status symbol. Yes this new Seiko 5 is way above the original ethos of the 5 but finishing, bracelet and movement are better. However on another note there are plenty of excellent microbrands out there and dare I say it Aliexpress brands, Addiesdive, SM, Chronos that offer astounding product v price paid. I know where you are coming from because I am wearing a SNK361 with a quality replacement bracelet, you are right this watch cost just £100, looks way more expensive than that. Seiko do need to keep in mind the ethos of the original 5 line something they are definitely off with pricing at present.
@@a0r0a7 "problem" with Swiss watches is that, by law, they must use a Swiss movement. It's hard to make a budget watch when the movement alone costs $ 150.
Once the movement is expensive, all the rest of the watch is bound to be made to higher standards, and so to be expensive, because, if the watch fails, or has cheap looking parts, it's not a cheap watch that failed, or had cheap looking parts.
Seriously Seiko, $600+ and a mineral crystal? Seiko's really are money grabs.
Some of us prefer mineral; it's stronger.
$600 AUD. $350 USD
Mineral at this price point? Come on now.
Thanks Jody for looking at the watch. I turn 40 later this year and have set my eyes on this watch. Maybe I go with the “champagne” color dial 👍🏻
Can easily find good watches with AR sapphire and the NH35 for well under $100 USD.
These brudas takin the mick
I feel this review is a bit lacking. No spec list - what's the lug to lug? What is the thickness? No proper look at the finishing, side profile, on wrist shots, comparison to the old case. Are the links solid? There's very little info other than the price. 🤷🏻♂️
I bought the exact same watch and its a stunner to look at in the flash. I know its kind of overpriced, and I'm sure these will go down a bit, but considering that the watch has a really nice built quality, looks more expensive as it is and is from a major watch brand, I'm ok with it. I get it, the old one was so damn cheap and in comparison it's probably most honestly the only selling point nowadays, if you ask me..
Updating specifications is always a good thing in my opinion, although the "sporterization" makes me unease. The price is the whale in the room: what the hell is wrong with Seiko nowadays? What they're trying to do?
What a beauty. We all know the price is going to come down, and she will be mine!
This is a skip for sure. This watch a thick overpriced disaster. To each their own. But damn, this watch ain’t got much going for it.
Did you say mineral?... the cheeky bar stewards!
Beautiful watch, I particularly like that crystal. I wouldn't worry about the price; when has anyone here bought a Seiko anywhere close to MSRP? It sure is small, though.
These TH-camrs are not really watch enthusiasts, they are clowns 🤡
Get an Islander! Better specs with better pricing!
rolex margin style 😀😀😀as my grandpa told me: Every day an idiot wakes up and will make a purchase.
I bought the new release, the ivory silvery dial one, its a great daily watch, its only the price thats a negative, price aside it really good quality watch that feels fit, small yet sturdy and with a good weight to it.
Good looking dial. I wish they made all the indexes the same size, however (except for the 12 position). Otherwise a very classy looking piece.
Congratulations on 300k!
Thanks man! Just hit it last night!
I was in Westfield Penrith yesterday and window shopped a few of the jeweller/watch retailers. Quite surprised to see all the Seiko divers now $1000 and up. Big price increases since I last looked. FYI, Tim’s watch repair kiosk there does excellent work, serviced two of my Seiko automatics and they now keep better time than new. Cheers.
So so so many better options at this price point......
Yeah !
But it’s not a seiko .
Ironic to say “Seiko’s lineup” … because they don’t!
funny
Haha !
I will just hunt for NOS of the Classic Seiko 5 pieces.
The first thing that comes to mind when I see a Seiko at this RRP is that i can get a used Hamilton Khaki Field for similar money. They cannot compete at this price range hence the massive reductions at ADs
You can absolutely find a new Hamilton for less during discounts at dealers and some jewelery stores. When will Seiko realize nobody buys their watches to flex them being limited editions or whatever?
Jody, I love you man, spot on review. The only thing I would say is that the best brand under $500 USD is Orient, hands down. Every time someone who doesn't know anything about watches asks me about picking one up at a price that won't kill them, I say Orient every time
Thanks for taking a look at this one as it's been occupying my mind every time I see one on Instagram. I think the overall aesthetic was nailed. I normally am not big on fauxtina, except on my SZSB006 TicTAC. However, it works here. Would I be opposed to seeing later releases with white lume? No, I'd be very curious to see how that look works. The color chose for the seconds hand is the cherry on top of this sweet Seiko. I would pick the blue personally. My main quibble is the size as I've yet to find a 37mm or smaller watch I like on wrist. I'm a bit of a giant and have some 38s I love, but I think Seiko's ~39mm models is a sweet spot. It's probably for the best as I really don't need this watch and am trending up in build quality/price point as of late.
Thanks for the video. For that price, I'd rather get a Seiko Astron (titanium, solar). The only Seikos I own are Astrons.
Got a jubilee bracelet on my old snx, fitted some samphire glass. Looks and feels amazing. Oyster vibes. All for under £150
If not for a crown at 4 o'clock and a hardlex glass, it would be a very decent watch. Good sizing too for all of us, thin wristed men. For less money Seiko sells more decent quartz daily wearers.
I can't say that I will buy another Seiko again. There are so many better choices, my Steeldive was a tenth of the price of my turtle, no misalignment issues, has Sapphire, a ceramic luminous bezel and came will a decent milled bracelet.
That wrist shot is nice.
Just makes me appreciate microbrands more and more. Seiko is asleep at the wheel, riding their name (at least in the value-oriented space) off of a cliff at this rate.
Bought myself the original years ago on e-bay for about 100 bucks. This was my first entry into the automatic watch world. It was my daily for at least 15 years and although it could benefit from a cleaning and relube it still runs strong. But that crown is a nightmare for setting the time and date. I still wear it from time to time and can't see myself letting it go any time soon.
I looked at this in store this last week and was sticker shocked by the price, It was nice to see the one i looked at atleast did have its markers and the chapter ring in alignment. I'll only buy seiko in person to make sure it all is as aligned as possible. The store also would not budge on the price as it was a "brand new " design. I ended up going with a higher end seiko, the night vision black series edition of the new sumo. I even got a discount on it, and they threw in a bunch of seiko swag.
seiko really did orient and citizen a favor and gave them free marketing with their dumb policy
They have lost their flippin minds. Let face it,they really are not special any more. There are literally HUNDREDS of better and more attractive watches on the market at way less than that.
Indeed. They seem unaware or ambivalent on this .
I sold 3 Seiko and bought 3 San martin with the money.
Best thing ive ever done. San Martin are miles better in terms of quality
That Seiko 5 logo, cant buy a Seiko with that..
Same, I bought a 5 a few years ago, it's finish was cheap and mis aligned, ever since, I see the 5 and I run.
I bought a new seiko5, and pretty quickly realized how ugly the new Seiko 5 logo is. I couldn't sell it fast enough.
May as well buy Lotus or Alba
My Orients were always a better deal than Seiko. Sold all but one and spent the money the past 9 months on Paganis. Couldn't be happier. Btw the one Seiko 5 i bought went back the next day.
I bought a new in box SNKL43K1 for 99€ back in may 2022.
Yeah it's an old movement, but it's always gonna be the kind of budget for a Seiko.
Seiko up to its old tricks. For AU625 you get a mineral crystal, a rubbish clasp and probably sn unsigned crown.
Just received mine today and I like it.
Thats. A great t shirt jody!
I searched years for Seikos. Instead spent the money on a Helm Miyako and a Proxima. Much happier+
Interesting that the Aussie site is a web store, but the US site is promo only. Typically, direct sale prices are much more competitive with ADs. Consider the possibility that Seiko has an arrangement with retailers that they won't undercut them on direct sales, hence the inflated prices.
This explains why the seiko mod and custom community is thriving.
It's a shame for Seiko that there's still better specced watches available for less. With the same movement.
There’s more to a watch than just specs on paper
@@ajmarion IE?
I can pay a premium for Japanese manufacturing and brand heritage.
But when Citizen can make equally Japanese watches with better specs (and likely better manufacturing) for half the price. It's over.
I like the fact it has better wr, but I'll probably just pick one up if I find a good used deal.
I have the original in the blue dial with a blue silicone strap. It's the bomb and $105 and 7s26, which I like. And a piece of history.
Rolex and IWC have been playing this game for sometime. this happens with very good products, you end up paying a huge amount of money purely for the name or the perceived public view of the product. you have to ask how big is the difference with many products. seiko do their decent watches a lot of harm by doing stuff like this.
Ya, the original MSRP is insane.
It's a nice watch, just no where near $600
It's pretty much a slightly better SARB033. Except three times as expensive
You don’t know what you are talking about.
I bought the old model reaceantly for £95 , but if I got the uncle bracelet and swap 4 the 4r movement I'm probably up to the discount price. The case looks better on the new model too.
Friday the 13th. I would be afraid to buy one!😆
And that’s why even though Seiko was one of the first auto watches I owned, I don’t have one any more - and never will
Great video. I've seen a few reviews of these recently, the hype seems to be it's an upgrade to the SNXS7(7 etc). They should have just brought this out as a stand alone watch and not metioned it because it's not an upgrade its just a " facelift" like when they change the grill on a car and call it a MK2. I have a number of Seikos and they haven't really added any benefit apart from hacking. The tiny crown in that position is great for comfort but I couldn't see anyone regularly winding it. In my experience the 7S26 is much more accurate and consistent to either the NH35 or NH36. The dial is pretty busy, the contrasting minute track reminds me of white wall tyres on cars and the crooked 5 doesn't help. The blue on the original looks fabulous when caught by the sun through double domed sapphire which they should have put on the new one, instead they stick to softlex. There are plenty of replacement straps available, the one I got is specifically for the SNXS77 and fits perfectly, solid end links and screwed together. I'd disagree about 20mm, the original was 19mm which I know wouldn't suit everyone so 18mm was definitely the way to go, 20mm would have ruined the proportions.