The dial is from German WW II ‚Flieger‘ ( ‚Flyer’) Observer watches. They called it Type B then. Pilots watches had the normal Type A dial with hours at the outer ring. Those watches were made by A. Lange, Wempe, Stowa, Laco and swiss IWC. All those brands still exist today. The Seiko is kinda hybrid of Field watch and Type B Flieger. Its dial is Type B but its size clearly is typical Field.
My favorite “beater” watch. Paid $60 for this on the same tan Hadley Roma strap. Perfect size and performance for active lifestyle. Great visibility for instant recognition of time and no worries about scratching, not just because of the price but because it is really tough. The absolute best entry to automatic watches.
History lesson on the dial design: This is Seiko's version of the Flieger Type B specification, which was put out by the Luftwaffe during WWII for their navigator timepieces. Lowa, Stowa, and some other German makers still make these flieger watches, but you pay at least 8x more than the Seiko.
I was seriously considering the Hamilton Khaki Field Officer Mechanical. Went to a shop to try it on and the length of those lugs killed it for me. Just too big; didn't sit on my slim wrist. I've now bought this Seiko + Fullmosa strap and do not regret it. I've recently retired and the quality of this watch I think will see me out! Thank you for this video, it helped me make the right choice. I'd still buy the Hamilton if those lugs weren't so long!
I absolutely love this watch! It's been my everyday for about three weeks now. It is my first automatic watch and I do plan to explore more Seiko products. I highly recommend this piece.
Hey George, That's just how I started in the automatic watch game too - with the SNK809. Be careful because its a slippery slope and you'll be wanting more watches all the time! Haha. You started with an awesome watch, and one that is easily one of my favorite in my collection to this day. Thanks for watching, -Jon Rihtar
Hey Tomas, Luckily the regulation is easy on this watch. Hopefully you ended with a great accuracy watch at a low price point. Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
Had mine now for 2 years and keeps great time.just ordered a vintage cherry red leather stiched strap from amazon.will be taking it on my hols this August. Carl from uk
I purchased mine five days ago (should have done it years ago).It is the only watch i know of that colour matches the date wheels to the dial.Mine cost $131.55 on the famously tinny Seiko bracelet,but i love it.I would refer to the hands a sword and dagger..........
You can go swimming with this, no problem. I've been snorkeling with this watch without any issues. Fact is, that seiko only tests them up to 3bar, because anything above would increase the costs of production and thus the costs for the customers.
Hi Alexander, It is true that it is only tested up to the 30m depth condition so we don't know the true capability. However without a crown seal, for example, it is possible that water can enter the case even if you don't see any impact to performance. The concern would be that small amount of water begins to corrode the internal components over time and eventually the rust stops the movement. So it is only of those "at your own risk" kind of situations. Maybe water will enter, maybe it won't. Whatever the wearer is comfortable with. Glad to hear it didn't stop the watch immediately though. Thanks for sharing. And thank you for watching, -Jon Rihtar
OMG you are a legend, I bought one an hour ago and shipping and all from America cost me £95 so around $111. Your link gave it to me for £80 so I saved money by watching your videos 😂
The good thing about this series is that it can paired any kind of strap. Personally I had it on a custom made dark antique brown leather strap. Recently changed it to a dark brown alligator strap from Timex and it couldn't have looked any better. Cost me around $3 approx.
My SNK was ridiculously accurate right out of the box (3 seconds fast). However my SKX009 is running about 15 seconds fast & it also has a tiny spec of debris under the dial. I think I’ll open it up & work it over. Excellent review & channel! I look forward to watching all your reviews. Nice website as well. I’m about to use the affiliate link to purchase that leather strap too. Thanks!
Hi Tracy, That is impressive accuracy. No need to regulate that! I hope you have success with the SKX. Let me know if you need any help along the way. I do have a video series to walk through the process. You can find it here: th-cam.com/play/PLw0W6ztid3Zd78Cqwe2L-eXdSVgaipqXX.html And thank you for using my links. It is greatly appreciated! Thanks for watching. -Jon
I own this watch. I didnt like it first at all, 18 mm lug width, catastrofic wrist band and a flimsy feel. But it growes on you. Sometimes understatement is the greatest statement. + brushed + hidden crown + same black background for date and day + light and compact Wait to shake it untill the second match the time. Yes it is stressfull but good for your mind to slow down.
A little bit behind, but I just bought this watch as my first automatic and am excited for it to arrive soon! Thanks for the review, i'm more convinced than ever that it's a good buy.
@It's About Time Do you feel the blue is muted enough to wear as if its a black? The amazon page shows it to be more vibrant, but some photos show it more dull (in a good way). Thoughts, sir?
@@itsabouttime9113 Thank you so much for the quick reply. It's looking like I'll pick one up as my first automatic once the price drops a bit. Cheers mate.
Excellent video, and thanks for sharing. I'd already own a vintage Seiko 5 Actus from 1971, and quite recently got a SKX007 from 2017 in excellent condition (my first diver watch). Since I've read so much good stuff about these Seiko 80X models, I just felt I had to get one. Just recently got it, and I totally understand the hype about it. Typical Seiko quality at a great price (even considering recent inflation), and looks great as well. I ordered the black 809 one, but keep thinking that the model with the light dial (803..?) might serve as a nice companion as well.
Hey 3rdstone1, It's exciting to hear that you're expanding your Seiko collection. Seiko makes great watches, and I'm always so impressed by how much watch they provide at such low prices. I love Seiko! Enjoy your new SNK809! To this day it is one of my favorite watches. Thanks for watching. -Jon
Ordered one, it will arrive in a couple of days. The first thing I'm gonna do is to polish the case and put it on a black leather strap. Looks so good in that spec. EDIT: Looks like a Hamilton Khaki Field then but for way less :)
Nice review. Very complete. Just subscribed ! Recently got the newer Seiko 5 Sports SRPD51K2 , with blue NATO band and loving it, the hacking and hand winding is a great plus. Only 100m resistance but that's OK. I think I was lucky with mine, perfectly aligned dial and chapter ring, AND....... + 2 seconds per day. Someone told me I won the Seiko lottery!! Lol. Look forward to seeing your other videos. 👍
I just got mine today and plan to change the band to a brown leather one like yours. I really like how you transfered that little metal buckle piece from the original canvas strap to the leather one. Was that very difficult to do? Did it require special tools? Any hints would be appreciated as I'd love to give my leather strap the same touch when it arrives.
Great review great steady views of the watch and very thorough, it helped me decide to buy the watch. sorry I bought exactly the same band, love the colour of the band with the watch. However I did polish the watch, it took half an hour. It came out great and gave the watch a little bit of elegance. thanks
Hi Bruno, Doesn't the band completely change the style of this watch?! I wore this watch 3 days in a row this week. Love it. I would love to see a photo of the watch after being polished (if you don't mind, of course). I can only imagine how cool that looks. Thanks. -Jon Rihtar
I kinda hate when people refer to this watch as an entry level as if you wouldn’t buy one if you slready own a premium watch. I own a speedmaster and a submariner and still really want this watch to wear every day
could not afford to buy the laco pilot watch, and Seiko 5 military automatic would be a great alternative, but the downside is I get a +- 10-20 sec each day, unlike others think that the canvas strap look like cheap, but i think that the strap is great for me, because personally I hate dressed strap
Very enjoyable review, man. I just got my second one after years of not having one. It was bliss all over again going back to it. Just ordered a Maratac nato for it. Subscribed! Cheers
@Layer Alchemy, I’m so glad to hear the SNK makes people as happy as it makes me. It’s such a great watch, and for so cheap. Enjoy! I’d love to see it on the Maratac once you get it, if you don’t mind sharing. Thanks for watching and subscribing, -Jon Rihtar
Would love to share some shots, indeed. I specifically got the Mil - MI-6 Band which has a timeless color scheme with the striping. They're down to $6 from $20 at the moment; I am not affiliated. PM an email so I can relay the shots over. Cheers!
Loved this review ..I have three automatics and I a lot of oversized watches that go up to 50 mm yet I have a small wrist ..mostly invictas in my collection but I'm looking at sekios because I iam getting deeper in to collecting and modifying this is the watch I'm looking for myself to add ..a versatile field watch with quality and heritage behind it
Me ha encantado la reseña que has hecho del reloj. Para mí es un reloj muy especial porque encuentro que tiene alma. No me canso de ver el dial. un reloj increíble por el precio que tiene.
If you are going to play a right handed guitar lefty, I would suggest reversing the strings ;) Just teasing. Overall and excellent review, I learned a lot. Thanks.
Hi Jeff, You know, youre the first person to catch that. Good eye. Haha. #photooponly Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate that. Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
First time in your channel, outstanding review, just ordered the watch along with a leather strap and a nato strap. Just subscribe to your channel, now going to peruse thru your videos. Best regards from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Hi Peter, I admit that it's passionate, but I can't say I was very concise in this one. Haha. What other Seiko's do you own if you don't mind sharing. I'm a huge Seiko fan. Thank you for watching and subscribing! -Jon Rihtar
@@watchspecYou're being too modest :) Off the top of my head, here's a list of my Seikos: SNK809, SNZB23J2, SKX007J, SRPB32, SBCA001, SSA289 and SNKN02 (which I recently sold). Not sure if I've missed out any unless I do an inventory count LOL...
Its style is that of a Flieger watch, not field. German Luftwaffe WW II. A so called type B watch (minutes on outer ring). The historic ones had a diameter of 55 mm,a big crown at 3 and of course no day, date.
Hi benbot517, The buckle is attached to the strap with a springbar, same as how the strap attaches to the main case. Therefore, you just pop out the springbar at the buckle to remove it and add it to your new band. Thanks for watching. -Jon
I just recently got into watches, but what interests me the most is the mechanical aspect of them, therefore, I'm looking for a good starter skeleton watch. I've looked at Stuhrling Original watches but I'm not sure if they have that great of quality. Do you have any ideas?
Hi Ayden, Let me start by saying I am not an expert in skeleton watches. I personally avoid these since they are overwhelming to the eye and make it really hard to read the time. That is only my personal viewpoint though. Having said that, my understanding of the skeleton watch world is that the decent quality watches are very expensive. There are lower cost options, however these don't tend to be from reputable names. Again, I am not an expert so if anyone would have insight to help Ayden, please share. Now you can definitely look into "open heart" watches which include a small display window on the front to showcase the movement while not overwhelming the eye. Two examples of watches I have reviewed are the Orient Bambino and the Seiko Cocktail time. You can find those reviews here: -Orient Bambino line (which includes the open heart): th-cam.com/video/Im3We9rK9wg/w-d-xo.html -Seiko Cocktail Time: th-cam.com/video/5EI5qb0yCLk/w-d-xo.html I hope this helps. Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
Hi Nik, My wrist is roughly the same size as yours (mine is 18cm), so I honestly think this watch will work great for you. If it helps, I have some photos in my written article to show how the watch wears on my 18cm wrist: www.watchspec.com/seiko-snk809/#Jump6 Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks for watching. -Jon
Hi Dr. Fig, Thanks for the question. It actually looks like the product has changed and the color no longer matches what is shown in my video (it is now lighter than before and the lighter color is not even available in 18mm). Sorry about that. I searched for another option and found this to be the next best thing: amzn.to/2MKleSR I hope this will work for you. Thank you again for bringing this to my attention. I will need to update my links. Let me know if there is anything more I can help you with. -Jon Rihtar
Hey man love this watch but every website puts it in the 200$ range does anyone has watch thats just collecting dust i can buy it from you. And will you ever sell this watch. Unfortunately i can only afford 40$
Hi Mimikyu, It is difficult to compare these two watches because the price point is so different between them. On one hand, they are both field watches. Yes on the other hand the Khaki Field Mechanical is about three times the price of the SNK. Therefore, a lot depends on the buyer and what is important to them. The upgrades to the Khaki over the SNK are as follows: -Movement with hacking and hand wind (but not automatic wind like the SNK - a negative) -Sapphire crystal -Better quality strap -Slightly better water resistance (50m vs 30m) -Loss of day complication (a negative) If these items are worth the extra $200+ to you, then get the Khaki Field Mechanical. It is a really nice watch - I've worn it. If it is not worth it, get the SNK. It is also a great watch (but replace the strap). Either way, I think you'll be happy. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
@@watchspec In terms of water resistance, Seiko is more trustworthy and dependable than Hamilton. Have read many times that the 30m WR on the SNK can survive swimming while ironically, a Hamilton Khaki with 100m WR can have a fogging while washing hand or just doing activities in summer. Not sure if it is just a coincidence about the lemon Hamiltons. If if they are just lemons, Hamilton seems to produce lots of them.
Amazon is getting 122 now, I’ve looked all over the cheapest I could find it is 90 then 10 dollars shipping and you have to wait a couple of weeks with Amazon and get it overnight here’s your 20 bucks
Hey Celes Gutis, Thank you for the comment. I agree that Japanese movements can be just as reliable as Swiss. Of course, there are both high quality and low quality movements from either country. Even though the SNK809's 7S26 is an affordable movement, it does have a long history to prove itself so you know what you're getting. Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
have this and the beige color face version.the band is very uncomfortable like wearing a burlap bag on your wrist.cxhanged to a leather brown band,looks cooler.
Reggie, My original strap still has the tags on it. Never even tried it. Haha. Love it on the leather strap. Really elevates the style. Glad you like it (the beige is such a cool one). Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
Hey Jon, firstly I just wanted to say I'm a big fan of your videos, really got me into watches. Do you happen to have a link for the NATO strap you put on it at 22:12?
Hi Tassawar Iqbal, Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you find my videos helpful. I picked up that NATO strap from CheapestNATOStraps.com: www.cheapestnatostraps.com/collections/premium-nato-straps/products/premium-nato-strap-khaki-green Make sure you get the 18mm band for this SNK. Let me know if you ever need anything else. Thanks for watching! -Jon
I would have bought this watch many times over but I have always been put off by the low grade water proofing. I have a £36 Lorus quartz which has 100m waterproofing so I don't understand why Seiko 5 cannot achieve this. The non hacking movement is great because it eliminates all my anxieties about having a precise second hand - it becomes an irrelevance.
Hi Flavio Junior, This lollipop circle contains lume inside. The purpose is to allow second-hand tracking in low-light conditions. As a field watch, this is a necessary feature considering military troops need to be able to coordinate attacks to begin at a specific time down to the exact second - including during night missions. Therefore, a true field or military watch will include this second-hand lume. I hope this answers your question. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks for watching, -Jon Rihtar
Best snk809 watch review so far , I watched almost 8 videos on this watch . Only Question I have is that what will be average life span of this watch under day to day wear as a student?
Thank you for the kind words. I have been wearing my SNK809 for 4 years, at least a couple of days per week. It is still running strong. This thing is a real trooper and will treat you well as long as you don't beat it up. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching. -Jon
@@watchspec thank u very much JON!!! I would be really glad if u can answer one more question. I bought two year old sngz 1400 (7S36C) . there are scratches by motion of rotor inside the watch . And its looses 10mins a day. Plz tell what to do .
@@hemrajmeena4673 Hi. Based on your comment, there is something wrong/broken inside this watch. The rotor should never contact other components. You should find a local watch shop that can look at it for you and give you a free cost estimate to repair it. Hopefully, the repair will be cheap (
Question: I got a SNK809 delivered from Amazon three days ago. I set the time, day (English), and date carefully per the instructions and I was careful not to set it during the time of day you aren’t supposed to. So far it keeps great time. HOWEVER, the next day at noon the day was in Spanish and still the prior day and the date was still the prior day also. When I got home from work yesterday I set the watch again per the instructions. Today at work the day and date did not read correct until 1:30 pm and at around 4pm the day was then in Spanish. Is this normal??
Hi Dr. Fig, That is not right. The 7S26 typically begins the day/date change around 11PM and completes the change around 3AM. Please set it as follows to see if this improves the situation: In the middle of the day (noon, for example), set the time by moving time forward (hands clockwise). Keep turning forward until you change the day/date to the next day (hopefully the change happens as I explain above). You then know that the hands are in the AM, so keep turning you watch until you match the current time (mid-day). Then check the natural day/date change at night to see if it corrects the issue. The only other thing to ask is to make sure the watch is fully wound. If the mainspring is almost out of power, the overall movement will stop which, in turn, stops the day/date change. I do not expect this to be the cause as you said it keeps great time. If the problem persists, I would contact the seller for a replacement (if I were in your shoes). I hope this helps. I wish you the best of luck in figuring it out. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. -Jon Rihtar
Hi Dr. Fig, Just wanted to follow up with you to see if you had any luck with the day/date change issue. Let me know if you have any questions that I might be able to help with. -Jon Rihtar
The problem with the black face is that the day date is also black which makes it harder to see. Which is why I'd go for another colour. Probably Blue.
This is the reason I didn't get the other colors, I find this day/date better as it does make it look more clean. Also in very dark conditions white day/date makes is harder to see the hour between 2-4 o'clock.
I 'hack' my SNK0809 by setting the hour/minute hand to the 'next minute' on my Atomic clock and turning the crown JUST little bit and the second hand stops sweeping...when the Atomic clock seconds catch up to where the second hand on my watch is I let go and push in the crown...the watch is then in synch. Not a TRUE 'hacking' crown, but a hack for hacking. ;)
Wtf I literally ordered a Snk809 and an identical brown strap also both at the same time and I got the band 18/18 with the intention of switching the clasp as well. My band also has slightly slanted stitching. Dont tell me your band is also cordovan. Great minds think alike I guess.
hey Im a highschool student and I want to buy one of these watches for everyday use should I go for black dial and blue dial black one looks more versital but the blue one seems like working a lot better with aftermarket wristbands can anyone help me?
Black is more versatile. Should be no difference on what watch bands work with one of the other. Black can pair easily with any color band or clothing. If you don't care about color coordination that much get whichever color you prefer to look at more.
"professional watch" ? The other face colors would rebuttably have similar value. Yes, I do have one, and value it. The 806 (blue) comes with a band that works for me.
Or you can take a Vostok!. From the... new "old" ones. That's what I did when I was searching for a budget mechanical. You will not have the date problem since the date changes almost immediately. You will have a manual wind feauture. You will have a superior water resistance. Shock protection as well, poly crystal that can be buffed easily or replaced with less than 10 dollars. Many mod options and an equal or better accuracy. The pain in the ass would be the lack of quicksetting date but that's not a problem for me as this is a daily beater watch so it keeps the date coming :) Seiko is a bit of more class in style but that is more like a matter of taste and of course you could easily mod the Bostok to a fine dress piece as well. Besides...both are militare style and in my case I saved also some $$ from my budget which is few but fine as I enjoy it
Hi Nick, I did regulate the watch myself. Here is my series of videos that walk step-by-step through the regulation process on this very watch: th-cam.com/video/3KLzO7-N2w8/w-d-xo.html I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for watching. -Jon Rihtar
The dial is from German WW II ‚Flieger‘ ( ‚Flyer’) Observer watches. They called it Type B then. Pilots watches had the normal Type A dial with hours at the outer ring. Those watches were made by A. Lange, Wempe, Stowa, Laco and swiss IWC. All those brands still exist today. The Seiko is kinda hybrid of Field watch and Type B Flieger. Its dial is Type B but its size clearly is typical Field.
cool info
This is my favorite watch for its simplicity more than anything
Exactly. My fav watch is the cheapest seiko.
My favorite “beater” watch. Paid $60 for this on the same tan Hadley Roma strap. Perfect size and performance for active lifestyle. Great visibility for instant recognition of time and no worries about scratching, not just because of the price but because it is really tough. The absolute best entry to automatic watches.
themightysquid,
You summed it up perfectly - it's a low priced watch that is really tough. I wear it all the time.
Thanks for the comment.
-Jon Rihtar
themightysquid where’d you get it for 60?
History lesson on the dial design: This is Seiko's version of the Flieger Type B specification, which was put out by the Luftwaffe during WWII for their navigator timepieces. Lowa, Stowa, and some other German makers still make these flieger watches, but you pay at least 8x more than the Seiko.
Cool fact, thanks for sharing :)
I was seriously considering the Hamilton Khaki Field Officer Mechanical. Went to a shop to try it on and the length of those lugs killed it for me. Just too big; didn't sit on my slim wrist.
I've now bought this Seiko + Fullmosa strap and do not regret it. I've recently retired and the quality of this watch I think will see me out!
Thank you for this video, it helped me make the right choice. I'd still buy the Hamilton if those lugs weren't so long!
I have an SNK807. You can't go wrong with these. Foolproof.
I absolutely love this watch! It's been my everyday for about three weeks now. It is my first automatic watch and I do plan to explore more Seiko products. I highly recommend this piece.
Hey George,
That's just how I started in the automatic watch game too - with the SNK809. Be careful because its a slippery slope and you'll be wanting more watches all the time! Haha.
You started with an awesome watch, and one that is easily one of my favorite in my collection to this day.
Thanks for watching,
-Jon Rihtar
WATCHSPEC yep it already down hill from here lol. That’s ok though. I’m still sticking with the Seiko line. Cheers!
So glad you mentioned the second loss and that this can be corrected thank you
My workhorse for years and has not failed. Best watch I ever had. My other watches have to wait for use or stay in as display.
Excellent watch. Mine also had to be regulated and now it is working as I wanted
Hey Tomas,
Luckily the regulation is easy on this watch. Hopefully you ended with a great accuracy watch at a low price point.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
Had mine now for 2 years and keeps great time.just ordered a vintage cherry red leather stiched strap from amazon.will be taking it on my hols this August. Carl from uk
Probably the most informative review I watched in any watch
I purchased mine five days ago (should have done it years ago).It is the only watch i know of that colour matches the date wheels to the dial.Mine cost $131.55 on the famously tinny Seiko bracelet,but i love it.I would refer to the hands a sword and dagger..........
You can go swimming with this, no problem. I've been snorkeling with this watch without any issues.
Fact is, that seiko only tests them up to 3bar, because anything above would increase the costs of production and thus the costs for the customers.
Hi Alexander,
It is true that it is only tested up to the 30m depth condition so we don't know the true capability.
However without a crown seal, for example, it is possible that water can enter the case even if you don't see any impact to performance. The concern would be that small amount of water begins to corrode the internal components over time and eventually the rust stops the movement.
So it is only of those "at your own risk" kind of situations. Maybe water will enter, maybe it won't. Whatever the wearer is comfortable with.
Glad to hear it didn't stop the watch immediately though. Thanks for sharing.
And thank you for watching,
-Jon Rihtar
OMG you are a legend, I bought one an hour ago and shipping and all from America cost me £95 so around $111. Your link gave it to me for £80 so I saved money by watching your videos 😂
I'm glad to hear that! Thank you for using my link. It is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
The good thing about this series is that it can paired any kind of strap. Personally I had it on a custom made dark antique brown leather strap. Recently changed it to a dark brown alligator strap from Timex and it couldn't have looked any better. Cost me around $3 approx.
My SNK was ridiculously accurate right out of the box (3 seconds fast). However my SKX009 is running about 15 seconds fast & it also has a tiny spec of debris under the dial. I think I’ll open it up & work it over. Excellent review & channel! I look forward to watching all your reviews. Nice website as well. I’m about to use the affiliate link to purchase that leather strap too. Thanks!
Hi Tracy,
That is impressive accuracy. No need to regulate that!
I hope you have success with the SKX. Let me know if you need any help along the way. I do have a video series to walk through the process. You can find it here: th-cam.com/play/PLw0W6ztid3Zd78Cqwe2L-eXdSVgaipqXX.html
And thank you for using my links. It is greatly appreciated!
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
I just ordered one today.. plan to change the strap with brown leather too.
I own this watch.
I didnt like it first at all, 18 mm lug width, catastrofic wrist band and a flimsy feel.
But it growes on you.
Sometimes understatement is the greatest statement.
+ brushed
+ hidden crown
+ same black background for date and day
+ light and compact
Wait to shake it untill the second match the time. Yes it is stressfull but good for your mind to slow down.
I own a Seiko SNK809K2 ... It is AWESOME and NOTHING can touch it for the same money.
My first mechanical watch....just bought it today.....😁
Love both my black and green variants. Nice review, subscribed! ☺️👍
Excellent review. Thank you for explaining the concepts as well
I get about 8 - 9 hours of power reserve. I love the Seiko name and quality. The blue 807 is a great option!
A little bit behind, but I just bought this watch as my first automatic and am excited for it to arrive soon! Thanks for the review, i'm more convinced than ever that it's a good buy.
I just bought mine yesterday as well! Got the snk809s. Excited to experiment around the leather straps
Awesome review! I have the SNK807. It was my first automatic timepiece as well, and I still love it!
@It's About Time,
Thank you. I don't think I could ever outgrow this watch. It's such a solid product for the price.
-Jon Rihtar
@It's About Time
Do you feel the blue is muted enough to wear as if its a black? The amazon page shows it to be more vibrant, but some photos show it more dull (in a good way). Thoughts, sir?
JoeTorok1 it’s definitely a very dark blue. I think you could wear it as if it were black.
JoeTorok1 it’s definitely a very dark blue. I think you could wear it as if it were black.
@@itsabouttime9113 Thank you so much for the quick reply. It's looking like I'll pick one up as my first automatic once the price drops a bit. Cheers mate.
Excellent video, and thanks for sharing. I'd already own a vintage Seiko 5 Actus from 1971, and quite recently got a SKX007 from 2017 in excellent condition (my first diver watch). Since I've read so much good stuff about these Seiko 80X models, I just felt I had to get one. Just recently got it, and I totally understand the hype about it. Typical Seiko quality at a great price (even considering recent inflation), and looks great as well.
I ordered the black 809 one, but keep thinking that the model with the light dial (803..?) might serve as a nice companion as well.
Hey 3rdstone1,
It's exciting to hear that you're expanding your Seiko collection. Seiko makes great watches, and I'm always so impressed by how much watch they provide at such low prices. I love Seiko!
Enjoy your new SNK809! To this day it is one of my favorite watches.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
Thanks for the nice review. Can I get one of these new watches if so where?
Ordered one, it will arrive in a couple of days. The first thing I'm gonna do is to polish the case and put it on a black leather strap. Looks so good in that spec.
EDIT: Looks like a Hamilton Khaki Field then but for way less :)
May I ask where you have bought yours from as I thinking of getting the blue dial
@@andrewshadowy2025 From eBay. The Seller is called: munich-monstersinc
Noke Thank You!
@@andrewshadowy2025 you're welcome mate. Cheers!
Nice review. Very complete. Just subscribed ! Recently got the newer Seiko 5 Sports SRPD51K2 , with blue NATO band and loving it, the hacking and hand winding is a great plus. Only 100m resistance but that's OK. I think I was lucky with mine, perfectly aligned dial and chapter ring, AND....... + 2 seconds per day. Someone told me I won the Seiko lottery!! Lol. Look forward to seeing your other videos. 👍
I just got mine today and plan to change the band to a brown leather one like yours. I really like how you transfered that little metal buckle piece from the original canvas strap to the leather one. Was that very difficult to do? Did it require special tools? Any hints would be appreciated as I'd love to give my leather strap the same touch when it arrives.
Is the strap 18 mm ?
Great review great steady views of the watch and very thorough, it helped me decide to buy the watch. sorry I bought exactly the same band, love the colour of the band with the watch. However I did polish the watch, it took half an hour. It came out great and gave the watch a little bit of elegance. thanks
Hi Bruno,
Doesn't the band completely change the style of this watch?! I wore this watch 3 days in a row this week. Love it.
I would love to see a photo of the watch after being polished (if you don't mind, of course). I can only imagine how cool that looks. Thanks.
-Jon Rihtar
I kinda hate when people refer to this watch as an entry level as if you wouldn’t buy one if you slready own a premium watch. I own a speedmaster and a submariner and still really want this watch to wear every day
J G wouldn’t that be an oxymoron?
J G whatever you say douche
could not afford to buy the laco pilot watch, and Seiko 5 military automatic would be a great alternative, but the downside is I get a +- 10-20 sec each day, unlike others think that the canvas strap look like cheap, but i think that the strap is great for me, because personally I hate dressed strap
Very enjoyable review, man. I just got my second one after years of not having one. It was bliss all over again going back to it. Just ordered a Maratac nato for it. Subscribed! Cheers
@Layer Alchemy,
I’m so glad to hear the SNK makes people as happy as it makes me. It’s such a great watch, and for so cheap.
Enjoy! I’d love to see it on the Maratac once you get it, if you don’t mind sharing.
Thanks for watching and subscribing,
-Jon Rihtar
Would love to share some shots, indeed. I specifically got the Mil - MI-6 Band which has a timeless color scheme with the striping. They're down to $6 from $20 at the moment; I am not affiliated. PM an email so I can relay the shots over. Cheers!
You looks so cool with your seiko. Nice watch.
Loved this review ..I have three automatics and I a lot of oversized watches that go up to 50 mm yet I have a small wrist ..mostly invictas in my collection but I'm looking at sekios because I iam getting deeper in to collecting and modifying this is the watch I'm looking for myself to add ..a versatile field watch with quality and heritage behind it
My dad has the black version (809) and I just ordered the white (803) for myself.
Very nice Oayx. I hope you are enjoying it.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
@@watchspec i have been wearing it for the past week and i love it. thanks!
The orginal German Luffwaffa watch had almost the same min and hour hands as I've seen. Just got mine in today.
Me ha encantado la reseña que has hecho del reloj. Para mí es un reloj muy especial porque encuentro que tiene alma. No me canso de ver el dial. un reloj increíble por el precio que tiene.
I like your style of review..btw good watch i own the blue one
Thank you for the kind words Rik.
The blue is also so nice!
-Jon
If you are going to play a right handed guitar lefty, I would suggest reversing the strings ;) Just teasing. Overall and excellent review, I learned a lot. Thanks.
Hi Jeff,
You know, youre the first person to catch that. Good eye. Haha. #photooponly
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate that.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
Thanks for a really great review of this wonderful watch. I can’t seem to make up my mind between the black face or the beige face. Any advice?
First time in your channel, outstanding review, just ordered the watch along with a leather strap and a nato strap. Just subscribe to your channel, now going to peruse thru your videos. Best regards from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Hi Luis,
Thank you for the kind words.
I hope you will enjoy the SNK - it is still one of my favorite watches to this day.
Thanks for watching!
-Jon
Very concise and passionate review! Subscribed! :) Oh, and I have one of these too, among several other Seikos ;)
Hi Peter,
I admit that it's passionate, but I can't say I was very concise in this one. Haha.
What other Seiko's do you own if you don't mind sharing. I'm a huge Seiko fan.
Thank you for watching and subscribing!
-Jon Rihtar
@@watchspecYou're being too modest :) Off the top of my head, here's a list of my Seikos: SNK809, SNZB23J2, SKX007J, SRPB32, SBCA001, SSA289 and SNKN02 (which I recently sold). Not sure if I've missed out any unless I do an inventory count LOL...
That's a very nice collection. You have more Seiko's than me! I'm jealous... Very nice.
Thanks,
-Jon Rihtar
@@watchspec Haha, just a modest collection, but thanks! :)
Was changing the clasp as easy as changing the strap itself?
That turtle in the intro is sweet
I've bought a green one I will wear a strap like yours
Hi Pedro,
Very nice. The green one is so sharp. I wish I could collect them all!
Thanks for sharing.
-Jon Rihtar
Probably the way to go, my is my go to black watch. But if it was green it would hold a perfect spot in the colection.
What should I get, the SNK803 or 809? I am going to get the leather strap he has on but I am not sure which watch face color would go with everything.
Hi ARC Trooper,
You can't go wrong with black. It is classic and goes with everything. The SNK809 is my choice.
I hope that helps.
-Jon
Effortlessly stylish
Its style is that of a Flieger watch, not field. German Luftwaffe WW II. A so called type B watch (minutes on outer ring). The historic ones had a diameter of 55 mm,a big crown at 3 and of course no day, date.
I heard you speak on regulating the time. If it is that easy to do, why didn't Seiko do it from the factory?
It’s at $104 CAD right now... should I pick it up? Or does it go on sale often?
Seiko Rocks
My fav watch. I have brecelet version
Out of curiosity, how did you remove the Seiko buckle and put it on the leather strap? It looks really good!
Hi benbot517,
The buckle is attached to the strap with a springbar, same as how the strap attaches to the main case. Therefore, you just pop out the springbar at the buckle to remove it and add it to your new band.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
Great review! Mine’s fine in the shower and bathing our little one for what it’s worth, but it will never go near a pool.
Is this exactly the same as the model snk789? This watch is just all brushed? Am i right?
This watch has only one fault (given that the movement is a little outdated meanwhile): the triangle at 12 o‘clock should be lumed.
I just recently got into watches, but what interests me the most is the mechanical aspect of them, therefore, I'm looking for a good starter skeleton watch.
I've looked at Stuhrling Original watches but I'm not sure if they have that great of quality.
Do you have any ideas?
Hi Ayden,
Let me start by saying I am not an expert in skeleton watches. I personally avoid these since they are overwhelming to the eye and make it really hard to read the time. That is only my personal viewpoint though.
Having said that, my understanding of the skeleton watch world is that the decent quality watches are very expensive. There are lower cost options, however these don't tend to be from reputable names. Again, I am not an expert so if anyone would have insight to help Ayden, please share.
Now you can definitely look into "open heart" watches which include a small display window on the front to showcase the movement while not overwhelming the eye.
Two examples of watches I have reviewed are the Orient Bambino and the Seiko Cocktail time. You can find those reviews here:
-Orient Bambino line (which includes the open heart): th-cam.com/video/Im3We9rK9wg/w-d-xo.html
-Seiko Cocktail Time: th-cam.com/video/5EI5qb0yCLk/w-d-xo.html
I hope this helps.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
Very good review. Love this watch. Only wish it had drilled through lugs.
Where did you get the brown strap?
Pagani Design, Cadisen, Guanqin, Loreo, and Starking all make automatic watches at this price point or lower that come with sapphire crystal.
they just dont have that history or reputation behind them
What leather band is that? My 807 is in the mail to me, but I'm almost immediately going to change the band.
Will the SNK809 suitable for my 17cm wrist? Or will be too small? ⌚
Hi Nik,
My wrist is roughly the same size as yours (mine is 18cm), so I honestly think this watch will work great for you.
If it helps, I have some photos in my written article to show how the watch wears on my 18cm wrist: www.watchspec.com/seiko-snk809/#Jump6
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
Great video. Which band color did you order? I don’t see one using this link that looks like the color I see in the video.
Hi Dr. Fig,
Thanks for the question. It actually looks like the product has changed and the color no longer matches what is shown in my video (it is now lighter than before and the lighter color is not even available in 18mm). Sorry about that.
I searched for another option and found this to be the next best thing: amzn.to/2MKleSR
I hope this will work for you.
Thank you again for bringing this to my attention. I will need to update my links.
Let me know if there is anything more I can help you with.
-Jon Rihtar
D- check out amazon: Hadley Roma ms885 18mm
Hey man love this watch but every website puts it in the 200$ range does anyone has watch thats just collecting dust i can buy it from you. And will you ever sell this watch. Unfortunately i can only afford 40$
Would you recommend this Seiko or the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical?
Hi Mimikyu,
It is difficult to compare these two watches because the price point is so different between them. On one hand, they are both field watches. Yes on the other hand the Khaki Field Mechanical is about three times the price of the SNK.
Therefore, a lot depends on the buyer and what is important to them.
The upgrades to the Khaki over the SNK are as follows:
-Movement with hacking and hand wind (but not automatic wind like the SNK - a negative)
-Sapphire crystal
-Better quality strap
-Slightly better water resistance (50m vs 30m)
-Loss of day complication (a negative)
If these items are worth the extra $200+ to you, then get the Khaki Field Mechanical. It is a really nice watch - I've worn it.
If it is not worth it, get the SNK. It is also a great watch (but replace the strap).
Either way, I think you'll be happy.
I hope this helps.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
@@watchspec In terms of water resistance, Seiko is more trustworthy and dependable than Hamilton. Have read many times that the 30m WR on the SNK can survive swimming while ironically, a Hamilton Khaki with 100m WR can have a fogging while washing hand or just doing activities in summer. Not sure if it is just a coincidence about the lemon Hamiltons. If if they are just lemons, Hamilton seems to produce lots of them.
I've got the seiko but if I had the 400 quid I'd buy the Hamilton.
Amazon is getting 122 now, I’ve looked all over the cheapest I could find it is 90 then 10 dollars shipping and you have to wait a couple of weeks with Amazon and get it overnight here’s your 20 bucks
Los relojes de movimiento japonés son tan confiables cómo los suizos. Excelente Reloj, su relación costo-beneficio es imbatible por esa calidad.
Hey Celes Gutis,
Thank you for the comment.
I agree that Japanese movements can be just as reliable as Swiss. Of course, there are both high quality and low quality movements from either country.
Even though the SNK809's 7S26 is an affordable movement, it does have a long history to prove itself so you know what you're getting.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
have this and the beige color face version.the band is very uncomfortable like wearing a burlap bag on your wrist.cxhanged to a leather brown band,looks cooler.
Reggie,
My original strap still has the tags on it. Never even tried it. Haha.
Love it on the leather strap. Really elevates the style.
Glad you like it (the beige is such a cool one).
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
Hey Jon, firstly I just wanted to say I'm a big fan of your videos, really got me into watches. Do you happen to have a link for the NATO strap you put on it at 22:12?
Hi Tassawar Iqbal,
Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you find my videos helpful.
I picked up that NATO strap from CheapestNATOStraps.com: www.cheapestnatostraps.com/collections/premium-nato-straps/products/premium-nato-strap-khaki-green
Make sure you get the 18mm band for this SNK.
Let me know if you ever need anything else.
Thanks for watching!
-Jon
I would have bought this watch many times over but I have always been put off by the low grade water proofing. I have a £36 Lorus quartz which has 100m waterproofing so I don't understand why Seiko 5 cannot achieve this. The non hacking movement is great because it eliminates all my anxieties about having a precise second hand - it becomes an irrelevance.
What's the reason/function of the "lollipop" in second hand? I got one like this,same snk809, with steel band. Thanks.
Hi Flavio Junior,
This lollipop circle contains lume inside. The purpose is to allow second-hand tracking in low-light conditions. As a field watch, this is a necessary feature considering military troops need to be able to coordinate attacks to begin at a specific time down to the exact second - including during night missions. Therefore, a true field or military watch will include this second-hand lume.
I hope this answers your question. Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thanks for watching,
-Jon Rihtar
@@watchspec thank you. I'll follow your tip, and change the band to a leather havana/brown too.
Also acts as a counter-balance for the seconds hand.
@@oldiesfreek thanks, Peter.
@@flaviojunior4218 any time! (no pun intended!)
band colour is fine but it is chunky for that watch
Best snk809 watch review so far , I watched almost 8 videos on this watch .
Only Question I have is that what will be average life span of this watch under day to day wear as a student?
Thank you for the kind words.
I have been wearing my SNK809 for 4 years, at least a couple of days per week. It is still running strong. This thing is a real trooper and will treat you well as long as you don't beat it up.
I hope that helps.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
@@watchspec thank u very much JON!!! I would be really glad if u can answer one more question.
I bought two year old sngz 1400 (7S36C) . there are scratches by motion of rotor inside the watch . And its looses 10mins a day.
Plz tell what to do .
@@hemrajmeena4673 Hi. Based on your comment, there is something wrong/broken inside this watch. The rotor should never contact other components. You should find a local watch shop that can look at it for you and give you a free cost estimate to repair it. Hopefully, the repair will be cheap (
@@watchspec thanks again! Jon
Whats the diameter of your wrist? 7 inches?
I’ve heard you can get these for around 50-60 dollars, is that still true? Cheapest I can find is 80
Mine is +2 sec per day fast. Absolutely amazing! That's a great looking strap, where did you get it from?
Outstanding accuracy
Mine is +3 Sec per day i tink is good whatch
Question: I got a SNK809 delivered from Amazon three days ago. I set the time, day (English), and date carefully per the instructions and I was careful not to set it during the time of day you aren’t supposed to. So far it keeps great time. HOWEVER, the next day at noon the day was in Spanish and still the prior day and the date was still the prior day also. When I got home from work yesterday I set the watch again per the instructions. Today at work the day and date did not read correct until 1:30 pm and at around 4pm the day was then in Spanish. Is this normal??
Hi Dr. Fig,
That is not right. The 7S26 typically begins the day/date change around 11PM and completes the change around 3AM.
Please set it as follows to see if this improves the situation:
In the middle of the day (noon, for example), set the time by moving time forward (hands clockwise). Keep turning forward until you change the day/date to the next day (hopefully the change happens as I explain above). You then know that the hands are in the AM, so keep turning you watch until you match the current time (mid-day). Then check the natural day/date change at night to see if it corrects the issue.
The only other thing to ask is to make sure the watch is fully wound. If the mainspring is almost out of power, the overall movement will stop which, in turn, stops the day/date change. I do not expect this to be the cause as you said it keeps great time.
If the problem persists, I would contact the seller for a replacement (if I were in your shoes).
I hope this helps. I wish you the best of luck in figuring it out.
Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.
-Jon Rihtar
Hi Dr. Fig,
Just wanted to follow up with you to see if you had any luck with the day/date change issue. Let me know if you have any questions that I might be able to help with.
-Jon Rihtar
Your watch has a Spanish heart, I'm sorry. By the way, greetings from Spain ;-)
Hardlex: More scratch resistant than Mineral, more shatter resistant than Sapphire. Best glass for a field watch. Needs a NATO strap, though.
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the additional info. That's quite helpful and good to know.
Thanks for watching it.
-Jon
I had one that kept perfect time! Why did I ever sell it!?!?
The problem with the black face is that the day date is also black which makes it harder to see. Which is why I'd go for another colour. Probably Blue.
This is the reason I didn't get the other colors, I find this day/date better as it does make it look more clean. Also in very dark conditions white day/date makes is harder to see the hour between 2-4 o'clock.
I 'hack' my SNK0809 by setting the hour/minute hand to the 'next minute' on my Atomic clock and turning the crown JUST little bit and the second hand stops sweeping...when the Atomic clock seconds catch up to where the second hand on my watch is I let go and push in the crown...the watch is then in synch. Not a TRUE 'hacking' crown, but a hack for hacking. ;)
This will be my first watch ever. Hope i use it aloy
Enjoy it KVN. I still love this watch to this day. I’m actually wearing it right now.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
Wtf I literally ordered a Snk809 and an identical brown strap also both at the same time and I got the band 18/18 with the intention of switching the clasp as well. My band also has slightly slanted stitching. Dont tell me your band is also cordovan. Great minds think alike I guess.
hey Im a highschool student and I want to buy one of these watches for everyday use should I go for black dial and blue dial
black one looks more versital but the blue one seems like working a lot better with aftermarket wristbands
can anyone help me?
Black is more versatile. Should be no difference on what watch bands work with one of the other. Black can pair easily with any color band or clothing. If you don't care about color coordination that much get whichever color you prefer to look at more.
top tip, don't film or edit in 'interlaced', notbody uses that anymore. it leaves nasty glitchy artefacts.
Haha. Thank you. This was one of my very first videos. I have since rectified that issue.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon
"professional watch" ? The other face colors would rebuttably have similar value. Yes, I do have one, and value it. The 806 (blue) comes with a band that works for me.
Trust me. the black one is ugly as sin.
Fajny zegarek :)))
Thank you!
Or you can take a Vostok!. From the... new "old" ones. That's what I did when I was searching for a budget mechanical. You will not have the date problem since the date changes almost immediately. You will have a manual wind feauture. You will have a superior water resistance. Shock protection as well, poly crystal that can be buffed easily or replaced with less than 10 dollars. Many mod options and an equal or better accuracy. The pain in the ass would be the lack of quicksetting date but that's not a problem for me as this is a daily beater watch so it keeps the date coming :) Seiko is a bit of more class in style but that is more like a matter of taste and of course you could easily mod the Bostok to a fine dress piece as well. Besides...both are militare style and in my case I saved also some $$ from my budget which is few but fine as I enjoy it
Did you regulate it yourself?
Hi Nick,
I did regulate the watch myself.
Here is my series of videos that walk step-by-step through the regulation process on this very watch: th-cam.com/video/3KLzO7-N2w8/w-d-xo.html
I hope this helps.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
Havent heard that gotye track in a while
What is a professional watch ?
Seiko 809 or Timex Weekender?
Seiko SNK809 hands down. I will always choose a mechanical movement over a quartz. What do you think?
Thanks for watching.
-Jon Rihtar
For better quality the seiko but for the bigger wrist the timex and for night viewing Indiglo no comparison
Quartz versus automatic is like comparing apples ans oranges.
*Casio Sapphire enters the chat*
If someone tell glass dimensions, is possipility to change it with cheap tools.
Meanwhile, in the EU, this costs more than 130 € /140 USD. It's fucking insane.
I have it. But currently € 125.- .