That’s a classic pilot’s watch feature, and though it makes the SNK809’s dial much busier, it fits within the overall aesthetic.
The sharp hands are fully lumed, and the second hand is lumed on its counterweight with a flash of red on the pointer end.Įach hour marker is accented by a seconds counter that steps up by five for each hour, all the way to 60 seconds. The SNK809 lands somewhere between a classic IWC pilot’s watch and a Hamilton Khaki Field Watch, and borrows some of the best elements of both. Budget watches can be great at many things, but bracelets at the lowest price point can feel like they’re made out of tweezers.Ī bracelet also doesn’t fit the aesthetic here, but that’s another point. We didn’t say all of that as a suggestion that Seiko should have fitted a bracelet to the SNK809. A rubber strap looks great too, and it’s very comfy. The good news is that the SNK809 looks great on a variety of straps, including rubber and leather watch straps. A higher quality nylon strap, like this sailcloth strap from Barton Bands, is a worthwhile upgrade.Īfter a few days of wear, it becomes softer and more comfortable, but it’s worth looking at an affordable replacement. It’s rough and uncomfortable out of the box, and can snag on clothing and other surfaces. The black nylon material looks and feels cheap, which clashes with the mostly premium feel of the watch itself.
#Affordable automatic watches upgrade
You should definitely upgrade to something nicer! It’s not surprising to see a cheap canvas strap at this price point, but it is surprising just how bad the strap actually is. Now, we come to the strap, which is easily the SNK809’s weakest point. There’s also no screw-down functionality here, which limits water resistance to only 30 meters, so the watch will be fine in the rain but should stay out of the pool. That’s probably a good thing, as the crown is very small and somewhat hard to grip. There is no manual-wind feature here, which means that the watch has to be shaken gently to engage the automatic winder in the movement. Seiko’s tradition of placing the crown at four o’clock continues here, but there are a few quirks that have to be noted at this price point. It’s not quite as hard or scratch resistant as sapphire, but it’s far more durable than mineral glass and looks better, too. Seiko opted for its own in-house Hardlex crystal instead of acrylic. The SNK809 carries a military vibe overall that lands somewhere between a classic pilot’s watch and a rugged field watch, though the dial markings tilt further in the pilot direction.Īt 11mm thick, it’s got the compact dimensions to make it wearable with suit and shirt cuffs, but there’s enough heft for it to stand up to significant abuse. The qualities that give it such a straightforward appearance are a nod to the watch’s military roots, but they’re also a great opportunity for Seiko to show off its ability to build an insanely high-quality watch and sell it for peanuts. The watch, with its matte aluminum finishing, clean dial, and compact 37mm case, is an exercise in simplicity. It’s not beautiful, fancy, flashy, or any of the other things that people look for in a nice watch. It’s hard to look at the SNK809 and view it as anything other than a utilitarian timepiece. Let’s take a look at what makes the Seiko SNK809 so special. The company relied on its rich history and experience building accurate, excellent movements to construct a watch in the sub-$100 range that easily shames timepieces costing many times more.Ī few small gripes pop up along the way, but they’re not enough to tarnish what is otherwise a great watch with a solid value proposition. Seiko has a winner with the SNK809, and for the money, there’s nothing else on its level. The watch I’m talking about is the Seiko SNK809, and after a week with it on my wrist, I can confidently say that it’s not only the best watch under $100, it may be one of the better choices in the sub-$500 range.ĭepending on where you buy it, the SNK809 can be had for as little as $65, but it’s even a steal at twice that. That’s not at all what we have here, and though I’ve passed over it on my watch searches many times, I can say now that I’d give it more than a second glance if I see it again. The Seiko SNK809 – Check current price on Amazon or Jomashop More often than not, I end up focusing on a watch that I can’t afford or that is more expensive than it needs to be. If you’re like me, you can spend hours at a time browsing watch forums without a real idea of what you’re looking for.
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