Those Seiko 5’s are probably one of the best automatic watches for the price.

The only thing I changed on it was the strap as I hated factory one.

I have the smaller model.

All I wear these days is a g-shock

It must be warm where you live.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

He is in Arizona.....

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Keep on Chooglin'

It gets a little cold at night....

...if it doesn't have hands...

...it's not a watch...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

MY G-shock has that covered.... replaced the old maratac timex Expedition watch that gave up the ghost after ten years of use and was non repairable.

I think this Forum needs an official watch thread, it seems their are quite few nice pieces that need to be shown & bragged about.

Just saying

Sure...

That WILL BE my next watch, GORGEOUS. What strap is that?

How accurate are those Seiko 5's?

What do they charge for cleaning and lube jobs?

I'm not him, but I imagine it's one of the various manufacture NATO/ZULU strap options available, these days. Looks a fair bit like the one on my G-Shock (mentioned in my earlier post in this thread, from JaysAndKays, in my case). They're available in lots of widths for different watches, and in MANY colors. The "true" version is a one piece, but a two piece version exists for watches that can't readily use the original one piece style.

Do be aware that not all are not created equal (quality, comfort, etc.), so I suggest reading reviews if you're looking for something similar from one company or another. Thankfully, even the higher quality types are cheap enough to collect a few examples, as much to have spares to use while one is in the washer as for changing tastes on a day/watch.

Here's my aforementioned G-Shock...I don't use this style strap on my more oft-worn Submariner, though I know others do, and may eventually try one on that for an alternative to the steel bracelet. In any case, on the G-Shock, and on various Omegas and such over the years, I've long liked the NATO/ZULU strap option. Hope that helps.




First...Sorry to the OP for some thread drift.

The more recent Seiko 5s use the 7s26C movement (don't know what year it changed, but at least 5+ years ago), as far as I know...From all I've seen/heard/read, it's a durable and reliable movement. While some report accuracy in the +/- 1 to 5 seconds per day realm, the actual spec (and most reports I've read/heard from people who bother to really check) seems to be more like upwards of +/- 30 seconds per day. It's no Rolex or Omega, as automatics go, but they're not priced like those, either, and seem to offer pretty good bang for buck.

Service cost for a Seiko 5:
I have a buddy who had his done a few years ago, and we were recently discussing such things. He said he almost just threw his away and bought a replacement when it needed cleaning, as the service charge was in the $200 estimate region, but paid to have it done, in the end. His wife had gotten it for him, so it was worth it for him (err, his continued health...lol) to just do it. I've read other estimates running from about that to somewhere around $300, depending on quality/skill of who does the work.

I've thought about getting one as a spare beater, hence the research on them, but keep not getting around to it.

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"...toujours l'audace"

Spook-

At that sort of cleaning cost, I'd keep not getting around to it, too!

However, you recall my Rolex Explorer I... I took it to their master repairman here and he got it to within 30 seconds a week. I'd wait two weeks and run it back one minute.

That means the Rolex was as much as seven times more accurate than the Seiko 5! I think I'd want better time keeping in even a "beater" watch. But I think you know me well enough to realize that I never own a "beater" anything! I take pride in and maintain all that I own.

If its audible ticking doesn't bug you as much as it does me, you can probably barter something for my second Seiko, which needs a battery change. I owe you for a machete, some tea, etc., anyway. Drop by this Fall. You may well go home with something nice from Solingen...

Thanks for answering this question. I'm sure that many here were curious about the Seiko 5. Not exactly their top automatic, is it?

Speaking of Seiko, you remember that actress who your grandmother taught in 11th Grade Honors English? I don't think I'll mention her name here, but she told me that she owns or owned one of those Seiko diver's watches with an orange face and was very pleased with it. As a PADI certified master dive instructor, you probably know that watch. Much of what they make seems quite good, considering the price. I'd definitely like one of their best dress automatics with a green face. But those things are priced like Rolex and Omega and don't carry the wide recognition here that the Swiss brands do. Frankly, I think Seiko is due some serious PR work in the USA.

You mentioned that friend who has to repair his Seiko 5 because his wife gave it to him. Do you remember meeting author D. L.? Better not name him here. He was signing books with a Mont Blanc fountain pen, brown ink. I said I liked those, but really preferred my Parker Premiere. D.L smiled and said he had to use that pen, as it was a gift from his wife. I guess every married man knows that feeling...

Did you know Casio has an upscale brand?

EDIFICE Mens Watches - CASIO

Re: 200m resistance: This is the minimum you need for the safety of the watch in 'sport' diving. Military and pros generally get 300m-500m, or more. Repeated usage has those gaskets, gases, and oils inside expanding and contracting with temperature and pressure. Plus, things like impacts to the watch, exposure to bursts of pressure such as a failed valve, etc.

I learned my lesson about 'servicing' the hard way on a couple of mechanical watches. My old Fortis cost a couple of hundred when I bought it years ago. It sustained a blow which had it jump to -45 secs per day. The 'service' was around $130. Uh, no thank you....

So, with how hard I am on watches, and learning such a lesson, I now buy quartz in nicer watches. That said, there are several autos out there at a ridiculously good value, like the Seiko 5 series, and Orients. I would ask about simply replacement of the entire movement, if need be, than a traditional service. No sense taking a Hyundai to the Mercedes-Benz dealer for your maintenance, LOL.

I have a really nice 'boutique' brand quartz watch in which the movement died after about 7yrs. Locally, I got an estimate for a complete replacement of the movement for $78. An email to the watch company owner verified that he'd have to ship it to Europe for the OEM factory to replace, and with multiple to and from shipping costs, he'd have to charge more than double that. The choice was clear, LOL.

As mundane as it may seem to us, tritium is a regulated gas which gives off nuclear radiation. Luminox, as with other OEMs, no doubt buys their tubes from the tritium manufacturer. Loops and hurdles nearly impossible to clear, I am sure. You might consider finding a good watch tech who could overlay the vials/indices with Super Luminova compound. That's the absorbent, glow-in-the-dark stuff that has nearly universally replaced tritium in the watch industry now. Your watch vials may still have enough 'juice' to stimulate the compound from below, as well as what it will absorb through the watch crystal.

I had tritium paint on a watch that this dealer treated in just such a way. Granted, it didn't have vials implanted like your Luminox, but the result was outstanding to my eyes. ..

Donaldson Watches and Watch Repair | New Watch Sales And Watch Repair Services

This is a Maratac NATO 18MM in Sand.

The Maratac Bands are literally the best NATO/Zulu Straps you can get IMO, I have been wearing them for years now and they have not frayed or broke down in any way shape or form.

..****mor has it that Millennials can't read clocks with hands...

...so enjoy your REAL watches with hands while you can...

...future "watches" may be cheap looking digitals by default...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

I'm too, partial to Seikos.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Like Seiko myself. Added the diver Model SRPA83 this year. Lot cheaper off Amazon. Has the 4R36 movement which is not as accurate as quartz but is awesome if ya don't mind a larger case size. Lume is very bright.

"Service cost for a Seiko 5:
I have a buddy who had his done a few years ago, and we were recently discussing such things. He said he almost just threw his away and bought a replacement when it needed cleaning, as the service charge was in the $200 estimate region, but paid to have it done, in the end."

As I earlier mentioned, my estimate from a local jeweler for cleaning my Seiko 5 was around $50. But that was in 1989-90, so things have changed. I bought that Seiko 5 in Colombia new in the early 1970s, for the equivalent of about $35.

I notice some Seiko model dive watches fetching big bucks off E-Bay. Orange and black monsters gaining in poularity along with the so called "Arnie" model with analog-digital-alarm feature. Had the original orange monster with saucer shaped case from 1972 which did not bring as much as I thought. Kinda like the new orange dial "Samurai" with 44 MM case and 4R36 movement. Probably lose or gain a couple minutes per month but awesome looking.

If anyone with a Casio G Shock wants to use a NATO/Zulu Strap here is a link for the adapters you will need.


Adapters For Casio G-Shock Watches ~ | CountyComm – CountyComm

Those look like the same idea as the JaysAndKays adapters I mentioned/posted a pic of earlier...I've not tried the CountyComm ones, so don't know whether there are meaningful differences between them, but am happy with the JAK type. JAK may only sell via Etsy (where I bought mine, anyway), if anyone is looking for their website on a Google search.

I'm glad these are being made by both places. My biggest complaint about the G-Shock--for many years--is the stock rubber strap. The NATO type option looks and feels so much better.

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"...toujours l'audace"

Easier, quicker, and more convenient to glace at your wrist than digging the phone out for just the time and date. Safer too, if driving.

Every car I have owned in the last two decades has had a clock in it.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Do you often take your car with you into a movie theatre, the restroom, a restaurant, a meeting, out hiking, hunting, fishing, etc.?

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"...toujours l'audace"

Not every one of mine. Or machinery in the field. Or older classic cars.

Still faster and more convenient to quickly glace at your wrist than dig phone out, swipe it, turn it right side up and exit out.

I’m long retired, who cares what time it is?

Gotta know when it's time to take your Geritol... LOL

I am rarely without my cell phone.

Unless it's a timed event, I doubt I would need a timepiece in the loo.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Fiddling with a phone is bad taste for theaters and some business meetings. Can get you removed from theater or in trouble at some workplaces.
Out hiking can fumble and drop it possibly damaging or losing it. While hunting spook the game around you with all the fiddling around.

Have had various Casio watches since they put a calculator on one in the 80s.

This is my Casio Pathfinder. It's been through Hell and back many times.

It does barometric pressure,temperature,compass,altimeter, and also...tells time/date. Stopwatch too.

Solar powered...and even left in the dark for months (not much light in Hell) it never loses it's power. Never. Pretty nice stuff.

I wish everything ran as smooth as a Casio...

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These days, it really wouldn't surprise me if somebody, somewhere, probably on the internet, actually put on such a timed event. In that case, you better hope an EMP immediately followed by the zombie-alien apocalypse doesn't zap your phone, robbing you of timing/winning said event.

As things to worry about go, that's likely not high on the list, but better to be prepared with a proper timepiece, me thinks...

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"...toujours l'audace"

I'm covered:

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I used those thru Jr High and High school as I was a bit weak in math. Saved a lot of time in those stupid "time is part of your grade" tests.

When I started as a paramedic in January 1991 until I medically retired in 2006 I had a Casio calculator watch on my wrist at work for those drug dosages.

Where's the wrist strap???"

...quality cars all used to have an analog clock in the center of the dash...

...some still do...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

"These days, it really wouldn't surprise me if somebody, somewhere, probably on the internet, actually put on such a timed event. In that case, you better hope an EMP immediately followed by the zombie-alien apocalypse doesn't zap your phone, robbing you of timing/winning said event. As things to worry about go, that's likely not high on the list, but better to be prepared with a proper timepiece, methinks..."


There are numerous examples of pocket watches and wristwatches recovered from Hiroshima and Nagasaki which stopped when the bomb went off. They weren't Timexes.

Lol...That'll work.

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"...toujours l'audace"

You're right; they were probably Seikos, though most from both are made in Asia, anyway...

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"...toujours l'audace"

Whoa! 156 degrees?! Fahrenheit?

Oh, wait; that's the compass function, right?


Rusty-

Hey, you and your wife could have a timed contest to see who can change the loo rolls fastest. Loser does the dishes. Just don't time it with the hourglass.

BTW, I had to pay extra and wait awhile to get a clock installed on my last new car, a Toyota. Has the time in green digital markings. Makes me feel high tech and I can avoid glancing at my watch in freeway traffic.

My brother won't wear a watch and fumbles for his blamed cell phone in traffic, inc. just to tell time. He needs to have both hands on the steering wheel!

My 2003 Ford Ranger has no clock, not even a time display built into the radio LCD. Has anyone seen the very old car clocks, maybe from the 1920s or earlier? I had one many years ago, it looked like a pocket watch with a very long winding stem (maybe 4" or so) and looked somewhat like a lollypop. I never knew how they were mounted or where. Maybe some of you who are antique car enthusiasts might know about these. This is a similar one listed on eBay, but mine had a much longer winding stem. 1900's ANTIQUE WALTHAM AUTOMOBILE/CLASSIC CAR DASH CLOCK, HAND WOUND, PRE OWNED | eBay

I have a few G-Shock watches. Three are solar powered and one of them sinc's nightly to the atomic clock, has an electronic compass and gives temperature, altitude, tide and graphs the barometric pressure. It's handy while hunting and fishing. Two are over 20 years old and have only required battery replacements.

I do love mechanical watches, but these are great for activities that could damage a more fragile/expensive timepiece. G-Shock's are almost indestructible!

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"I also cook."

Seiko automatic dive watches for me since 1989.............my first cost me about $200 ....... my latest just $250.

I’ve had three starting back in 1980 when I bought one out of my ships store. That one got stolen in Olongapo. Bought another fancy one with stainless band a few years later. That one flooded on me at 150 ft. Bought my third as a backup in 1998 and ended up giving it to my son as a reward for getting certified. They are good watches, even if I flooded one, but I think that was more my fault.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

I don't dive but can be hard on a watch. I like the Seiko for their style,good looks,and being automatic..... first one lasted 20 years. Still runs just decided I "needed" a new one!!

Mine have been all + or - 2 minutes a month range .... when I reset the date I'll reset the minute hand + or- 1 minute so I'm always with in 1 minute of actual.(example. 1 minute slow on the 1st.... dead on on the 15th and 1 minute ahead on the 30th.)

Mine have been the SKX007....200 meter model with a "solid link" stainless bracelet (316L) My 1989 model was only rated to 150m.

I've been using the 22mm DaLuca NATO Strap since about 2014 with my Seiko Solar Dive watch (SSC021) $35 on Amazon.

My 21 year old College Jr. asked to borrow one of my "spares" two years ago...... saw him wearing it last weekend.