Okay, so lemme tell you about my little Seiko 5 obsession, or should I say, exploration. It all started when I wanted a decent automatic watch without breaking the bank. Heard a lot about Seiko 5s being the go-to for that, so I dove in.
First thing I did was hit up the usual online spots – you know, Amazon, eBay, even some of the smaller watch retailers. Man, there are a TON of Seiko 5 models out there! It was kinda overwhelming at first. I spent a solid evening just scrolling and comparing.
I narrowed it down based on a few things: the style (I wanted something relatively simple and versatile), the size (I have pretty average wrists, so nothing too huge), and the movement (most Seiko 5s use the 7S26 or 4R36, which are both solid workhorses).
Ended up snagging a Seiko 5 SNKL41 – the one with the cream dial and the simple indices. I just liked the classic look. Plus, it was on sale, so that definitely helped. When it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. It felt way more substantial than I expected for the price. The finishing wasn’t amazing or anything, but it was definitely decent.
The hands-on part began! I started wearing it every day. One of the first things I noticed was how comfortable it was. The bracelet is kinda jangly, but it didn’t bother me too much. The watch itself is nice and light.
I wanted to see if I could swap out the bracelet for a leather strap. So, I ordered a cheap leather strap from Amazon, along with a spring bar tool. This part was a little fiddly, but I eventually managed to get the bracelet off and the strap on. Made a HUGE difference in the look of the watch. Felt a bit more “dressy” with the leather strap.
Then, I decided to try my hand at some basic regulation. I knew the 7S26 movement wasn’t known for its accuracy, and mine was running a bit fast. I watched a few YouTube videos on how to regulate a Seiko movement. It involves opening the caseback (carefully!), finding the regulating lever, and nudging it ever-so-slightly. It’s scary stuff if you’ve never done it before!
I didn’t want to go too crazy, so I only made small adjustments. Over a week or so, I got it dialed in to be much more accurate, which was pretty cool. It wasn’t perfect, but much better than it had been.
- What I learned:
- Seiko 5s are seriously great value for money.
- Swapping straps is a fun and easy way to change the look of a watch.
- Regulating a watch is surprisingly doable, even for a beginner.
Now I’m kinda hooked. I’m already eyeing another Seiko 5 – maybe something with a different dial color or a different movement. It’s a slippery slope, this watch thing!