Seiko is an underrated watch company.
Sure, they're not as luxurious as the more popular Rolex, Patek, or AP, but they've made a name for themselves as reliable and trustworthy.
In fact, the draw of a Seiko is its dollar-for-dollar value.
Seiko's gained a bit of a cult following [R] as a dependable entry-level watch.
Read below for some of the best Seiko watches we recommend.
You might just find your match!
Best Overall: Seiko Men's Prospex Special PADI Edition Samurai Black SRPB99
The Prospex is Seiko's line of tool and sports watches that offer style and robust features at great prices. The watch we reviewed is a PADI Edition watch.
Seiko partnered with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to make diving watches for just about anyone's needs underwater.
- Seiko 24 Jewels Self-Winding Automatic Movement with Hackable Second Hand (Calibre 4R36)
- Stainless Steel Case and Band, Push Button Deployment Clasp with Safety Lock Feature
- Hardlex Mineral Crystal, Date Display, Luminous Hands and Markers
The SRPB99 comes with a black dial, luminous line hour markers and hands, and a date display. These are enclosed in a 44mm stainless steel case and a Hardlex crystal.
This watch runs on Seiko's Calibre 4r36 self-winding automatic movement, with a power reserve of around 40 hours.
We love the design of the SRPB99. The SRPB99 has a classic diver's watch look and feel, and the wave-like holographic details in the dial look great. The SRPB99 even came in a special edition box!
We just wish that it's easier to size the bracelet of the SRBP99, but that problem is easily solved by buying a NATO strap or a leather strap and using that for this watch.
Overall, the SRPB99 is a great watch for anyone looking for a dependable, accurate, and stylish watch for any occasion.
- Impressive 200m water resistance
- 40-hour power reserve
- Versatile and stylish for any occasion
- Case is heavy-duty
- Difficult to size the included strap
Best Value: SEIKO Men's Black Boy Automatic Diver's Watch SKX007
The SKX007 is a diver's watch, a cult classic favorite, and our pick for value.
A lot of other watch enthusiasts agree [R] that the SKX007 is the best value watch option for any price point.
- Case
- - Case Material: Stainless Steel (polished)
- - Case Shape: Round
The SKX007 is ISO 6425-certified, which means that it is certified for diving. With a 200m water resistance, it can handle a simple diving trip.
The SKX007 doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more expensive watches, but it has the quality that beats other so-called signature fashion watches.
The dial is plain and uncomplicated, but the indicators are crisp, and the hour and minute hands are exquisitely well-made. Seiko's precision really shines through with the SKX007.
Inside the watch is Seiko's Caliber 7S26 automatic movement, which has proven itself reliable time and again. The 41mm stainless steel case protecting the inside parts has a heft to it that tells us how durable this watch can be.
We recommend the SKX007 as the value watch for anyone who appreciates great craftsmanship. The SKX007 is loaded with great features at a very accessible price point.
- Easy to read day/date window
- Precise time indicators
- Accessible price point
- Some people might find it plain
Best Budget: Seiko Men's SNK809 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
If you need a budget watch, look no further than the SNK809 from Seiko. This sub-100USD watch has features you wouldn't expect at that price range.
As part of the ever-dependable Seiko 5 watch line, the SNK809 boasts a 21-jewel automatic movement assembled in-house. In a price range filled with quartz-movement fashion watches assembled in China, Seiko's SNK809 is refreshing.
- Precise 21 Jewel Japanese Automatic movement
- Hardlex crystal; Brushed stainless steel case and bracelet
- Day function in english and spanish; Date function
The SNK809 comes with a black dial with white hands and hour markers in Arabic numerals, and a sweeping second hand. These are all inside a 40mm stainless steel case. Like any other Seiko watch, the SNK809 sports a Hardlex crystal face.
Seiko continues to show the world that quality need not come at steep prices. In case you're looking to kickstart at collecting watches but don't know where to begin, the SNK809 might be your excellent budget pick.
- Easy to read day/date window
- Automatic movement at budget prices
- Durable, scratch-resistant case
- Looks plainer than others
Seiko 5 Sports Automatic 100m Black Watch SRPE57
The SRPE57 is a beautiful, classic black-and-gold themed watch at a hard-to-beat price.
The SRPE57 is an automatic sports watch that comes with a black dial, luminous hour indicators with gold borders, and luminous hour and minute hands with gold borders. The dial also has a day/date window, convenient for people who can't tell what day it is.
- Featuring a Silver-tone Band, Silver-tone Case, Scratch Resistant Mineral Crystal
All of these design features are inside a 40mm stainless steel case enclosed with a Hardlex crystal.
The watch runs on Seiko's latest 4r36 self-winding automatic movement, which is accurate and dependable, with a power reserve of around 40 hours. Seiko shows off the movement with its see-thru Hardlex crystal case back.
We love how this watch looks and feels. It feels substantial and looks classy without being showy.
It's hard to beat the gold trim on the watch hands and the dial. This combination matches nearly anything you wear! And of course, there's always the trademark Seiko quality for the way it works. Timekeeping is accurate with the SRPE57.
This is a great watch to get if you're the kind of person who has a hard time figuring out what to match with your outfit… and you don't want to spend a lot of money either.
- Easy to read Lumibrite hands and time markers
- Gold trim looks classy
- 100m water resistance
- Reports of packaging problems
SEIKO PRESAGE Power Reserve Ice Blue Cocktail Time Sky Diving SSA343J1
The Seiko Presage is Seiko's prestige line, which claims to show the world excellent Japanese craftsmanship. One look at the Ice Blue Cocktail Time SRBP43, and you'll agree with Seiko's claims.
The first thing you'll notice with the Seiko Presage is that it is, indeed, a good-looking watch.
- Featuring a Black Band, Silver-tone Case, Scratch Resistant Hardlex Crystal
From its blue sunburst dial, which reminds you of light ocean waves, to the perfectly-matching silver time indicators and leather band, the Ice Blue Cocktail Time looks classy.
Unlike the typical day/date window, it instead sports a date counter at the bottom half of the dial.
The Ice Blue Cocktail Time isn't just beautiful on the outside, too. Inside, the Cocktail Time runs on the 29 jewel Caliber 4r57 automatic movement and has a power reserve of around 41 hours.
If you need a great dress watch that works well under USD500, there is no better way to go than the Ice Blue Cocktail Time.
- Matches well with any formal wear
- Automatic movement is accurate
- 50m water resistance is too low
Seiko SNXS77 Automatic Blue Day Date Dial Silver Steel Bracelet Men Watch
The Seiko SNXS77 is a simple, no-frills, Seiko 5 automatic watch for those who like things uncomplicated.
For just a little over USD100, you get a watch that fits any occasion. The SNXS77 is versatile with its understated blue dial and white time indicators. It can be casual when fitted with a NATO nylon band or a bit more formal with a leather band.
- Band Colour: Silver
- Band Material: Stainless Steel
- Band Width: 19mm
You can also stick with the included bracelet, but it's not our favorite design. It also irritates sensitive skin, especially when sweaty, but can easily be solved by getting another band for this watch.
Inside is the 21-jewel Seiko Caliber 7S26. While this is a bit outdated compared to the 4r36 with self-winding features, it is still dependable.
The SNXS77 is for the kind of man who needs a dependable watch without all the complications that watch-collectors tend to worry about.
- Simple and easy to use
- Versatile watch face design
- Uncomfortable stock bracelet
- Low water resistance at 30m
Seiko 5 Blue Stainless Steel Automatic Mens Watch SNZF15
The Seiko 5 SNZF15 is what is known as the "Sea Urchin" line of Seiko watches.
The SNZF15 is a diver-style watch, so it comes with a Pepsi-colored unidirectional outer bezel. This matches the watch face, which is black, and the time indicator dots as well as the minute train of the watch in white.
- Fashion | Accessories, Men's watches, Men's Wrist watches, Wristwatches
The SNZF15 has a 23-jewel self-winding automatic movement, which is every bit as reliable as any other Seiko watch. It is undoubtedly much more reliable than the easily breakable fashion watches out there.
The SNZF15 is water-resistant at 100m, but since we're reviewing it as a diving watch, we really don't think that's enough.
The Sea Urchin more than makes up for it with its Lumibrite lumens for the hour indicators and the hour and minute hands, the scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal, and the transparent case back where you can see the workings of the automatic movement.
Overall, the Seiko 5 Sea Urchin is a great watch to buy for anyone who likes diver watch styles. Just be careful not to actually dive with it, though.
- Reliable movement
- Classic diver's watch looks
- Durable case
- 100m water resistance not enough
Seiko Men's SSC139 Excelsior Gunmetal and Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Solar Watch
The Seiko SSC139 Excelsior Solar Watch is one of those big and bold watches for men that stand out no matter what you use it with.
The Excelsior runs with quartz movement. While that might initially turn you off due to quartz's bad reputation, you're in good hands with Seiko.
- Two-tone watch featuring trio of subdials on black dial, date window at 3 o'clock position, and...
- Features alarm settings, screw-back case, and solar movement powered by all types of light
- 43 millimeters stainless steel case with Hardlex dial window.When the measurement reaches 60 minutes...
Seiko pioneered the first-ever quartz watch with the Astron 35SQ [R] and grew its own quartz crystals to this day.
The Excelsior is a solar-powered watch that is charged when under sunlight. Once fully charged, it lasts for 6 months before it completely discharges.
Anyone who steps foot outside the house or even switches on the lights in their room can charge the Excelsior. The Excelsior charges from any light source.
Its water resistance is good enough for the casual watch user. Just don't take this watch around diving.
Overall, the Excelsior is suited for bulkier wrists with its heavyweight 43-mm stainless steel case and the gunmetal bezels all around. Additionally, the solar-powered feature is a great bonus.
- Solar-powered watch
- Long, 6-month power reserve
- Water-resistant to 100m
- Not suited for thin wrists
- Heavy case
Seiko Men's SNZH53 Seiko 5 Automatic Dark Blue Dial Stainless Steel Watch
The SNZH53 is another Seiko 5 offering, but we think this watch is underrated. This is seen by many watch enthusiasts as the alternative for our value option, the SKX007, for people who want a little more excitement.
The SNZH53 is a diver's watch that looks more unique than the SKX007. But its flashiness isn't a bad thing! It has a metallic blue watch face that looks great from any angle, and it matches the metallic blue bezel.
- Precise 23-jewel Japanese-automatic movement; functions without a battery; powers automatically with...
- Durable mineral hardlex crystal; brushed and polished stainless steel case and bracelet
- Day function in english and spanish; date function
The SNZH53 looks pretty small for a diver's watch, but it actually sports a 42mm stainless steel case. If it looks a bit more compact, that's probably because its case design is polished along the sides and merges well with the lug.
The SNZH53 is water-resistant to 100. This water resistance is good enough, but I wouldn't count on it for actual diving. That's a shame. Since it's a dive-style watch, it could have benefited from better water resistance.
Inside the case of the SNZH53 is a 23-jewel 7s36B automatic movement. While that movement is a bit outdated, it's still as reliable as any other Seiko 5 watch with the same movement.
Overall, the Seiko SNZH53 is a good choice if you're the kind of person who likes to stand out.
- Unique and polished design
- Versatile
- 100m water resistance not good for diving
Grand Seiko White Snowflake Dial Spring Drive High-Intensity Titanium SBGA211
A Seiko watch list wouldn't be complete without including the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Titanium.
Grand Seiko is the luxury offering of Seiko wristwatches, and all the watches under this brand are the pinnacle of Seiko's innovation, technology, and design.
The Spring Drive Titanium is no different. The Spring Drive movement is a true Seiko innovation, pioneered by an engineer at Seiko back in the 1970s.
The Spring Drive movement combines the technology used in mechanical watches and quartz movements and unites the finest features of each kind through the Tri-synchro regulator the Seiko developed itself [R].
All of the beautiful inner workings of the Spring Drive Titanium can be seen through a transparent case-back.
The White Snowflake doesn't just leave it to the movement, though. The watch face reminds you of snow and quiet winter mornings and gives this watch a clean look.
The sharp hour and minute hands are crisp and well made, and the date display is readable and matches well with the watch face.
The 41mm case and band are made of high-intensity titanium, giving this watch the durability of a lifetime. Unlike other Seiko watches, the Grand Seiko line comes in scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire.
- Unique Spring Drive is accurate and reliable
- Water-resistant to 100m
- Versatile, classy looks
- Expensive
Is Seiko A Good Watch Brand?
Seiko has been in the watchmaking business for over 139 years [R]. We think that should be enough to tell you that Seiko is serious about watch-making.
Not only do they make watches, but they also innovate on technologies used for watches. Seiko made the first-ever quartz watches around [R] and showed the world that Japan could give the Swiss a run for their money.
Everything that Seiko makes is done in-house. They even grow their own quartz crystals for their watches!
Seiko watches for men are as good as any other. While it won't command the familiar Swiss watchmakers' luxury prices, it's good enough for top Tennis player Novak Djokovic.
Save for the Grand Seiko, Seiko's watches are really more for the budget and middle of the road kind of customers.
But what watch enthusiasts love about Seiko isn't the prestige. It's that Seiko always innovates and disrupts the watchmaking industry. Even today, no Swiss competitor has come up with something like the Seiko Spring Drive.
Seiko leaves no customer behind. There are Seiko watches that men from all walks of life can enjoy, with their quality watches, at every price point.
Conclusion
Seiko is a great brand offering high-quality watches for anyone.
For men, Seiko watch-wearing can be an entry point to the watch-collecting hobby, or simply a tool to tell the time. In any case, there's bound to be a Seiko watch for you.
Links, prices, and images were pulled from the Amazon API. Last updated on 2023-03-20.