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SEIKO 5 - first steps into a new (to me) world ...
SEIKO 5 - it all started with a Seiko Sportsmatic 5, back in 1963. The idea was to set a new standard in accessibly priced mechanical watches with its innovative combination of an automatic movement. The 5 Sports series started in 1968. Both series haven´t been on my "radar" until recently. I am in hunting mood ...
Sidenote: At a friends wedding I detected a nice "vintage" watch on a gentleman´s wrist. It was in steel and with a "slim" (almost like AP RO 5402; thickness & style) bracelet. The case looked like an octagon, if I remember correctly. First I thought it was from AP or maybe IWC, but there was Seiko written on the dial. I liked what I saw, but failed to ask the owner about more details - unfortunately. Was it Quartz or even something really sophisticated? I don´t know, yet. Hunting started already, but it is not easy with the information I have and the lack of deep knowledge about the brand. Any kind of support is more than welcome 
In the past I almost bought a Grand Seiko several times, but didn´t for several reasons at the end.
On Friday I decided to start my journey with Seiko and my choice for now is a Seiko 5 Sports SNZH55K1. I will come back to the watch after some time of ownership, but for now I will start with some first impressions and pictures if you don´t mind.
Based on the amount of pictures I will share you can guess if I like it or not
First impression: a simple but serious watch. I like it a lot for what it is!
Oliver
This message has been edited by small-luxury-world on 2014-07-07 03:31:06
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SEIKO 5 - first steps into a new (to me) world ...
SEIKO 5 - it all started with a Seiko Sportsmatic 5 , back in 1963. The idea was to set a new standard in accessibly priced mechanical watches with its innovative combination of an automatic movement. The 5 Sports series started in 1968. Both series haven...
Getting Started..
Getting started on Seiko is opening a Pandora's box. They have a great entry price, and its so easy to collect so many. You should look into the classic Seiko diver SKX007 Pic stolen from Nilo (Sorry!) ...
"its so easy to collect so many"
Why, just because it is affordable (what ever that means; it´s relative)? To learn and to choose for your own reasons is probably the toughest part when (serious) collecting. Nonetheless the diver shown is nice, but I guess it doesn´t fit to my current "h...
Ken, it is like testing a new Italian Pizza restaurant ...
you have to eat a simple Margherita first. It they pass that test you can go further ... :-) Thanks for your PM, my friend! Oliver
Congratulations my friend...
....has entered a one-way road that would provide you... only pleasure!!! In my collection my favorite is a diver SEIKO ref.: 6306. All the best Juan
Congrats! :-)
Your pictures are amazing, really brings out the beauty of the piece, the watch you saw at your friends wedding was it by any chance this one?: S
Oh the Mystery Deepens :-)
Now I am intrigued to see what watch was on the wrist of the guest at your friend's wedding. S
Oliver, that looks REALLY GOOD!
I have been excited to learn about Seiko in person. I really like this model. Congrats!
"REALLY GOOD!" Michael that means 100 points for ...
Seiko :-) Thanks my friend! Oliver
The cost to performance ratio, as Ken noted . . .
. . . is off the charts. Received this one from my brother thru Dad, who gave it to him decades back. Little brother never wore it, and transferred possession to yours truly about five years ago. After it came back from its first-ever service (and please ...
Your brother, are you sure he is your brother ...
The watch is lovely and it is hard to believe that it didn´t see any wristtime. Great story, anyway! "cost to performance ratio" - this could be the start of a nice study, even when it is relative :-) Thanks my friend! Oliver
Watches mean something very different today...
they have sentimental and collectible aesthetic value. To your Dad, it was just a reliable watch. Thanks for telling the story, Art.
Sliding down the slippery slope to join us, eh?
There are thousands of Seikos and hundreds of intriguing and lovely ones, so watch your wallet? Could the watch have looked like this one, perhaps? Cazalea ...
"There are thousands of Seikos and hundreds of intriguing and lovely ones ..."
That´s my current status as well, after some research - only :-) Sorry, it was a different one :-( Thanks my friend! Oliver
Welcome at Seiko
Dear Oliver, last year I bought also a Seiko like yours from Amazon for < 150€ for holidays. The first one I sent back because I was of the opinion the winding system was broken. But shame on me, I didn't realize that I have to shake the watch for wind...
"Shaking Seiko"
Well, my case was almost similiar but I was reading the manual more carefully :-) Did you get the same reference? It gets a lot of wristtime at the moment ... let´s see. Thanks my friend! Oliver
I've never...
...thought I have to read a manual for a wristwatch :-) ...my fault. Here are some pictures of the watch at my last vacation. And the one million question is: Where I spend my vacation? :-) regards stere PS: As you see, it's not the same reference. I pref...
Couldn´t afford the blue one ...
as it was about 20% more expensive. But maybe yours came without a manual and was reduced ... :-) Serious - the blue one is nice as well and I gave it a thought as well. Netherland´s at the sea? Cheers, Oliver
Or as my wife says, a "Sheiko"
She cleverly cut it down to one word, saving all that redundancy whereas Seiko by their cleverness took out one function we all took for granted and saved themselves a cent or two on each of millions of watches per month. I've been unable to determine how...
ROFL
We know a lot about watches, but our wifes "nail it" from time to time :-) Oliver
Regarding hunting ...
just got another hint: The owner bought it after he was seriously disappointed with his Rolex - even after some service visits. His Seiko get´s the energy for the accu from the balance wheel ... and the price was below € 500,- ... at the moment it is in f...
Congratulations!
As it happens I just bought that exact model and have been wearing it very happily. After twenty years of being fascinated by watches and nearly a decade of making a living writing about them full time I still find Seiko, and particularly the entry level ...
I can tell that you chose...
very passionately and precisely what fits great in your collection Well done dear Oliver I must confess I didn't expect that one coming by far Yours Damjan
Damjan, thanks a lot for your kind words ...
and I hope you have a great summer together with your family! Just came back from my holiday and took lots of new pictures ... :-) Cordially, Oliver
Looking forward
to your connoisseurs imprints from holiday I'll try to make some as well All the best to you any all yours Damjan