Seiko Solar SSC445 Chronograph Review & Complete Guide
If you are looking for an affordable, sporty, and accurate chronograph with innovative technology, the Seiko Solar chronograph SSC445 may just be the watch for you.
Seiko is mostly appreciated amongst watch enthusiasts for its affordable automatic movements, but with this watch, Seiko proves that quartz watches can be almost (or just as appealing). Whilst the most devoted watch nerds may shy away from the thought of a quartz watch, the SSC445 does have some practical benefits from being battery-powered. And we’ll go more into detail about this further on in this article.
Seiko Solar SSC445 Review
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The Seiko Solar SSC445 is a sporty and affordable chronograph that punches well above its own weight when it comes to value for money. It may be quartz-powered, but this is not your ordinary quartz watch. In fact, this watch uses Seiko’s clever and innovative solar technology to power and generate power for the movement. With that said, there is no need to exchange the battery.
Let’s dig into this watch and what it has to offer. In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko SSC445 Solar Chronograph.
Seiko Solar SSC445 Case
The Seiko SSC445 has a 43.5mm stainless steel case. For the price, the case is exceptionally well-finished, much better than what you would expect from a watch in this price range. The lugs have polished bevels and polished sides. This creates a nice contrast against the brushed top of the lugs. Another nice detail of this case is that the inside edges of the lugs are beveled as well as polished. This is Seiko really going above and beyond and showing they pay attention to details even for entry-level watches. The case has a thickness of 13 mm.
The case has 22mm lug width which is common for larger men’s watches, which is great for choosing between a wide array of straps (more on this further on).
The watch has a fixed bezel with a black inlay. The bezel has 60-minute markers and adds to the sporty look of the watch.
Sitting on top of the case is a Hardlex crystal. At this price point, we can’t expect sapphire crystal, but Seiko’s proprietary crystal has still proven to be much more scratch-resistant than regular mineral glass.
Positioned at 3 o’clock, we have the crown, nicely protected by crown guards. On each side of the crown guards, we have two pushers for the chronographs. The pushers and crown are screw-down which enables a water resistance of up to 330 feet/100 meters. This means it is suitable for swimming and showering but not diving. The case has a solid screw-down case back.
Seiko Solar SSC445 Dial
The watch has a striking navy blue dial with lots of interesting details. The dial is flat blue but it still plays with the light beautifully and can shift from a dark blue to a lighter, bright blue when the sunlight hits it.
Positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, we have three sub-dials for the chronograph. The sub-dials display 60 seconds, 60 minutes, and 24 hours. The chronograph measures up to 60 minutes in 1/5-second increments and has a split-time measurement function.
The sub-dials at 3 and 6 have small polished metal frames around them, and the sub-dial at 6 o’clock has a wider metal frame with printed second markings in black.
The dial has clean and elegant skeleton minute and hour hands shaped liked swords with one-third of them being filled with Lumibrite. It is wise of Seiko to make the hands skeletonized since it ensures the sub-dials are legible at all times.
The chronograph hand is simple and clean and made of polished metal. Between 4 and 5 o’clock, we have a circular date window. It is practical with a date window, but with its metal frame, it stands out a bit against the dial and has a slightly negative effect on the symmetry of the watch.
The dial has applied polished markers which are beveled. This enhances the watch’s feeling of quality and also reflects the light beautifully. On the outer edge of the dial, the seconds markers are printed in white. The applied markers have Lumibrite applied to them on the outer edge.
Seiko Solar SSC445 Movement
The Seiko SSC445 is powered by the Seiko Caliber V175. It is when we study the technology of the movement that things get really interesting when it comes to this watch. The movement is solar-powered which means it gets its energy from sunlight, and even regular ambient light. How is this possible?
Well, the dial, or specifically the sub-dials are made in a way that they let light through to the movement which then charges the movement with energy. The benefit of this is that this watch does not have a need to replace the battery. This both saves energy but also saves you time, money, and energy from having to have the battery replaced when it runs out of power. The movement has a power reserve of 6 months.
The most devoted watch enthusiasts may shy away from a watch that is not mechanical, but the Solar quartz technology really adds to the watch’s appeal, and also has a few practical benefits such as improved accuracy and reliability.
Seiko Solar SSC445 Bracelet
The watch is fitted on a stainless steel bracelet which is mostly satin-finished but has small polished contrasting links.
The bracelet has a push-button deployment clasp.
As is common for affordable watches, the bracelet is not the most robust. The bracelet is usually the part that is compromised with the most, and this is also the case here. The bracelet feels rattly and not robust, but it is what we would expect from a bracelet on a watch in this price range. The good news is that this watch looks great on other straps such as a leather strap.
Specifications
- Power reserve: 6 months
- Diameter: 43.5mm
- Thickness: 13mm
- Lug width: 22mm
- Case back: Solid
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Crown & pushers: screw-down
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
Conclusion
The Seiko Solar SSC445 Chronograph is a watch that offers great value for money. Its finish is superior to most other competitors in this price range, and its design together with the appealing blue dial makes it a great everyday timepiece that won’t let you down. The solar quartz movement adds to the appeal of this watch (but may scare away the most devoted watch enthusiasts looking for mechanical movements) with its solar technology. If you are looking for a stylish, robust, and accurate quartz timepiece, the Seiko Solar SSC445 Chronograph is definitely a great choice.
The Seiko SSB031 Chronograph is available to order on Amazon.
