Seiko SSA231K1 Review & Complete Guide

Seiko SSA231K1 Review & Complete Guide

Seiko, amongst other things, makes exceptionally well-made watches at affordable prices. In fact, Seiko is considered to make amongst the best affordable watches in the world. They punch well above their own weight both in terms of finish and build quality, and are often equipped with long-lasting automatic movements

 

The Seiko SSA231K1 is one such watch. Upon close inspection, it will reveal numerous intricate details, and these types of details are extremely impressive to see on watches in this price range. Bear in mind this watch only costs slightly more than 200 USD. 

In fact, this watch offers such great value for money that we sometimes wonder how Seiko succeeded.

Seiko SSA231K1 Review

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If you are looking for a classic and elegant automatic timepiece at an affordable price that you will never get bored with, the Seiko SSA231K1 is definitely a great candidate. Whilst the watch has a clean and classic design which makes it extremely versatile, it also features some small details, of which the open heart is the main attraction, which takes this watch from a regular timepiece to something truly special.

In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko SSA231K1.

Seiko SSA231K1 case

The watch has a very clean and elegant case design. The case has a diameter of 41mm and a thickness of 13mm, allowing it to slip under a cuff with ease. The watch has a lug width of 20mm. Since this is made as a classy and elegant dress watch, it is of course completely polished to enhance its look.

The bezel is fixed and polished and is slightly angled. The sides of the case are slightly curved between the front of the watch and the back. It has a push/push crown. The watch offers a water resistance of 50M/165 feet. This is enough to handle water splashes, but water resistance is obviously not a crucial trait of this timepiece as it is a dress watch.

There’s not much to say about the case other than that it is clean, elegant, and simple. Which is exactly what we expect.

Seiko SSA231K1 movement

The watch is powered by the automatic mechanical Seiko caliber 4R39A. This movement beats with a frequency of 21600 VPH and has 24 jewels. This movement is a reliable and sturdy workhorse movement that will continue to tick for years.

If you turn the watch around, you will find that this watch has a see-through case back which allows you to see the movement inside. This is an interesting detail as the dial already reveals a part of the movement, whilst the back gives you a full view.

The movement is not decorated or finished, but at this price point, it’s not a big deal in our opinion. The fact that you can still appreciate an automatic movement and a well—finished, well-built timepiece at this price point is good enough. Of course, it would have been nice if the movement had been finished and had some decoration, but this would also naturally affect the price as well, and perhaps not make it as accessible as it is now.

Seiko SSA231K1 dial

The dial is definitely the star of the show here. But it is actually not the dial itself but rather the open heart that the dial has, which gives us a glimpse of the automatic movement inside. Normally, we only get to see the movement through the see-through case back of Seiko’s watches, but this watch spoils us by reminding us about the mechanical piece of craftsmanship that ticks inside as soon as we take look at the watch on the wrist.

A nice detail of the dial is the Roman numerals printed in black around the whole dial. The Roman numerals are not flat but are instead slightly raised thanks to the generous amount of black paint used. This really enhances the watch’s appearance by giving it a more premium finish and showing Seiko has really put great attention to details.

What makes this dial so appealing is its different sections and features, and layers. To begin with, the dial has a white background. This is divided into two sections. The outer section is slightly polished, but the center section has an interesting texture. The center section is also recessed. The hands are blued and made in a dauphine/leaf-style shape. The hands are classic and traditional which obviously goes very well with the overall design of this watch. As mentioned, the dial has an ”open heart” through which you can see the movement. In addition, the watch has a small 24-hour sub-dial positioned at 11 o’clock.

Photo: Watch review blog

Seiko SSA231K1 strap

The watch is presented on a brown alligator embossed leather which is of course appropriate for an elegant dress watch. The strap is ok in terms of comfort and quality, but if you want to change ”shoes” for the watch, the 20mm industry-standard lug width means you have a wide selection of straps to choose from.

Specifications

• Jewels: 24
• Frequency: 21600 VPH
• Water resistance: 50M/165feet
• Lug width: 20mm
• Power reserve: 41 hours.
• Crystal Hardlex

Conclusion

All in all, the Seiko SSA231K1 is a beautiful and appealing dress watch that takes things out of the ordinary. It has a classic and clean design but also incorporates some beautiful details that enhance the look of the watch and keep it from being boring.

This is a watch that works for formal and more dressed-up occasions, but as a sports watch, it doesn’t quite work. This watch looks impeccable with a jacket and a nice set of shoes, preferably one that matches the strap.

But regardless, the Seiko SSA231K1 offers exceptional value for money. It is surprisingly well-finished for the price, and Seiko has really gone above and beyond with all of the details of this watch. Seiko proves yet again that affordable watches can be anything else but junk.

The Seiko SSA231K1 is available to order on Amazon.