Seiko 5 SNKL45 Review & Complete Guide
If you are looking for a clean and robust everyday timepiece that can be worn through all of life’s events, the SNKL45 may just be the watch for you.
The Seiko 5 collection is widely praised and appreciated for its wide collection of watches in all types of shapes and forms for any occasion. They are well built and have a high finish in relation to their affordable price.
But with so many watches to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one to pick. What we can say, however, is that regardless of which Seiko 5 you choose, you can’t go wrong. These watches offer exceptional value for money and will, thanks to their robust and reliable automatic movements, continue to tick for years without needing a service.
Seiko 5 SNKL45 Review
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The Seiko 5 SNKL45 is built as an everyday watch with a sporty presence. It is extremely versatile and suitable for all kinds of different occasions. It looks just as great with casual clothes as it does with a suit.
Its value proposition becomes extra evident when you look at this watch in detail. It’s not the best watch out there in terms of finish and build quality, but in relation to its price, there are few better alternatives on the market.
In this article, we will do just that. In this article, we will review the Seiko 5 SNKL45.
Seiko 5 SNKL45 case
The watch is presented with a stainless steel case with a diameter of 37mm and a thickness of 11mm. Having said that, it’s quite a small watch that is most suitable for men with small or medium-sized wrists. At the same time, its small case size helps make it more versatile as a large and bulky watch often becomes too big to slide under a cuff and work on formal occasions. The watch has a lug width of 18mm.
The watch has a fixed polished bezel and brushed lugs. A nice detail of this watch is that the case has polished bevels which enhance the feeling and impassion of quality of this timepiece.
Positioned at the Seiko standard 5 o’clock position, we have the crown, which sits protected in the case by being recessed. This integration of the crown into the case keeps it from being bulky by having crown guards, and a 4 o’clock position prevents it from digging into the wrist whilst wearing it. The crown is a push-pull and not a screw-down which naturally affects its resistance against water.
The downside of this movement is that it ”only” has a water resistance of 30m. This means it can handle water splashes but it is not suitable for swimming. Having said that, it is primarily made as an everyday watch and not meant to be a diver. Seiko has other watches for that. But in my opinion, it would be nice to have at least 100m/330 feet of water resistance.
The watch has Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal. At this price point, this can be expected from Seiko. It is more scratch-resistant than regular mineral glass which is a bonus, but it is not as tough as sapphire crystal.
Seiko 5 SNKL45 movement
The watch is equipped with the in-house automatic mechanical Seiko caliber 7S26. This movement beats with a frequency of 21600BPH (6 beats per second) and has 21 jewels. It has a power reserve of approximately 41 hours.
This is a workhorse movement that has proven it will continue to tick for years without needing a service. This is of course exactly what we want in a sporty everyday timepiece.
This movement was first introduced in 1996 and does not feature all the latest technology. This includes hacking second function and manual winding function -both of which this watch lacks. But for the purpose, this movement is great anyways although these functions are nice to have.
Seiko 5 SNKL45 dial
The watch is presented with a black dial that has a bit of a sunburst finish. As you know with sunburst dials, they reflect the light beautifully – especially when direct sunlight hits them.
The watch has polished rectangular-shaped hour markers which, again, enhance the perception of quality. Right next to the inside of the markers on the dial, the watch has applied luminous dots which help with legibility in the dark. The hands are leaf/dauphine style hands, also made of polished metal. They also have applied Lumibrite on them.
Positioned at 3 o’clock, we have the day and date window which is iconic for the Seiko 5 range. It’s a great thing that Seiko made the background black and the printing in white, as it allows it to blend in seamlessly into the dial.
Around the outer edge of the dial, the watch has printed seconds markers in white. As a nice contrasting detail, the watch has a bright red seconds hand which adds to the sportiness and keeps it from being monochrome.
The printing on the dial is kept clean and at a minimum. At the 12 o’clock position, we have an applied Seiko logo and an applied Seiko 5 logo.
Beneath the center of the hands, we have the text ”Automatic” and 21 jewels” printed in white.
Seiko 5 SNKL45 bracelet
The watch is presented on a stainless steel bracelet which is mostly satin-brushed but has some polished parts which help it match the case perfectly and also keep it from being too tool-like.
As is common with affordable watches, the bracelet is the part of the watch that has been compromised with the most. It has some rattle and doesn’t feel completely robust, but it works and it is quite comfortable on the wrist. It also looks great with the watch.
But if you want something else, the SNKL45 also looks great on, for example, a NATO strap.
Specifications
- Diameter: 37mm
- Thickness/height: 11mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Movement: Seiko caliber 7S26
- Frequency: 21600BPH (6 beats per second)
- Jewels: 21
- Power reserve: approximately 41 hours
Conclusion
To conclude this review, the Seiko 5 SNKL45 offers exceptional value for money. It is well-built, solid, and has a surprisingly high finish. The movement which powers it is robust and durable and will continue to tick for years without needing a service.
The SNKL45 is also extremely versatile and meant as an everyday watch. Regardless of the occasion, this watch will work as your trusted friend and timekeeper, and it will look great whilst serving you.
In our opinion, you really cannot go wrong with this watch. Especially not at this price point.
The Seiko 5 SNKL45 is available to order on Amazon.
Main Photo: Watchgecko
