Seiko 5 SNKE03 Review & Complete Guide
If you are looking for a sporty and reliable automatic timepiece at an affordable price, Seiko is definitely a brand worth looking closer at.
Seiko has established itself as an expert in making automatic timepieces at affordable prices with excellent build quality and great reliability. With that said, these watches are popular choices for those who are looking to dip their toes into the world of watches or simply for those who want a durable beater that you don’t have to be terrified to scratch.
Seiko 5 SNKE03 Review
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The first impression of this timepiece is that it is rugged, stealthy, and sporty. It looks very durable, and it has the build quality to back it up. Of course, what stands out the most is the fact that it is all-black, which adds to the rugged look of this timepiece.
At the same time, its smaller size makes it rather discreet.
This watch is perfect for those with smaller wrists, but also enjoy a sporty timepiece that has a ”cool factor”.
Considering its price, this watch offers incredible value for money, and this becomes even more evident when looking at this watch in detail. But an automatic sports watch with a durable build quality, manufactured by a respected brand and available at a price of less than 200 USD is not bad.
Without further ado, in this article, we are reviewing the Seiko 5 SNKE03.
Seiko 5 SNKE03 case
The watch features a 37mm stainless steel case with a black coating. 37mm is quite small, and it is interesting to see that Seiko is not only moving towards larger watches. This makes it suitable not only for those with small wrists but also for people who enjoy wearing small watches. Because 37mm for a sports watch can definitely be defined as small in today’s market.
The watch has a sporty appearance right off the bat, but the black coating adds to this personality. The actual case has a polished finish, both sides, bezel, and top of the lugs. Speaking of the bezel, this is probably the part of the watch that stands out the most, as it has a fixed bezel with 60-seconds (or minute) markings painted in white. These numerals give it a recognizable and distinct look which reminds slightly of the Rolex Explorer. In other words, it definitely adds to the sporty look.
The lugs are relatively short, and the lug-to-lug measures 41mm. The crown is positioned at 4 o’clock which is an iconic design feature of many Seiko watches but also has the practical benefit of preventing the crown from digging into your wrist. The crown also sits slightly recessed into the case. It is not a screw-down.
The Seiko 5 SNKE03 offers a water resistance of 50M. This means it is suitable for showering and swimming but not diving. However, it is not recommended to wear this watch when swimming, either, just to be on the safe side. Essentially, you can call the SNKE03 an everyday timepiece with a sporty appeal.
Sitting on top of the case is a Hardlex crystal, which is what we can expect in a timepiece from Seiko at this price range.
Seiko 5 SNKE03 dial
The watch features a black dial which goes very well together with the all-black look of this timepiece. The dial has a shiny finish and applied polished metal hour markers which enhances its impression of quality.
Positioned at 3 o’clock, the watch has a day and date window. The window has a metal frame around it, and they feature a black background with the days and dates printed in white. This allows them to blend into the dial very well. The day and date functions are two practical features to have in a watch, especially in an everyday watch as you will likely be using them. Sunday is displayed in red and on some models SAT is displayed in blue.
It features diamond-style hands with pointy and sharp tips. The hands look very aggressive and sporty which obviously goes very well together with the sporty appeal of this watch. The hands have a polished metal frame with Lumibrite applied to them. The watch is monochrome apart from the seconds hand which is painted red. This is a really nice touch that creates a lovely contrast against the black elements and makes it more playful.
On the outside of each applied hour marker, we have luminous dots for reading the time in low-lit conditions.
Movement
Powering this movement is the in-house automatic Seiko caliber 7S26. The movement operates with a frequency of 6 beats per second, or 21600 beats per hour. It has a power reserve of 43 hours.
The downside of this movement is that it does not have hacking seconds or manual winding functions, which is common for Seiko’s most affordable 5 watches.
But the purpose of this movement is to be robust and durable, and that is exactly what it is. The 7S26 has proven to be a durable workhorse that is able to continue to tick for years without needing much or any maintenance or service. This is a movement that will continue to tick for years and years and which can handle shocks, bangs, and harsh conditions.
Seiko 5 SNKE03 bracelet
The watch is presented on a sporty three-link bracelet which is, just like the case, black coated. The black bracelet obviously goes very well with the all-black look of the watch and gives it that sporty appeal.
The watch has drilled lugs which is a great thing as it makes it easy to change straps and remove the bracelet. With a 20 mm lug width, you can switch straps if you want to give it a different look and wear it on something other than the bracelet. However, owners have reported that it can be a bit tricky to change to other straps in some cases due to the shape of the lugs.
A downside with affordable watches is that the bracelet is generally the part that is compromised with the most. The bracelet is surprisingly light, which many owners say is a good thing as it provides better comfort, but it also has some rattle and does not feel 100% solid which obviously affects the impression of quality. But at the end of the day, it is what we can expect from a watch in this price range.
Specifications
- Movement: Seiko in-house caliber 7S26
- Jewels: 21
- Frequency: 21,600 BPH (6 bps)
- Power Reserve: 43 Hours
- Diameter: 37mm(without crown)
- Case Thickness: 11mm
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Water Resistance: 50 Meters
- Lug width: 20mm
- Lug-to-lug: 41mm
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko 5 SNKE03 is a watch that offers exceptional value for money.
The watch has a sporty appeal to it but works exceptionally well for everyday wear. This is a durable and robust timepiece with a sporty and distinct appeal to it, and with its 37mm case size, it is also perfect for those with smaller wrists.
The finish, the durability of the movement, and the build quality really make this watch punch well above its own weight.
At a price of less than 200 USD, you really cannot go wrong with this timepiece.
The Seiko 5 SNKE03 is available to order on Amazon.
