Seiko SNE102 Solar Review & Complete Guide
Seiko is known and appreciated on the market for making affordable and qualitative timepieces that offer great value for money.
Seiko has a ton of different watches for all kinds of occasions.
Seiko SNE102 Solar Review
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The Seiko Solar SNE102 is built as an everyday watch that is perfect for all of life’s different occasions. This timepiece will look great with a suit, but it will also work exceptionally well with jeans and a shirt. As we have come to expect from Seiko watches, it is also nicely finished and has a great finish and attention to detail.
Inside the watch is some very interesting technology. Namely, its solar technology which means it is powered by ambient and solar light which generates power for the movement. Not only is this a cool piece of technology, but it is also truly practical as it removes the need for having to replace the battery.
Without further ado, let’s review the Seiko SNE102.
Seiko SNE102 case
The watch is presented with a gold and steel (two-tone) case which has a sporty yet elegant and refined look.
The case is made of stainless steel and has a diameter of 39mm. The thickness measures 10mm. The top of the lugs are brushed whilst the sides have a polished finish.
The lugs have a squared-off, rectangular design which gives it more of a robust look. The gold-colored crown positioned at 3 o’clock sits protected between crown guards which extend from the case.
In contrast to the stainless steel case, the bezel has a yellow-gold color and a polished finish. It is fixed but designed in a way that it looks like it is a rotating bezel, adding a touch of sportiness. Considering the watch’s price, the case is really well-finished and shows that Seiko has really paid attention to the details.
The 39mm size is not huge, but not tiny either. It’s just a nice mid-size dimension that should work for a large number of different wrist sizes. With that said, it is very versatile and works just as great with jeans as it does with a suit.
Furthermore, because of the quartz movement and leather band, this watch is very light, meaning you may at times even forget that you are wearing it
Sitting on top of the case, it has a Hardlex crystal, which is to be expected from a watch at this price point.
The watch offers a water resistance of 100m/300 feet which means it is suitable for swimming and showering.
SNE102 Solar dial
The watch is presented with a lovely black/greyish sunburst dial with a lovely finish that shifts to blue depending on how the light hits it. The sunburst finish makes it vibrant and really appealing to look at.
The dial design gives it a classy and refined look which is stunning to look at, whilst retaining its classy appearance.
The dial has yellow-gold accents. The yellow gold accents on the dial match the gold accents on the case very well and add elegance and classiness. The dial features applied yellow gold rectangular hour markers with painted seconds markers between them. The hands have classic sword-shaped with beveling and Lumibrite applied to them for improved legibility in the dark – just like the inner tips of the markers.
Positioned at 3 o’clock, we find the signature day and date window with a white background and black printing. It has a painted gold frame around it. The day/date window is a practical feature to have which can come in handy in your everyday life.
Being a sunburst dial, it reflects the dial beautifully and changes its color and appearance depending on how the light hits it. Whilst it is virtually impossible to spot it, it is behind the dial where the magic happens.
The dial is executed in such a way that it directs sunlight and ambient light to a solar panel behind the dial, which in turn generates energy for the movement.
Movement
Inside the watch is the Seiko Seiko quartz caliber V158 which is solar-powered. Watch nerds and enthusiasts may dislike having a quartz movement rather than a mechanical movement, but obviously, this movement has a number of benefits.
Firstly, since this is built as a versatile everyday watch, having a quartz movement is a good thing from a practical standpoint. They are much more accurate than mechanical movements and therefore help you be on time. Furthermore, quartz movements are easier and more affordable to maintain.
But what makes this watch stand out from the crowd is the fact that this is a solar-powered movement. This means that it is powered by ambient and sunlight which generates energy for the movement. This means that you won’t have to replace the battery as you do on standard quartz movements when they run out of power.
Furthermore, the movement has a power reserve of 10 months, so this will keep the watch ticking even if you are not exposing it to sunlight.
All in all, for an everyday timepiece it’s just a great, practical movement to have.
Strap
The watch is presented with a brown embossed calfskin leather strap which adds to the classy appeal of the watch. It adds to the dressy appeal of the watch and makes it more suitable as a dress watch.
All in all, the strap goes very well together with the overall design of the watch, but if you want to achieve a different look, you can of course also switch the strap for something else.
Specifications
- Lug width: 20mm
- Diameter: 39mm
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Case: Stainless steel
- Strap: Brown embossed leather strap
- Water resistance: 10 bar/100m/330 feet
- Movement: Seiko quartz caliber V158 solar powered
- Thickness: 10mm
Conclusion
All in all, the SNE102 Solar dial is a watch that offers great value for money. It has achieved a perfect balance between sportiness, casualness, and classy elegance. This is a very versatile watch with a classy touch thanks to the gold accents, which makes it suitable for both formal and casual occasions. In addition, with its quartz solar movement, it is a timepiece that is made to be a trusted companion through all of life’s different events.
Its affordable price really makes it a no-brainer if you consider all of the technology, the finish, and the build quality. Few watches can compete with Seiko in this price range, and the SNE102 is a perfect example of what has made Seiko so immensely popular and successful.
The Seiko SNE102 Solar is available to order from Amazon.
