Seiko 5 SNK807 Review – Automatic Watch Review & Complete Guide
Seiko makes some of the most popular automatic watches in the world. One watch that is especially popular is the Seiko 5 SNK807 automatic watch. This watch has an automatic, robust, mechanical movement, a sleek design, a qualitative feel, and much more. All at a price of less than 100 USD. With that said, it is easy to see why this watch is so immensely popular. In fact, many argue that it is the best automatic watch in its price range.
Over the years, Seiko has manufactured millions of them, and it’s easy to see why Seiko has been in no rush in discontinuing the model. After all, why change a winning concept, right?
To understand what makes this watch so popular, we will go in-depth and review the Seiko 5 SNK807 Automatic watch.
This is a watch I’ve owned personally for several years, so I’m speaking from experience with this watch.
Seiko 5 SNK807 Automatic watch review
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The Seiko SNK807 is part of Seiko’s ”5” collection. According to Seiko’s requirements, there are 5 requirements the watch needs to meet in order for it to be called a Seiko 5. These criteria are:
- Automatic winding
- Day/date displayed in a single window
- Water resistance
- Recessed crown at the 4 o’clock position
- Durable case and bracelet
The SNK807 of course meets all of these criteria and many more.
At its core, it is a military-inspired field watch. It has a sleek and stylish design together with a clean case and automatic movement. This isn’t a dive watch or a dress watch, but simply a perfect everyday timepiece (and I’ll go more into detail about why apart from the design, further on).
When talking about the SNK807, it is impossible to not talk about its price tag of less than 100 USD. With that said, it is one of the best, if not the best automatic watches in its price range. It is a go-to watch for anyone who is looking for an affordable and qualitative automatic timepiece, or someone who is just dipping their toes into the world of watches and want to get their first mechanical wristwatch.
Seiko 5 SNK807 case
The Seiko 5 SNK807 has a 37mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 11 mm. This is rather small which contributes to making it popular among individuals with smaller wrists. With a weight of 50 grams, it is quite lightweight, but not too light to feel low quality. It is comfortable to wear, and due to its size and weight, you may even at times forget that you are wearing it. Its flat case back allows it to sit flat on your wrist. Its size makes it especially popular for individuals with small wrists, or simply for people who have a preference for small watches. In no way does the watch feel clumsy or bulky.
The watch has a satin finish which adds to the military-inspired field watch look. The underside of the case is polished, which creates a nice contrast. Thanks to the satin finish, it will also hold up well against scratches.
The watch is equipped with a Hardlex crystal that sits flush against the case. At this price point, we can’t expect a sapphire crystal, but Hardlex is Seiko’s own proprietary crystal which is hard and durable. It is much more resistant to scratches than mineral glass, which is commonly used on watches in this price range.
The case has slightly curved lugs that have a width of 18mm.
The crown is positioned at 4 o’clock and slightly recessed into the case. The positioning of the crown and its slightly recessed profile prevents it from digging into the hand, and thus improves comfort.
In terms of water resistance, the SNK807 has a water resistance of 30 meters/100 feet. This is enough to resist water splashes and submersion for short periods of time. It’s not the best water resistance, but bear in mind this is not a dive watch. It is advised not to go swimming with this timepiece, but many owners have, and have reported good results.
Seiko 5 SNK807 dial
This model is available with several different dial colors. The Seiko SNK807 has a navy blue dial with a sandblasted finish which creates a nice rich texture. The matte finish on the dial prevents scratches and reflections and thus improves legibility – apart from the fact that it looks great.
The dial is clean and offers great legibility. Positioned at 3 o’clock is a window for the date and day. It has a printed circle, where the outside of the circle displays minutes, and the inner side of the ring displays hours. On the outer part of the dial, there are luminous dots at each 5-minute marking which improve legibility in poor-lit conditions.
Furthermore, the watch is equipped with diamond-shaped/sword-shaped hour and minute hands. The hands also have luminous material. The watch also has a seconds hand with a red tip. The opposite side has a luminous circular dot. Some people have complained the luminosity isn’t great, and yes, it could be better, but considering the price point and the fact that it isn’t a dive watch makes it possible to overlook it. The dial has a pilot’s watch look to it, which goes well together with the military-inspired vibe. The sword hands also add to this.
Seiko 5 SNK807 movement
Turning the watch around and we have a see-through case back through which we can see the automatic movement. The watch is powered by Seiko’s
Something that you can complain about is the fact that the movement has no decoration at all. But bear in mind this is not a Patek Philippe, and it is not trying to be either. The unfinished movement gives an industrial feel and looks which goes very well together with the personality and ethos of the watch. It is not meant to be a fancy, well-finished watch. It’s meant to be a robust and durable tool watch. The see-through case back is a nice detail that allows you to appreciate the automatic movement ticking inside.
The watch is powered by the 7S26 automatic watch which features a rotor. The movement has 21 jewels and ticks 6 times per second (21,600 bph). It has a power reserve of approximately 43 hours. What this watch doesn’t have are hacking seconds. It doesn’t have manual winding either.
The caliber is not the most accurate, but it is sturdy and durable. Just what we expect from a tool watch.
Seiko 5 SNK807 strap
The primary complaint people have about this watch is the strap, and I would agree. The strap is very basic and has a navy blue color to match the dial. It is a canvas strap which of course does the job, but it is not insanely comfortable or flexible. It’s not the best strap, but it does the job.
The good news is that you can easily change the strap to one that is better looking, higher quality, and more comfortable.
The canvas strap has a buckle-style clasp with a satin finish to match the case.
Conclusion
The Seiko 5 SNK807 is one of the best automatic watches for the money. It is great value for money and offers everything you expect and more from an automatic wristwatch in this price range. It is easy to see why this watch is so immensely popular. It’s a practical and stylish everyday watch that can take a beating and can be worn for most occasions. It’s a watch that you can simply put on and it works.
All in all, this is definitely a watch worth buying and one that you won’t be disappointed with at this price.
The Seiko 5 SNK807 is available to order on Amazon.
