Seiko 5 Sports SKZ209 Review & Complete Guide
If you are looking for a sporty, robust, and distinct timepiece, the Seiko SKZ209 may just be the watch for you….
There are sports watches, and there are sports watches…
Within this definition, there is a lot to choose from. Dive watches, explorer/adventurer’s watches, field watches, and a lot more.
Seiko 5 Sports SKZ209 Review
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The Seiko 5 Sports SKZ209 is quite a different timepiece from what you are probably used to. It’s best, it’s unique, and it is distinct. But most importantly, it is built to last.
This is a sports watch that stands out from the crowd both in terms of design, but also in terms of build quality in relation to its price. And we’ll go more into detail about this further on.
This timepiece has received the nickname ”Atlas”. This is because of the internal rotating sun compass ring. It is a sport watch, but it is predominantly designed for hiking and jungle trekking. In other words, a watch for the adventurer. Some people also refer to this watch as ”Landshark”, but will stick to the reference number and ”Atlas” for the sake of consistency in this article.
In this article, we are reviewing the Seiko 5 Sports SKZ209 ”Atlas”
Seiko SKZ209 ”Atlas” case
An interesting detail about this watch is that it is the first Seiko 5 Sports watch to feature a water-resistant of 200m/660 feet. This is frankly quite impressive considering the fact that 200m is the minimum required depth rating to be classified as a dive watch. But here’s the thing, it’s not a dive watch. Well, it can be used as one, but the concept of this timepiece is more to make it an explorer’s watch.
The watch is presented with a sporty and distinct stainless steel case with a diameter of 4m. 2mm without the crown and 46.5mm including the compass crown. The lug-to-lug measures 48.5mm and the thickness is 14mm.
With that said, it is, unsurprisingly, a large and bulky watch that will have a large presence on the wrist. Therefore, it will probably be most comfortable for men with large wrists.
As you can expect, the case feels very solid and robust. The case combines polished sides with satin-brushed lugs which creates a nice contrast.
The watch is equipped with a large unidirectional rotating bezel with knurled edges for better grip. The bezel has a dark indigo aluminum insert with 60 seconds (or minutes) markings on it. In other words, the fact that it does not feature the traditional dive watch markings instantly distinguishes it as a non-diver, despite the fact that it has a water resistance of 200m. Since this is a sports watch and not a dive watch, it is not an ISO-certified diver’s watch.
If you turn the watch around, you will notice that the watch has a highly polished case back with an engraved Seiko 5 logo.
Do note that the case of the watch is no ordinary case. To begin with, it has its corny positioned at the 4 o’clock position, which is a distinct feature of many Seiko watches now. Apart from giving it a distinct look, it also prevents the crown from digging into the wrist.
Furthermore, the knurled crown sits protected by two large crown guards which extend from the case and have a polished finish at the top.
Interestingly enough, the SKZ209 also has a crown at its 9 o’clock position which also sits protected between two crown guards. This crown is for operating the compass which is positioned as an angled chapter ring around the outside of the dial. A complaint that some owners have reported about the compass crown is that since it does now screw down, it can easily turn by accident, which can ultimately destroy your navigation. The crown guards are quite large, but since they sit where they sit, they don’t really affect how the watch wears in a negative way.
In some weird way, the compass crown guards actually balance out the regular crown guards.
Seiko SKZ209 ”Atlas” Dial
The watch features an indigo blue dial with a very dark hue to it which may make it appear black in some lights, but also lighter blue in others.
As discussed, it has an angled chapter ring in the form of a compass. Moving inwards, it has white-painted seconds markers and Arabic numerals at 12, 6, and 9 o’clock. Between them, Seiko uses long, rectangular batons, in order to not clutter the dial completely with numerals.
Positioned at 3 o’clock, you’ll find a day and a date window with a beveled metal frame around it. When out in the wilderness, or in the office (wherever you want to use it), this function can be really convenient for keeping track of the day and date with just a glimpse of your wrist.
As is critical for this type of watch, it has great legibility. Apart from the large markers, it also has large hands, which feature large metal frames. The hour hand has an arrow tip and the minutes hand has a pointy tip. It is not only critical with good legibility during the daylight but also in low-lit conditions.
Talking about luminescence, the hands, hour markers, and Arabic numerals have been treated with it.
As mentioned, since this is not a dive watch, it does not use the same bright Lumibrite as Seiko’s true dive watches do. With that said, whilst the lume glows somewhat okay, it can definitely be brighter for even better legibility in the dark.
Seiko SKZ209 ”Atlas” bracelet
The watch is presented on a robust and sporty 22mm stainless steel bracelet which has a Rolex Oyster-inspired design. The great thing about this bracelet is that it features solid links, which is not the case with Seiko’s more affordable 5 watches. This means it feels robust, solid, and high-quality.
The bracelet has polished sides and a satin-brushed finish which is contrasted by somewhat polished center links. This finishing really gives the impression of a well-finished and solid bracelet. It gives the impression that Seiko has really paid attention to the bracelet, which, as mentioned, isn’t the case with the more affordable bracelets.
With that said, the bracelet adds to the wrist presence that this watch has on the wrist.
The good news is that if you don’t enjoy the bracelet, this watch also looks great on aftermarket straps such as NATO straps. Switching to a NATO strap also helps make it wear less bulky on the wrist.
Seiko SKZ209 movement
The watch is powered by the automatic in-house Seiko caliber 7s36A. This movement operates with a frequency of 21,600 BPH, or 6 beats per second. It has 23 jewels.
As you can expect this time of sporty adventurer’s watch to have, the 7s36A is a sturdy and robust movement that has proven to be a reliable workhorse that can continue to tick for years. With that said, it will also require little to no maintenance over the years as well. It is a movement that can take a beating and which can handle harsh conditions. In other words, it is as if it was made for this timepiece.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42mm without the crown
- Diameter including the crown: 46.5mm
- Lug-to-lug: 48.5mm
- Thickness: 14mm
- Lug width: 22mm
- Movement: Seiko in-house automatic caliber 7S36
- Jewels: 23
- Crystal: Scratch-resistant Hardlex Glass
- Water resistance: 200 Meters/660 feet
- Frequency/beat rate: 21,600 bph (6 beats per second)
- Power reserve: Approximately 42 hours
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko SKZ209 ”Atlas” has both benefits and room for improvement. But with that said, it still offers great value for money considering the specifications and build quality it offers in relation to its price.
It’s also refreshing to see this type of watch from Seiko, which dares to go its own route in terms of design and functions. This watch combines the best of both worlds by adding adventurer’s specifications and technology, with nicely finished elements and great attention to detail.
Whilst it is a large and bulky timepiece, you shouldn’t let that intimidate you. This watch is surprisingly versatile still and will work rather well at the office and for everyday wear. Not just when you are out camping or exploring the wilderness.
The Seiko 5 Sports SKZ209 is available to order on Amazon.
