Seiko Solar SNE039 Review & Guide

Photo: Watchreviewblog

Seiko Solar SNE039 Review & Guide

Seiko makes some of the best affordable watches in the world. The brand is known all around the world for offering great-value-for-money timepieces which in many cases are superior than many, more expensive counterparts.

Seiko makes a wide array of watches, for all types of occasions, tastes, and preferences.

In this post, we are reviewing the Seiko SNE039 solar watch, and looking in-depth at its specifications.

Seiko SNE039 Solar Review

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On the surface, the SNE039 may look like any other classic watch. It has a clean design that looks simple and elegant, which naturally makes for a great and stylish everyday timepiece.

But what makes the SNE039 so special is its ”Solar” name and what it resembles. This watch is innovative in technology, but classic in design. Some may find this to be the best of both worlds.

What is special about this watch is the fact that it is quartz and is also powered by sunlight. What does this mean? It means that the watch is powered by batteries but which are in turn charged by the sun. Generally, you need to replace the battery of a quartz watch every few years, but since the Seiko SNE039 is charged by the sun, it doesn’t have that issue.

But how does that work out may ask? Since you cannot see any solar panel, how does it get its energy?

Perhaps the most interesting part about the Seiko SNE039 is the fact that it looks like any other classical watch but discretely packs clever technology.

The watch is quickly recharged by the sunlight. In fact, about one minute of sunlight provides equals one hour of power. After three hours, the watch is fully charged.

The concept of the watch is to remove the need to replace the battery, and thus contribute to a cleaner environment. Generally speaking, the Seiko Solar SNE039 will work for six months without any light when fully charged.

If the watch runs out of battery, it requires only 8 minutes of sunlight to start working again.

Seiko SNE039 Solar case

The case of the Seiko SNE039 is actually very simple and clean. It has a diameter of 37mm and a thickness of 9mm. With that said, the case is both small and thin This is why it is a perfectly elegant and classy dress watch, but also a popular choice for people who have small wrists or simply a preference for smaller watches. It’s still designed in a way that will look great even for those that do not have tiny wrists. But after all, it’s also a matter of taste and preference.

The case is made in stainless steel, and feels, despite its small size rather robust and qualitative. The watch has ”twisted” lugs and both polished and brushed elements. This creates a nice contrast and gives the perception of quality.

The twisted lugs are really a nice feature of this otherwise classic and simple watch. Bear in mind that this watch is not meant to stand out or have any bold details. It’s meant to be an elegant, classy, timeless timepiece that works well for any occasion.

The benefit of the thin case is of course the fact that it will slide under your cuff without any effort. The simple and polished stainless steel bezel brings a sense of field-watch classiness in contrast to the elements that otherwise make this a rather dressy watch.

The watch offers a water resistance of 30 meters. This means that it can handle splashes of water and even be submerged for short periods of time, but it is not ideal for swimming or diving. This is partly due to the non-screw-down crown, but bear in mind this watch is not meant to be a dive watch by any means.

You can change the day by winding the crown upwards and the date by rotating it downwards.

The watch is fitted with Seiko’s proprietary Hardly crystal. At this price point, we cannot expect sapphire crystal, but Hardlex has proven to be significantly more durable and scratch-resistant than mineral glass, which is commonly used for watches in this price range.

Seiko SNE039 dial

The dial, or more specifically what is hidden underneath it, is what makes it truly special.

On the surface, this watch has a stunning black dial with a sunburst finish. This means a rich, brushed finish that catches the light beautifully.

We are huge fans of sunburst dials as it gives watches a rich dial finish and different looks depending on how (and if) the sunlight hits the dial.

In terms of design, the dial is very simple. It has applied markers in steel in the shape of rectangles, and then closer to the outside of the dial, printed triangles with luminous dots on them. The hands are very simple. Rectangular shaped and triangle tips. The watch also has a simple seconds hand. Both the minute hand and hour hand have luminous material applied in order to provide legibility even in low-lit conditions. A negative thing about this watch is that the luminescence isn’t super strong or long-lasting. But if you factor in its price and then also that it is not a dive watch that requires a ton of lume, it’s a detail that can be overlooked.

The dial has minimal text printed on it which keeps it from looking cluttered. Simple ”Seiko” and ”Solar”. That’s it.

Of course, it also has, in true Seiko fashion, movement information at the bottom of the dial.

The primary detail of this watch is its day and date window placed at 3 o’clock.

It may damage the simplicity and symmetry of the dial, but you can’t argue that it is practical. Plus, it is a common feature of many Seiko watches. The fact that the background is white makes it stand out more. It got us thinking if it would look better with a black background and white text. It would surely match better with the dial anyways.

Photo: Wristcritic

Seiko SNE039 movement

Now on to the most important and interesting part of the watch.

The Seiko SNE039 is powered by the Seiko V158 quartz caliber. As mentioned, this is powered by solar or any other type of light. 

Since you cannot see the solar ”panel”, where is it? The fact is that it is ”hidden” behind the dial. When the sunlight hits the dial, it hits a built-in solar panel which in turn changes the battery. Very clever without having to compromise the looks and visual aesthetics of the watch, for example with a visible panel.

Yes, in terms of innovation, the movement of the Seiko SNE039 is interesting, but I know for a fact a lot of people would have loved this watch with an automatic mechanical movement. There is just something special about the appeal of an automatic timepiece.

Seiko SNE039 bracelet

The Seiko SNE039 is fitted with a satin finish three-link bracelet. The bracelet has a simple and basic fold-over clasp with a two-button release to hold the bracelet secured on your wrist. At this price point, you shouldn’t expect the highest-quality, most well-finished bracelet, and that is not what you get either. It has some rattle and can feel ”not solid”. But the bracelet is still well within what you can expect for a watch of this price point.

The good news is that you can easily replace the bracelet shall you wish to do so, and reface it with a higher quart bracelet, or a NATO strap.

The bracelet goes great together with the overall look and design of the watch.

Conclusion

The Seiko Solar SNE039 is a clean, elegant, and classy timepiece. It combines interesting solar technology with a timeless design. The watch is simple, clean, and works great for any occasion.

At its affordable price, it is easy to understand why it is so immensely popular. Yes, it has some downsides, but at this price, we can’t expect everything. With everything taken into consideration, it is a watch that offers great value for money.

The Seiko Solar SNE039 is available to order on Amazon.