Seiko Solar SNE331 Review & Complete Guide

Seiko Solar SNE331 Review & Complete Guide

Seiko’s watches are appreciated for being affordable but also high quality and reliable. Because of the huge popularity of Seiko watches, the brand’s collection of timepieces has grown immensely. Today, there truly is a Seiko watch for everyone. From dive watches, to dress watches, to everyday timepieces.

A lot of people today wear wristwatches solely as an accessory and a piece of jewelry, and this has led to many wristwatches compromising legibility a lot of the time.

At the same time, those watches that only think about legibility are often not the most attractive either… So why can’t you combine the two? Nicely designed watches with exceptional legibility?

That is exactly what Seiko has done with the Seiko Solar SNE331.

Seiko Solar SNE331 Review

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Seiko is perhaps most known for its affordable automatic watches. At least if you ask watch enthusiasts. But the Seiko solar watches are also timepieces that pack a punch and bring some interesting innovative technology to the watches.

The Solar name reveals much of what this watch is all about, but it means that it is actually powered by solar energy, as opposed to using batteries that need to be replaced. More on all of the technology behind this further on.

In addition to this, Seiko has also put great importance on the legibility of this timepiece. After all, that is what a wristwatch is for. But Seiko has also made sure to present the watch in a nice and attractive design.

In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko Solar SNE331.

Seiko Solar SNE331 case

The watch is presented in a 43mm stainless steel case with a black ion finish. The all-black look certainly gives it more of a sporty and bold look. The case has a thickness of 10.7mm and the lugs have a width of 22mm. With that said, the watch is quite big, but not insanely big.

The case design and shape is quite simple and clean, reminiscent of a field watch. It doesn’t have a lot of fuzz or details. It’s just a straightforward case made for the purpose.  Whilst the bezel appears as if it can rotate, due to the orange arrow at 12 o’clock, but it can not. The bezel is also black.

Apart from giving the case a sporty look, the black plating also makes the watch more resistant to scratches. The downside, however, is that the plating can, of course, come off, which will reveal the bright stainless steel beneath it. But note that it requires deeper scratches and heavy usage for scratches to appear.

The watch offers a water resistance of 100m/330feet/10BAR. For an everyday non-dive watch, this is quite good as it means you can go swimming with it without any issues. But keep in mind that this watch does have a bit of military-inspired design features, and with that said, out in the field, water resistance is required. The watch also gives the impression of – and lives up to – being robust and durable. Since this is a military watch in a sense, it should be made to last – and it is. The watch is built to last and to handle harsh conditions that you may subject it to.

Seiko Solar SNE331 movement

As mentioned, this watch is a ”Solar” timepiece. But what does this mean exactly? Well, at its core, it is a quartz (battery-powered movement), but unlike regular quartz watches, you won’t have to replace the battery every other year or so when it runs out. Because since this watch is powered by light, it won’t run out of energy as long as it is charged. It’s not just sunlight that will charge this watch either. In fact, solar light, flashlight, or even ambient light can help charge the battery in this watch.

When the movement is fully charged, it can last up to 10 months but note that it depends on how much light you are subject to and what type of light you subject it too also. The movement has an end-of-life indicator so you can know when it is running out of power.

The solar movement is a very clever thing as it is good both for the environment and for your convenience. Since it is a quartz movement, it also brings the benefit of being more accurate than mechanical movements.

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Seiko Solar SNE331 dial

What stands out about this watch is of course its large painted Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. Between these, there are large markers. These dial printings are slightly beige-colored which gives the watch more of a vintage look. You could say that it goes very well with the military theme, and also of course the beige canvas strap.

At 3 o’clock, the watch has a discreetly integrated day and date window. You may not notice it at first because it blends into the dial very well. The good news is that this function is of course very practical for everyday wear.

To ensure a contrast, the hands have been painted white. For better legibility in low-lit conditions, the hour and minutes hands have luminescent material on them. The hands are sword-shaped, which matches the military design of this watch very well.

Most importantly, of course, the legibility of this watch is exceptional.

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Seiko Solar SNE331 strap

The watch is presented on a beige nylon strap.

The nylon strap/band can be subject to water. Whilst it is not exactly made for being in the water, it will hold up well. Since nylon is plastic, it won’t accumulate water in the same way as, for example, a leather or fabric strap.

There is not much to say about the strap other than that it adds to the military feel and look of the watch. It’s sporty, robust, and durable. The strap has 10 holes which is great news as it means it is a strap that should fit most wrists. Another great thing about this strap is that it is very comfortable on the wrist. Since it breathes on the wrist, it doesn’t make you swear. As a nice detail, the buckle on the strap is ion black coated too.

Specifications

• Diameter: 43mm
• Water resistance: 100m/330feet/10BAR
• Movement: Seiko Solar quartz
• Lug width: 22mm
• Power reserve: 10 months
• Thickness: 10.7mm
• Crystal: Hardlex

Conclusion

All in all, the Seiko Solar SNE331 is a watch built for everyday use for practicality and purpose. It puts legibility at the forefront and prioritizes usability above all else. The Seiko solar technology certainly adds to the practical aspect of this timepiece and completely removes the need of replacing the battery. The watch has a military-inspired design, and with its all-black case, it is made even sportier.

To conclude the review, the SNE331 is a watch built for purpose that works great as an everyday timepiece. It does exactly what a watch should, and at this affordable price, you really cannot go wrong.

The Seiko Solar SNE331 is available to order on Amazon.

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