The Seiko 5 is the most popular selection for people who are starting to explore mechanical and automatic watches. It is certainly an available and affordable option, but is the Seiko 5 actually a good watch?
On the Dogwatch, we evaluate objects on their quality, value, function, and style based on how they would perform on a Point to Point walk. So we gathered up a Seiko 5 SNK809 and two dogs, and headed to the field.
Strapped to a Dog’s Neck
Imagine being strapped to the collar of a dog and then barreling through the woods at high speeds. That is just what happened on our Point to Point Walk.
Given that the Point-to-Point review is meant to approximate the stresses of a significant trip to the field, what could be more similar than a large dog bounding through the forest? Dogs, after all, are the over-under-through-but-never-around mentality incarnate.
Dogs are good for another reason. They are unbiased. If I, or you, were to put on a perfectly good watch and run through the forest to put it to the test, it is likely that we may take unconscious care. We may let our deeply held love for watches foul the data. For dogs in general, and Dogwatch staff dogs specifically, there is no chance that a preexisting love for the Seiko 5 will cause them to subconsciously provide an easier ride.
Meet the Subject
Lily, Senior Dogwatch Staff.
English Labrador Retriever. 3 years old. 80 lbs.
Runs fast, sometimes seemingly out of control.
Frequently digs and rolls on her back in snow and mud.
Has a predilection for running through brush at top speed.
She’s strong enough to pull a grown man in a sled, and while being incredibly loving to living things, she can destroy most anything valuable in her jaws.
In short, she’s perfect for the job.
The Test
The Seiko 5 was attached to Lily’s collar on a black and gray NATO strap. A small piece of tape was used to make sure that the buckle did not come free. After a restful night’s sleep, Lily was transported to a dog park just north of Minneapolis, MN at 6:15 am. Her sister Pepper was included as a companion, as she frequently chases Lily, biting at her haunches, and makes her run even faster.
As soon as she entered the park, she and her sister Pepper were set free. For the next 60 minutes, Lily ran wild. She gained and lost at least 20 feet of elevation more than once, went more than three miles, and her top speed burst was estimated at 20 mph. The temperature was 74℉.
The Results
The first and most apparent result was that both spring bars held fast. On closer inspection, neither were bent or misshapen. The time on the watch was documented at the start of the walk, and at the end, the Seiko 5 had diverged by 1 second or less.
Despite numerous physical insults to the case during the test, there were no new scratches apparent on the Hardlex crystal or the display caseback. There was a smear on the surface of the glass, likely from Pepper’s tongue, but this is to be expected under such hard duty.
The 7S26 in-house automatic mechanism was still moving at the end of the test. Viewing the balance wheel, balance spring, and automatic winding mechanism under magnification revealed no damage. Twenty-four hours later, the watch was still running without incident.
Conclusions
There is no question that the Seiko 5 SNK 809 is a good watch. It is of high quality for the price, and provides solid duty on a Point to Point walk. Its value is even higher, maybe one of the highest of all automatic watches, given its low price (around $100) and great service. And it provides an excellent style factor for this price as well. Heck, it even looks great on a dog.
One small caveat: we did not encounter significant water on the walk, and that is the achilles heel of this model. It is only rated at 30m water resistance, which is enough for light duty but not extended swimming. Thankfully, the new line of Seiko 5s, to be reviewed in the future, have remedied this weakness.
If you are thinking about this watch enough to ask the question “Is the Seiko 5 a good watch?” then you should just buy one. The answer is, yes, this is a very good watch for its price. And it is both a great place to start, and to simply enjoy as a “beater.”
And who knows, given how well it performed and how good it looks on her, I might just let Lily keep it.
Point-to-Point Ratings (3-point scale)
Quality: 2.75
Value: 3.0 ++
Function: 2.75
Style: 2.
