Seiko 5 Automatic Watches

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  xoom on 31/07/2016 - 00:14

  Someone in another post mentioned this ebay shop.

  Never bought anything from them howeverso cant comment if they are good.

  http://stores.ebay.com.au/Watch-Code

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  Rifraf on 31/07/2016 - 00:43

  My only watch until my recent Garmin Vivoactive, is a Seiko 5 that is now approx 40 old and still keeps very good time.

  It has been worn some times for decades every day though now a little more irregularly.

  Mine has a faceted glass which has been replaced twice and was given a clean and service on those occasions, otherwise nothing.

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  figarow on 31/07/2016 - 10:14

  +3

  Turns out I just needed to fix it myself. Found this video about broken rotor which was my exact issue. Tightened the screw and she works good as new!! Happy chappy :)

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  Kangal on 01/08/2016 - 18:43

  +1

  Hey there, not to bump or grave digging old/finished threads but here's my input:
  - Buy from watch/jewellery centres
  - Buy from eBay sellers willing to ship internationally (from reputable company sellers)
  - Buy from "online" sellers willing to ship internationally (reputable company)

  I went through this scenario a couple months ago so here's how it went:
  I've been more and more attracted to the Rolex Submariner (Classic Bond) watch.
  But being a well-loved model, and being a Rolex… means it costs $10,000 (or more), and I was looking in the <$500 mark.
  This was a watch I was looking for myself, because I have great taste, to give as a birthday present to a sibling.

  After countless hours of wondering which watch to get I pretty much reduced my thought process into this;

  1) The product matters more than the price
  (a $1,000 watch reduced to $100 for discount, makes gifters think, no I don't want to cheap out. I think that is a great present. The inner Ozbargainer screams out).
  2) It must be a gift that will stand the test of time
  (like a '69 Mustang, a Zippo lighter, bottle of scotch, Avaitor/RayBans, well crafted folding knife, quality leather jacket, or even long-lasting electronics like a great keyboard, PS2, or iPad 2* etc etc)
  3) It must be attractive in terms of recognisable branding, for men at least, for which I broke it down to:
  Rolex -> Breitling -> Omega -> Tag Heur -> Seiko -> Casio
  4) With that all said, it broke down to Seiko having one of the best quality, yet in the <$500 market.
  And a Seiko will age like the classic RayBan, if the right model and correct care is given.
  5) Next to choose was the model.
  I wanted something mechanical/automatic with the Rear-Window for character, but more importantly was the face, bezel, knob.

  It broke down to these models:
  MDV106 (good watch, but loses some utilitarian appeal, and less likely to age well)
  SNZF17 (great bezel, good face but a bit convoluted, didn't like the knob on 3" placement/4" is better)
  SNE107 (great bezel, great face, again 3" knob, Solar charge is practically much better, the uncommon 20mm lug size means there is much less variety in terms of wrist straps).
  SKX007 (it's very Submariner but in a nice Seiko way, starting to feel a bit too mid-range or cliche after seeing the SNE107)
  SRP495 (great everything, the bezel is nice, a bit cliche but somewhat unique, availability is low and high priced)
  SKX171 (great everything, bezel is steel so numbers/colours won't scratch off)

  6) So it came down to:
  - Can I find the SNE107 with a 22mm lug size, that's the best most ideal. Again that bezel with a divers strap would look awesome.
  - Should I get a diver's watch with a black bezel, a la SRP495
  - Should I get a diver's watch with a steel bezel, a la SKX171

  7) I ended up going with the SKX171 because scratching most happens to the rotating bezel.
  A scratched steel bezel will look like nice battle scars on a decorated Kratos soldier, but a black would look more like a botched appendix surgery.
  The bezel is quite gorgeous, and not too generic overall like the SKX007.
  The steel bezel will likely blend with more strap combinations.
  The 22mm lug allows many strap combinations, so it can be changed daily for variety or the occasion.
  Straps:
  - Got the one with the stock Jubilee strap, which is okay, not that great imho, but Rolex owners love them
  - Got the Seiko made Z22 silicone divers strap, it is awesome, gives a very Jag Hauer-esque look to the piece
  - Got a black and orange NATO strap, because they are comfy and good looking in another matter (and since orange is his fav colour)

  All of that in the box. Gave extra Spring Bars, and the Remover too.
  (Also a recommendation to get the Taurus Stainless Steel Super Engineer II watch strap)
  (Also a recommendation to get a leather band like Brown Crocodile or the Nemesis Cuff Band)
  (Also a recommendation to get a dozen NATO straps eg Army Green, Khaki, Brown, Red-Blue etc etc)
  (Also a recommendation to get a black Velcro strap for those quick/sporty times)

  8) So the last thing to do was find the seller for the watch and straps
  The straps all came from eBay, from quick shipping sellers, reputable wasn't important
  Amazon was selling the SKX171 for cheap, but when selecting Australia, would magically add another $150 cost on top (screw that)
  eBay was selling the SKX171 for okay, but with the Z22 strap and no Jubilee, and slightly more expensive, with no shipping insurance
  So I went looking for reputable online sellers, and how people did with them on online boards…
  …I found Sky Watches from Singapore and they were great.
  I contacted them and they responded in the same day, and were a pleasure to deal with.

  So much so, that I made a second purchase from them (for me) for a Casio AE-1200WHD.

  Sorry if I made you read a lot, this was my experience from this passing month.
  (a part of me wants that SNE107 with the Super Engineer strap)