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Seiko Automatic 40.5mm SSA449J Watch $499 Delivered @ StarBuy

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Seiko Automatic 40.5mm SSA449J Watch $499 Delivered @ StarBuy
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pork on 13/03/2025 - 09:31 starbuy.com.au (1336 clicks)
Last edited 13/03/2025 - 09:59 by 1 other user

RRP $995, but we don't pay RRP for Seiko.

Want to experience the 1960s on your wrist? The Seiko Automatic 40.5mm SSA449J will allow you to.

It comes with a truly retro accuracy of +45 / -25 seconds per day, cheap Hardlex crystal despite its $1000 RRP, and a little circular dial at the bottom that lets you take four seconds to figure out what the date is instead of the standard one second! The 1960s will come to life as you miss trains by a minute, acquire scratches on the glass, and tell yourself "it's ok, yes it's made in Japan but the war is over now so it's ok".

There's an exhibition caseback that enables you to glare at the sprockets and say "goodness gracious, if it isn't the mechanical gentleman who caused me to miss my train. I say!"

I highly recommend the Seiko Automatic 40.5mm SSA449J.

Fashion & Apparel Seiko Watch

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Comments

  • MS Paint on 13/03/2025 - 10:01
    +4

    Waiting for the hardlex/sapphire mass debaters to enter the chat.

  • JSONBourne on 13/03/2025 - 10:07

    Waiting for a Citizen Eco Drive 31.5mm EM1162-52A discount - https://starbuy.com.au/citizen-eco-drive-ladies-gold-watch-e…

  • boozed on 13/03/2025 - 10:07
    +1

    but we don't pay RRP for Seiko

    Truer words were never spoken. Although, incidentally, the best deals I've ever got on watches were ones that claimed to be "Swiss Made". Nobody should ever pay RRP for a wristwatch!

    Anyway I still find Seiko's insistence on putting PR indicators on self-winding movements baffling.

  • G-rig on 13/03/2025 - 10:22

    Hi, nice write up. Yes that sound correct - aim for 50% off RRP for Seiko.

    I had to look up the calibre. It's odd how they have marked the subdial at 6 o'clock as it doesn't really look like dates (compared to other versions using this movement).

    I like the colour but seems very busy for a dress watch, with the power reserve indicator and all. I'd look at the normal cocktail time Presages for ≤ $400

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/03/2025 - 10:27
      +2

      Yeah too busy

      Have had it in my cart a few times… but nah I want that gold super Seville.. or ultra watch 2 in black iunno

      • G-rig on 13/03/2025 - 10:54
        +1

        The power reserve indicator isn't really necessary either. Looks like a GMT hand.

        Yeah go the Gold SS next time it's on sale.

  • Aldonis on 13/03/2025 - 10:44
    +2

    I wouldn't mind it if not for the complication at 6oclock

    • boozed on 13/03/2025 - 11:56

      Let's make the date indicator as difficult as possible to read!

    • SpeedRunnerLink on 13/03/2025 - 12:00

      or at least make it black like rest of the dial. It sticks out like a sore thumb

  • frewer on 13/03/2025 - 11:13

    cheap Hardlex crystal

    T_T

    • pork on 13/03/2025 - 12:00
      -1

      It's cheaper to source. A hardlex watch with an error tolerance of 45 seconds per day, a bezel that looks like it rotates but doesn't, and 50m of water resistance should be about a $250 watch.

      • G-rig on 13/03/2025 - 12:15
        +2

        Lol you posted the deal.

        • pork on 13/03/2025 - 13:35

          Yes, with a summary that was exclusively critical

          • G-rig on 13/03/2025 - 13:39

            @pork: You bought one didn't you?

            • pork on 13/03/2025 - 13:51

              @G-rig: I'm tired of how Seiko automatic watches get lauded as expertly engineered when they're so inaccurate. Even the much prettier, better equipped, more expensive SPB463J is +25/-15 per day. Tissot does more accurate automatic watches with double the power reserve for much cheaper. That's engineering. I used to be big on Seikos and still own a SNKL23J1, but these days most of their watches aren't very competitive at their price points, even at half price.

              • G-rig on 13/03/2025 - 17:51

                @pork: I think you should write Seiko a letter.

                They are a pretty decent big-brand watch, you just have to ignore the silly RRP and aim for 40-50% off.

                I don't think they were that good value back in the day (well the RRP was lower but wouldn't get as big discounts). I did have the SNKL23 (K model) which was only about USD$105 from Skywatches (sinapore). The 7S25 wasn't anything special and short power reserve, setting day date is tiresome, the 4R35 / NH35 are great work horses and longer power reserve.

                Does make you wonder how a lot of new models are discounted straight away pretty much. There are just too many models and the demand isn't always there.

                Not hard to tweak the same (good) movement to get more power reserve (which most people don't care about). They still developed the movement to start with, which are great work horses.

                Anyway there are no shortage of choices, a lot of people don't want to pay the 'swiss' watch excess for something a bit better. You do also get a lot for your money from the Chinese drop-shipping brands from Ali, lot of bang for buck, just don't have the same brand recognition. I do agree Seiko is a bit behind in the times with their pricing & marketing.

                • pork on 14/03/2025 - 09:53

                  @G-rig: Yes the SNKL23 isn't high quality engineering either, but the alternatives 10 years ago often weren't as good, and yes it was $100. Expectations are rightly much higher for something at 5x the price. San Martin and co are smashing Seiko at the $300-$500 price point for automatic watches, and something like the Tissot PR-100 in quartz for $430 is a better idea than a Seiko that's incapable of telling the time despite having a $1000 RRP. For a durable automatic watch that actually does its core job of telling the time reliably, gotta ditch three $500 mall watches and buy a Christopher Ward or Sinn with a SW200 movement. What's the point of "in-house calibre" if it sucks.

                  • G-rig on 14/03/2025 - 11:14

                    @pork: Yeah like i say ignore RRP, it's bs. The price increases are noticeable too in the last few years (increasing, like everything).
                    You just have to look out for the good deals and pounce when'/if it suits. Some models are worth it some aren't (I got a Seiko ssk023 Field GMT for $340.. cocktail time are ok too for about $380). Depends what you want.

                    That's a good option plenty of other stuff to choose from. The microbrands are great value, they aren't perfect by anymeans and hate the blobby SM logo, wish they would fix that. The brand recognition still isn't there but enthusiasts seem to love them. I think they are still a bit expensive (even on sale) but definitely a step up from pagani etc.

                    By the time you get your CW landed here it would be $1500-2k anyway (and you can get Oris etc for that money). Currency conversion, import tax and delivery makes me choose something else. They had issues with branding as well but the new logo is better I just wouldn't pay too much for a microband.

                    SW200 is a good Swiss equivalent workhorse, nothing wrong with them, nothing super special either.

                    • pork on 14/03/2025 - 14:06

                      @G-rig: Yeah the San Martin logo isn't great, but when the big coupon discounts are happening on Ali Express it's compelling. That sand dune dial they do looks pretty cool.

                      The SW200 will never get hung on a wall in an art gallery, but it's very good at its job. The one in my Sinn is accurate to 3 or 4 seconds per day. For me, at least, that's the core business that needs to be done before I worry about complications and frills.

                      • G-rig on 14/03/2025 - 16:03
                        +1

                        @pork: Yeah movements are a lottery, unless you get a COSC certified. Just get Quartz if you want good time keeping. I'm trying to not buy any more autos (especially ones with a date and or date).

                        Yes there are some good Ali sales during the year but a lot of SM are still US$300 I think. Nice following but still a mass produced Chinese drop shipping watch.

                        • pork on 14/03/2025 - 18:37

                          @G-rig: Nice, yeah I think I'm now in the "do it properly or get a quartz" camp, too.

                          Re: an earlier comment you made, I wouldn't call CW a microbrand at this point. About AUD$100m in sales in 2024 (to compare with a brand you mentioned, Oris was tracking for about $150m), a primarily online distribution model shouldn't be confused for being a microbrand.

                          • G-rig on 14/03/2025 - 21:17
                            +1

                            @pork: Yeah after buying selling and collecting watches, I realise that high accuracy Quartz, quartz and expensive movements are the best.
                            Pretty keen to get a citizen series 8 9050.

                            So do CW have ha store or get sold in any physical stores? Like it or not, it's a micro if it doesn't.

                            • pork on 17/03/2025 - 07:40

                              @G-rig: CW has a "boutique" in London and one in Dallas. Probably just so they can say they do. Dallas a bit of a weird choice for a brag though.

                              • G-rig on 17/03/2025 - 08:30

                                @pork: oh right, it's still an expensive micro-brand in my eyes, but interesting to know.
                                I cannot imagine anyone in Dallas buying one, haha.

                                The thing I don't like is the exclusiveness in a lot of these microbrands and limited fomo runs (think Zelos).

                                May get a CW one day, they are simple enough to work on but would do your arse if you had to order proprietary parts or send back to UK for warranty.

                                • pork on 17/03/2025 - 13:27

                                  @G-rig: Some of those Citizen 8 series look good, good on them for having a fresh crack at that space. The new Tissot PRC 100 solar is one I'm going to have a look at soon, Tissot is continuing to put pressure on that $400-$700 zone with well-built clean accurate sapphire crystal watches.

                                  • G-rig on 17/03/2025 - 13:40

                                    @pork: Sounds ok
                                    Likewise, good on Tissot for trying to make themselves more than a prx one-trick-pony haha.

  • Speckled Jim on 13/03/2025 - 12:10

    After all that,

    I highly recommend the Seiko Automatic 40.5mm SSA449J.

    Why?

    • pork on 13/03/2025 - 13:36

      I don't want people buying up the good watches and leaving none for me

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