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The Suggestion: Seiko… bring back the SNZJ5

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Seiko SNZJ5 Stainless Black Dial – $145 – $150 USED*

*Sourced from Amazon’s “Warehouse Deals “.  Two available, package is damaged on both and manuals are missing according to Amazon.  Never ordered from their “Warehouse Deals” side before.  Thoughts?

With all those simple indices/minute markers, the Seiko SNZJ5 series is a bit like a poor man’s Omega Speedmaster Professional (well, a little).  And unfortunately, they’re long gone.  They’ve been gone for more than a year.  Consider this a formal request for Seiko to bring these things back.

Powered by one of Seiko’s dependable automatic movements, these things came in a black dial (shown) or a long since sold out white dial that looked incredible on a leather band.  For stainless band fans, the links that it comes with are perfect.  The shine is low, and the width of the links is nice and big.  Meaning = it looks more like the tough time piece that it is and less like a dainty item of man jewelry.

Seiko SNZJ5Comes with a stainless steel band, which has been swapped here for a Maratac Silicone w/clasp.

Seiko SNZJ5 Flip SideExhibition caseback shows off the affordable, dependable, automatic movement.

And speaking of dainty… it’s not.  42.5mm in diameter, which is perfect for those of us who like a watch with some size but nothing incredibly overwhelming.  The two crowns are placed at unusual locations (9 and 4 o’clock) but somehow they add balance to the look of the thing.  The major drawback is that crown at 9.  It controls the inner bezel, but it’s so touchy that if your shirt cuff or skin happens to brush against it, the bezel will probably move on you.  But that lack of an exterior, rotating bezel means it sits a bit flatter on your wrist.  For a larger watch it’s oddly streamlined.

When they were still around they seemed to run in the low to high $100s.  A total steal.  Yes, there are some great alternatives available right now…

…but none of those are quite the same (smaller, bright colors, sits differently on the wrist, etc…).  While certainly not for everyone, the SNZJ5’s slightly different yet quiet looks, dynamite price, and dependable movement must have appealed to at least a good chunk of the watch buying public.  They sold out afterall.

Seiko SNZJ5 and NotesTo the moon Alice!  Or hell, maybe just the grocery store.

Comments

  1. Hey Joe might I suggest the Orient Ray Raven as another option? It’s a little more expensive than the other Orient Rays but well worth the money. It’s like wearing a sexy panther on your wrist.

  2. Orient Mako is hard to beat in terms of build quality and looks for its price range. Make sure to get the blue one!!

  3. Bring back the watch, and make the internal bezel crown screw-down or push-pull to engage the rotating function.

    Love this watch with the blue or orange hands. I very nearly bought one used for an obscenely high used price, but thought better of it.

  5. A great suggestion for sure. Actually have the Orient Ray Raven in house for a review/giveaway coming up here in a bit. And while I certainly like the Ray Raven, putting these two next to each other (like I did yesterday to compare side to side)… they’re just not quite in the same boat. For me at least. Both visually and how they feel on the wrist. This one sits flatter and is a little wider. The Orient sits a little higher and isn’t quite as wide.

    Totally splitting hairs though probably… Thanks for the comment!

  8. This is my everyday watch and I absolutely love it… EXCEPT for the item BenR brings up here. The rotating function without the screw down bezel is a bummer for me, but I did manage to get used to it! Love this watch.

  10. I wish one of these Seiko’s/Orient’s came without a Date or Day/Date window. Just the time, no date, too much to ask?

  12. For better or worse, most people see date or day/date complications as a value added feature. Many watchmakers will always include them to offer greater perceived value in their timepieces. In particular, the Seiko 5 series will never be without day/date, as day and date complications are 2 of the 5 standard features that give the 5 series its name. (The other 3 are shock resistance, water resistance, and automatic movement.)

  13. Per Joe’s question at the beginning of the blog post:

    I purchased a Orient Devario via the amazon warehouse. I was apprehensive, but I figured $55 for a $250 watch? Why not take the risk? I reviewed there policies thoroughly (read: anxiously) and found that they seemed to be serious about making sure they had a good product.

    I got it back in Dec. and I love it. It’s my favorite watch. I’ve been keeping my eye on the warehouse since for any other deals.
    Cheers,
    Blaise

  16. Me too, Butch_Zee. I like the *date*, but wish my Seiko was sans the *day*. It just cuts into the dial too much, for my tastes.

    Plus, I frequently need to be reminded which day of the month it is; but I usually have the day of the week nailed.

  19. I kinda glossed over this post when I first saw it. Imagine my surprise when I found it again today after picking the SNZJ53 out of a lineup of watches, asking the model and Googling around for a while. Such an evil, crafty mind ninja you are…