Seiko has had a very successful run in developing both quartz and automatic watches. Here are my top 5 favorite Seiko self-winding watches and why I love them so much.
If you regularly browse the watches on offer at Seiko, there’s no doubt you’ll have seen a mix of quartz and mechanical models.
Watch enthusiasts love Seiko mainly for its exceptional craftsmanship and reliability. Seiko self-winding movements are also called automatic watches and are in abundance throughout the brand’s catalog. They possess a self-winding mechanism that relies on the motion of your wrist to receive power.
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How a Seiko Self-Winding Watch Works
A self-winding watch, whether a Seiko one or not, eliminates the need to wind a watch manually. It also makes for a nice alternative to a quartz watch. Automatic watches showcase more complexity than their quartz counterparts, often displaying mechanical movement through an exhibition case back.
It goes without saying that understanding how this special automatic movement works can enhance your appreciation for Seiko watches.
Seiko has experienced a great level of success in developing different types of movements. It became famous for developing the Spring Drive technology in 1999, which combines the benefits of both mechanical and quartz engineering.
What’s more, the brand offers a vast array of quartz watches too.
The Japanese giant’s self-winding timepieces work in the same way as every other automatic watch on the market. They utilize the natural motion of your wrist to wind a mainspring inside the mechanism.
Just like keeping fit — regularly keeping the mechanics of your watch ticking over nicely will maintain its health. Become a couch potato, and your watch will too!
The mechanism inside a self-winding Seiko watch bears a tiny oscillating weight. This rotor rotates in response to your wrist moving, transferring energy across to a mainspring.
In 1959, Seiko introduced the “Magic Lever”, improving the efficiency of the winding system. It shortened the winding period so that the power reserve lasted longer. It also composed much fewer parts than its previous automatic movements.
Today, a large portion of automatic watches by Seiko feature this technology.
5 of the Best Seiko Self-Winding Men’s Watches
So, are you wondering what the best Seiko Self-winding men’s watches are? I’ve grabbed a few for you to peruse.
Seiko Prospex Land SPB155
The Seiko Alpinist got a well-deserved refresh in 2020. The new releases managed to keep the same identity as the old references while looking even slicker than before.
Like this model, Seiko Alpinist watches are some of the most stylish automatic watches in the brand’s catalog.
They feature hour tracks with a mix of Arabic numerals and shard-like indexes and cyclops date windows at 3 o’clock.
This reference SPB155 differentiates itself with the lack of a crown guard and a mesmerizing deep green dial. I particularly love the cathedral-shaped hands, propelled around the dial by the Calibre 6R35. Seiko also treats them with lots of lume to assist with timekeeping in the dark.
Seiko 5 Sports SKX SRPD51
When you opt for a Seiko 5 Sports watch, you know you’re getting reliability, functionality, and style all rolled into one neat package.
This model, equipped with a deep blue dial, features the classic day-date window at 3 o’clock. It makes for a particularly practical watch thanks to the Calibre 4R36 inside its steel case.
The 42.5mm model comes dressed on a matching steel bracelet and features a see-through case back, allowing you to watch the movement at work.
This Seiko 5 Sports watch ensures optimal legibility with a striking set of luminous hands and hour markers. The green emission from the luminous accents is simply striking in the dark. Although this watch arrived straight after the SKX models in 2019, its scaled-back design language certainly remains timeless.
The Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation SNZF17
The Marinemaster has to be the pinnacle of dive watches. Even better, I can include this watch in this list because it has an automatic movement! The model is also very affordable.
The Seiko Prospex Marinemaster boasts mirror-finished case edges and marks the first see-through case back of its kind. Here, you get to admire the work of the Calibre 6L37 inside the brand’s thinnest mechanical dive watch to date.
This self-winding Seiko watch also features a sophisticated steel bracelet with ellipse-shaped links and dual curved surfaces. What’s more, its icy light blue dial sits inside a much deeper blue bezel.
All these features constitute a sporty design that is ready to take to the water thanks to its legible, robust design.
Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series SPB167
The Sharp Edged series by Seiko’s Presage watch collection deserves a place on this list. Powered by a self-winding mechanism, these watches are sleek and modest for days spent in the office.
You don’t have to be a business entrepreneur or office clerk to enjoy these watches. This deep blue iteration has a stamped dial that looks beautiful against a set of faceted hands and hour markers.
The automatic Calibre 6R35 powers this classic dress watch, delivering an autonomy of 70 hours of power reserve when fully wound.
This Seiko watch, fitted on a stainless steel link bracelet, is secure with a three-fold clasp for optimized comfort. It comes integrated with a push-button release mechanism, allowing you to pair and unpair the watch easily, depending on your outfit.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SSA343
The Seiko Presage ref SSA343 takes its design cues from the Cocktail Time formula. It follows a simple three-handed format that looks dressy and sophisticated for accompanying evening attire.
The cool, shimmering blue hues of this dial are perfect for summer and sit underneath a Hardlex crystal glass top. Inside the watch is the automatic Calibre 4R57 with a power reserve of 41 hours to offer.
What makes this Seiko self-winding watch a little more technical in its appeal is its small-second sub-dial at 9H.
If the blue dial isn’t to your liking, however, there’s a whole host of colors within the range. Some include indulgent chocolate brown hues that look stunning against their gold-coated cases.
How To Wind a Seiko Self-Winding Watch
It’s quite easy learning how to wind a Seiko self-winding watch. All you need to do is wind the crown. In winding the crown for around ten minutes, you’re likely to harness a power reserve of around 10 hours.
Before you start, take the watch off and locate the crown. If it’s not a screwed-in crown, take care to begin rotating it clockwise.
If the watch has a screw-down crown, gently pull the crown out to the first position and begin turning it in the clockwise direction.
Continue to turn the crown until you feel a level of resistance.
You should not force the crown past this point.
Once you’re at this point, lock the crown back into position.
Take a look at our other guide to learn how to wind your automatic watch in more detail. Once you’ve practiced a little, watch winding will soon become a more intuitive process.
How To Fix a Seiko Self-Winding Watch
Seiko provides a list of trouble-shooting ideas on its website for situations when something goes wrong with your watch. Fingers crossed, you won’t need to explore how to fix a Seiko self-winding watch, but problems can happen.
If you suspect your watch is broken, you’ll need to seek professional help. If your watch is still under warranty with the manufacturer, it’s good news. You should be able to fix a Seiko self-winding watch by sending it in for a repair.
Failing that, there will always be a registered Seiko stockist near you. Pop into the store and arrange for your watch to get a repair there. Or you could always go back to the supplier you purchased the watch from if you bought it recently.
Since Seiko watches are popular and reliable timepieces, your best option is to seek out an authorized Seiko service center. The watch specialist there should be able to identify the problem and the best course of action.
Conclusion
Now that you know what a Seiko self-winding watch is and how to wind one confidently, you can buy one.
Hopefully, these Seiko self-winding watches will give you an idea of the different styles of automatic Seiko watches that are available.
Which was your favorite? Drop your preference in the comments below!
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