Seiko SNKL watch series: is Seiko SNKL good?

Do you like the transparent case back that most mechanical watches have? But you may have changed your mind thinking of the expensive price of these watches. Don’t worry; you can get affordable mechanical watches from Seiko.

The provided list contains the top six automatic mechanical wristwatches from the Seiko SNKL series. The list starts with SEIKO 5 Men's SNKL23 Stainless Steel Automatic, which operates through automatic movement without requiring any battery.

All the watches from the SNKL series are similar in functionality but different in design in some cases. Hardlex crystal glass, small date showing a window, stainless steel bracelet are some common features.

Continue reading to know more about these watches and decide which one is perfect for you.

Is Seiko SNKL a good watch series

When an affordable watch series offers the same features as an expensive one, you should think twice before buying it. SNKL watches are affordable, but design, features make them worth comparable to watch brands like Aquaswiss, Lum-tec, or Blancpain.

Here are the things that make SNKL watches good for regular usage. As a buyer, you should know these before purchasing.

1. A complete stainless steel construction.
2. Scratch-resistant Hardlex glass protection on the dial window.
3. Accurate Japanese automatic movement.
4. Transparent case back showing the watch movement.
5. Includes a small date and day showing window.
6. Water resistance of 30 meters.
7. Luminous handles and markers.
8. Small, but a functional crown.

Stainless steel construction is a sign of high-grade watches. And the inclusion of stainless steel bracelet shows how well designed the watch is. Moreover, it guarantees the product longevity by adding Hardlex crystal glass.

The transparent case back is to show the accurate Japanese automatic movement. You are supposed to get this feature on expensive watches, but Seiko has done this in this affordable price range for your satisfaction.

For regular usage, the watch does a great job as it offers up to 30 meters of water resistance. Moreover, the date and day showing window is a handy addition as well. Tell the time correctly at night too with the luminescent markers and handles.

Seiko SNKL series reviews

1. SEIKO 5 Men's SNKL23 Stainless Steel Automatic

Users’ experience on this watch

It comes as an affordable automatic watch to the users as it doesn’t require any battery to operate. The most eye-catching feature on the dial window is the day and date showing small window.

The second hand on the dial has sweep movement, which is indeed a good addition. Those who don’t like ticking movement will surely find it useful. The stainless steel construction also forms a durable structure.

However, an issue you might have to face with the watch regarding power reserve time. Most users have complained of having less power reserve time than it is mentioned. Thinking of the price segment, it is a highly recommended one.

More details about the watch

The watch comes with a stainless steel analog dial. The dial has a silver-tone fixed bezel, which also has a stainless steel construction. There’s a pull or push-over crown available on the 4 o’clock position.

The dial window has scratch-resistant crystal glass protection. It has silver-tone hour, minute, and second handles with 12 silver-tone markers. All of these markers and handles are luminescent. Two watch faces are available here.

It shows a plain black dial in the dark, whereas a grey stripe design arrives under proper light. There’s a small day and date showing window available on the 3 o’clock position. It offers water resistance up to 30 meters.  

The manufacturer used a silver-tone, stainless steel bracelet band with a fold-over push-button release mechanism. This mechanical watch operates through automatic movement, without requiring any battery. It is equipped with Seiko Caliber 7S26.

The case back is transparent showing the automatic movement. Moreover, it offers a power reserve time of up to 40 hours.

The positive sides

1. Doesn’t need a battery as it functions through automatic movement.
2. Shows date and day on the dial window.
3. The push or pull button crown is small.
4. Sweeping second hand.
5. Stainless steel case and bracelet for durability.
6. Value for money watch.
7. Offers two watch faces with luminous hands and markers.

The negative sides

1. The power reserve time is as long as mentioned.
2. Takes a lot of time to adjust the band without instruction.

2. Seiko Men's SNKL45 Stainless Steel Automatic Watch

Users’ experience on this watch

The watch undoubtedly comes with an attractive outlook that has a stainless case with a bracelet. Also, most users are happy with what it offers within the price point. However, the bracelet is only an entry-level one.

The majority of the buyers have ensured that the bracelet is not made for an extended period of usage. Therefore, you can replace it with a leather buckle or even a perlon watch strap.

The second movement seems to lose 10 to 15 seconds per day, which is not a thing to worry about. Moreover, the automatic movement is satisfactory. Therefore, you don’t need to look for a Rolex watch and enjoy a high-grade automatic mechanism.

More details about the watch

The watch comes with a stainless steel case with a transparent case back. The case has a non-movable bezel with a silver-tone finish. The main dial window has Hardlex glass protection, which is scratch-resistant.

The scratch resistance makes it a long time use without deforming the quality. Inside the dial, you will get silver-tone markers and hour & minute handles. However, the second handle has a red-tone finish.

A small window showing date and day is available on the 3 o'clock position. The dial window is black, and the markers & handles have a luminescent feature for dark conditions. On the outer 4 o'clock position, a pull or push button crown is available.

The watch can withstand normal water splash or sudden drizzles as it has 30 meters of water resistance. The bracelet band also has a stainless steel construction with a silver-tone finish. It has a push-button fold-over clasp design.

It works through Japanese automatic movement, and you can see it on the transparent case back. It uses a 7S26 caliber for the operation. The watch has 40 hours of power reservation.

The positive sides

1. The red second handle adds a nice touch to the dial.
2. It shows the date and date.
3. Easy to use the crown.
4. Luminous handles and markers ensure easy time readability.
5. Withstands water splashes or sudden rain.
6. The watch dial window is scratch-resistant.
7. Durable stainless steel construction.

The negative sides

1. It gains around 10 to 15 seconds per day.
2. The bracelet isn’t durable enough.

3. Seiko 5 SNKL50 Men's Gold-Tone Automatic Watch

Users’ experience on this watch

The watch truly can’t match the accuracy of quartz movement, but users thought about the price point. And whatever it offers within this price point with automatic movement is more than enough.

The watch has a gold-tone finish, which sometimes lets the users feel like wearing Rolex watches. Also, they don’t think much before taking it out while it’s raining outside. But the charging time is one of the most dissatisfying sides of the watch.

It is supposed to offer 40 hours of power reserve. But actually, the watch serves for 12 to 16 hours a single solar charge. Still, users seem to ignore this side for the price and design that it offers.

More details about the watch

It comes with almost similar features compared to the other watches on the list. However, the noticeable difference is the gold-plated finish on the dial and bracelet. Both dial and bracelet have a stainless steel construction with a gold-plated finish.

The watch dial has a transparent case back, which shows the Japanese automatic movement. The manufacturer used Seiko caliber 7S26 in the watch. Moreover, there’s a small functioning crown placed on the 4 o’clock position.

It has a black watch face with gold-plated markers and handles. Hour, minute, and second handles with 12 markers have a gold-tone finish. Moreover, they are luminescent for night views. There’s a dedicated, small date and day showing window available on the 3 o’clock position.

The watch dial is scratch-resistant with Hardlex crystal protection. Moreover, the gold-plated bezel is static. It has a gold-plated bracelet with a deployment clasp. It has 40 hours of power reserve time. The watch offers water-resistant of up to 40 meters.

The positive sides

1. The automatic movement ensures better accuracy.
2. It has an attractive gold-plated design.
3. Easy to read time with the luminous hands and markers.
4. Push/ pull crown is easy to operate.
5. Scratch-resistant dial window.
6. Shows date and day accurately.
7. It can withstand normal water splashes.

The negative sides

Power reserves are not more than 12 to 16 hours.

4. SEIKO 5 Men's SNK793 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch

Users’ experience on this watch

With the blue dial and stainless steel construction, the watch appears to be more expensive than it actually is. Although there are several analog watches faces with blue shade, this one seems a bit upgraded.

The stainless steel bracelet is highly water-resistant that allows the users to wash their hands without removing them. Wearing the watch, you don’t need to rely on the smartphone to know the day and date. It shows accurate days and dates in the dedicated window.

But the problem is with the timekeeping accuracy, which most users presented as the main con of the watch. Compared to other self-winding wristwatches, it provides less accuracy. Moreover, it seems to stop working suddenly.

More details about the watch

You will get not many differences in the watch except for the blue-shaded watch face. The manufacturer used high-grade stainless steel to build the case back, dial, and bracelet band. All these have a silver-tone finish.

The watch face is blue with silver-tone markers and handles. On the 3 o’clock position, there’s a small window that shows the date and day. Moreover, the markers and handles are luminous for better viewing at night.

To protect the watch dial from any sort of scratches and ensure longevity, it has a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal. It is water-resistant up to 30 meters, which doesn’t need you to remove the watch while washing hands.

The bracelet has a silver-tone finish and push-button deployment clasp. The case back of the watch is transparent showing the automatic movement. It has a Seiko caliber 7S26 engine and works through Japanese automatic movement.

The watch offers up to 40 hours of power reservation with hand-winding.

The positive sides

1. The blue shade on the watch face brings an expensive look.
2. Well constructed stainless steel bracelet with proper weight balance.
3. Shows date and day accurately.
4. The markers and handles glow in the dark.
5. The crown is easy to operate.

The negative sides

1. The glass on the watch dial is not entirely scratch-resistant.
2. It doesn’t ensure much accurate timekeeping.

5. Seiko Men's SNKL83 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch

Users’ experience on this watch

It is a good-looking watch according to the price range. With the automatic movement showing on the case back, it adds a more elegant touch to the watch. The users are delighted to have an automatic mechanical watch at this price range.

GV2 watches are also mechanical watches, but not an affordable option to buy. The crystal glass protection on the watch dial ensures easy time readability. Also, the hands are luminescent for dark conditions.

The users are satisfied with the extra feature as it allows them to keep pace with the changing date and day. However, one common and serious issue with the watch is timekeeping. It doesn’t offer much accuracy, but you can ignore it thinking of the price point.

More details about the watch

As a casual watch, it has everything you need for better functionality and style. The watch case with a small dial and transparent case back copes with the modern, high-quality mechanical watches keeping the price within reach.

Moreover, the manufacturer has used traditional stainless steel to construct the dial and bracelet. Both the dial and bracelet have a silver-tone finish. The bezel is non-movable and comes with a silver-tone finish as well.

The case back shows the Japanese automatic movement and ensures accuracy. There’s a pull or push crown button on the right-down corner of the watch dial. The markers and handles are also silver-toned and luminescent.

Although the black watch dial doesn’t shine at night, the markers and handles do. According to the manufacturer, the watch has a power reserve of 40 hours. It also comes with 30 meters of water resistance, which saves the watch from sudden water splashes.

The positive sides

1. The transparent case back provides an expensive look.
2. It loses only 2 seconds a day.
3. Scratch-resistant crystal glass window.
4. Let you keep pace with the date and day.
5. Luminous markers and handles.
6. Enough water resistance for regular wearing.

The negative sides

1. It doesn’t keep accurate time.
2. Too small watch case for men.

6. Seiko 5 SNKL15 Men’s Self Winding Automatic Watch

Users’ experience on this watch

It is an affordable watch that is worth more than the expenditure. The pristine silver sunburst dial seems like a million-dollar watch case, which it is actually not. Moreover, the accuracy doesn’t disappoint the users.

However, there’s a mixed reaction regarding the stainless steel bracelet. It has more of a matte finish than glossy and users with gloss finish lovers aren’t satisfied with it. Another problem is the accuracy in the timekeeping.

Compared to other mechanical, automatic watches, it doesn’t provide accurate timekeeping. But the glass window ensures easy readability. Even the luminescent markers are handy while it’s dark.

More details about the watch

The watch comes with a stainless steel case with a transparent case back. The case has a non-movable bezel with a pristine silver-tone finish. The sunburst-designed main dial window has Hardlex glass protection, which is scratch-resistant.

A small window showing date and day is available on the 3 o'clock position. The dial window is black, and the markers & handles have a luminescent feature for dark conditions. On the outer 4 o'clock position, a pull or push button crown is available.

The watch dial has a transparent case back, which shows the Japanese automatic movement. The manufacturer used Seiko caliber 7S26 in the watch. According to the manufacturer, the watch has a power reserve of 40 hours.

It comes with a stainless steel bracelet with a push-button deployment clasp. One small window is available there to show the moving date and day keeping the user updated all the time.

The positive sides

1. Easy to read the time with luminous hands and markers.
2. Shows day and date accurately.
3. Brings a million-dollar look on the watch with the transparent case back.
4. Easy functioning pull/ push crown.
5. A worth to money product.
6. Provides a proper classic look on the wrist.

The negative sides

1. The band doesn’t come with a traditional glossy finish.
2. It doesn’t maintain the accuracy of timekeeping.

FAQs

How much Seiko SNKL watches cost?

On average, the cost of Seiko SNKL watches ranges from $120 to $130. However, the cost can go down to $95 as well as up to $150. It depends on the design and features of the watch.

SNKL23 or SNKL45, which one is better?

Both these watches have similar functions. But the double watch face of SNKL23 makes it a better choice for those, who want something more stylish.

Which Seiko SNKL series watch has a gold-tone bracelet?

Seiko SNKL50 series watch series gold-tone bracelet. It has a stainless steel case and bracelets like other watches but comes with a gold-plated finish.

Are Seiko SNKL watch dial windows easy to read?

Yes, they are. The dial has luminous markers and handles. Therefore, you can read the time clearly even at night.

Final words

Seiko indeed has done a great job providing mechanical watches with automatic movement at this affordable price range. The SNKL watches series provides you the following features.

1. Stainless steel case and bracelet.
2. Japanese automatic movement.
3. Date and day showing window.
4. Transparent case back.
5. Hardlex glass protection.