If you're on a tight budget, the watch collecting hobby can be a tricky one. It's hard to find a beautiful watch that's also cheap, sturdy and easily replaceable.
A perfect way to get a good beater watch every time is to stick with a brand you love. For many collectors, Seiko is the chosen brand. We all know Seiko makes quality timepieces for a cheap price, but how can you put your finger on the best Seiko beater watch?
Lucky for you, we specialize in Seiko pieces here at Romeo's Watches, and I decided to put together a list of the 5 most reliable Seiko beaters you can get.
Seiko 5 (SNK809)
The Seiko SNK809 is undoubtedly the king of beater watches, all brands included. This very basic Seiko 5 can be bought for well under $100, and will certainly last for years (and even decades) to come.
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Case Diameter | 37mm |
Case Thickness | 11mm |
Lug-to-Lug Length | 43mm |
Lug Width | 18mm |
Don't be fooled by its small size, the Seiko SNK809 is not frail by any standard. This little stainless steel timepiece can take several hits without flinching. As a super clumsy person, I knocked my SNK809 on every piece of furniture imaginable, and it barely shows any wear & tear.
The only people I would steer away from the SNK809 are men with very large wrists (7.5'' +) as it might look underwhelming.
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Crystal | Hardlex (mineral) |
Crown | Push-Pull |
Water-Resistance | 30m |
Movement | 7S26 Automatic |
Even if the mineral crystal used on the SNK809 isn't as resistant as sapphire on paper, I must say mine has very little scratches even after a couple years of wear. Unfortunately, this Seiko 5 only has 30m water-resistance, which means you can't take it for a swim.
Inside the steel case is lodged the famous in-house 7S26 caliber. While this isn't the most precise movement, it will be reliable for up to a decade without needing maintenance. It is a very basic automatic caliber that doesn't have hand-winding nor hacking.
In Summary:
I think the Seiko SNK809 is the perfect beater watch if you're on a very tight budget and you absolutely want a mechanical caliber. The movement is both sturdy and reliable, so you can expect it to keep running even in tough situations.
The biggest disappointment of the SNK809 is the bad water-resistance. If you think a beater watch needs to withstand water submersion, you should look at the next model on the list.
Pros
Cons
Seiko SKX007/SKX009
I already hear a lot of you guys saying that the Seiko SKX is too expensive to be considered a beater watch. I must consider the SKX as a beater watch since it fits all the criteria, and the high-price is only caused by a shortage of supply.
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Case Diameter | 42.5mm |
Case Thickness | 13mm |
Lug-to-Lug Length | 46mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
The Seiko SKX is an iconic diver watch that is beloved by hundreds of thousands of collectors around the world. With diver styling usually comes a bulky case, and the SKX is no exception to the rule.
The 42.5mm case diameter is much larger than the Seiko 5's, so you probably shouldn't wear the SKX if your wrist isn't at least 6.5''. The 13mm thickness and 22mm lug width also contribute to the imposing presence of the SKX.
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Crystal | Hardlex (mineral) |
Crown | Screw-Down |
Water-Resistance | 200m |
Movement | 7S26 Automatic |
The diver style of the Seiko SKX is backed by a proper screw-down crown, which allows it to withstand 200m of water pressure. This means you can take this sports watch for a spin in any weather, above or underwater, without thinking about it twice.
Unfortunately, the rest of the specs are kind of disappointing, considering you get almost the same thing as the 80$ Seiko 5. For instance, they share the same Hardlex crystal and barebones 7s26 movement.
Fortunately, the Seiko SKX is very easy to mod so you can change every bits and pieces to your liking. (upgraded crystal, bezel, bracelet etc..)
In Summary:
I can't lie, the Seiko SKX isn't a beater by a lot of people's standards. I, myself, have very few timepieces worth as much as the SKX, and I don't consider most of my watches beaters.
To me, the Seiko SKX is the rich man's beater watch - it's there for people who have a collection full of Rolex, Omega, etc.. In comparison to those brands, the SKX is considered super affordable, and its specs are up to par with a lot of these watches (except for the movement's precision).
Pros
Cons
Seiko SNE102
Even if the Seiko SNE102 is one of the least-known watches on today's list, I think it's the only timepiece that ticks every single box for a true beater watch.
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Case Diameter | 37mm |
Case Thickness | 10mm |
Lug-to-Lug Length | 43mm |
Lug Width | 20mm |
The case dimensions are pretty much the same as the Seiko 5 (SNK809) presented above. It will look good on men or women in the 5.75'' to 7'' wrist range, but men with big wrists should look for something different.
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Crystal | Hardlex (mineral) |
Crown | Push-Pull |
Movement | V158 Solar Quartz |
Water-Resistance | 100m |
The table above goes to show why I think the Seiko SNE102 is the perfect beater watch for most collectors.
The V158 solar quartz movement is the first reason why I think the SNE102 suits the bill perfectly. This very precise (+-15 secs / month) movement is powered by sunlight, so you won't ever need to replace a battery.
Also, a quartz movement removes a lot of the inconveniences that are associated with mechanical movements, such as winding after going through the power reserve. Instead, the SNE102 can go for about 10 months without seeing light again.
Even if the SNE102 has a push-pull crown like the SNK809, Seiko reinforced other components of the watch to get a 100m water-resistance, which allows you to take this watch for a swim and even for snorkeling.
In summary:
The Seiko SNE102 is available for under $100 USD, so you can take this watch through hell without worrying too much about depreciation.
The long-lasting quartz movement combined with the 100m water-resistance means you can take this watch anywhere at any time without a single worry about reliability.
The only reason why you should stay away from the SNE102 is if you're adamant about owning mechanical watches only.
Pros
Cons
Seiko Turtle (SRP773)
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Case Diameter | 45mm |
Case Thickness | 13.3mm |
Lug-to-Lug Length | 49mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
If you think a beater watch needs to be bulky in order to sustain shocks, the Seiko Turtle should be your go-to watch. The massive 45mm case diameter and 49mm lug-to-lug width mean the Turtle is reserved to men with medium-large wrists only (6.75’’ and up).
The bulky shape of the case paired with the 13.3mm thickness means you can’t expect to wear this watch with a dress shirt, as you’ll have trouble sliding it under your cuffs.
Even if you can’t wear it in formal situations, the Seiko Turtle is perfect for field trips, hikes, and dives. You can be sure the tough stainless steel case will withstand most damages but the Hardlex crystal will probably get scratched a bit.
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Crystal | Hardlex (mineral) |
Crown | Screw-Down |
Movement | 4R36 Automatic |
Water-Resistance | 200m |
The mineral crystal is a bit disappointing considering every other aspect of the Turtle is awesome. I guess you can’t have everything in life, so I’m perfectly happy with the mineral crystal as long as I can keep the 200m water-resistance and the 4R36 movement.
The 4R36 is a 24-jewels caliber that is considered to be an upgraded 7S26 (found in the SNK809 and SKX presented above). While it isn’t much more precise than the 7s26, the 4R36 allows for seconds hand halt (hacking) and hand-winding.
These are cool features that are wanted by most watch enthusiasts. Also, the caliber is as reliable as the 7S26, so you shouldn’t need to service it for several years.
In summary:
The Seiko Turtle is iconic, looks great and has all the bells and whistles a beater watch needs, so what’s the catch?
Of course, the catch is the hefty price you will have to pay, which hovers around 350$ at the time of writing this article.
Pros
Cons
Seiko Recraft (SNKP27)
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Case Diameter | 40mm |
Case Thickness | 13mm |
Lug-to-Lug Length | 45.5mm |
Lug Width | 22mm |
Up until now, the watches presented in this article were either on the smaller side (SNK809, SNE102) or the larger side (SKX, Turtle) of the spectrum. The Seiko SNKP27 is the perfect middle between both.
The 40mm case diameter matched with the relatively small lug-to-lug length makes the SNKP27 a good match for almost any wrist size. Even though it has a vintage dress watch styling, the Seiko SNKP's 13mm thick case is extremely durable.
I decided to put this watch in the list because it has a very original styling, it is super affordable and it can take a good beating without showing many scars.
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Crystal | Hardlex (mineral) |
Crown | Push-Pull |
Movement | 7S26 Automatic |
Water-Resistance | 50m |
Like every other watch in this list, the SNKP27 is equipped with the usual mineral crystal. Also, it shares the same 7s26 automatic movement as the SNK809 and SKX007/009.
What's great about the SNKP is that it has 50m of water-resistance, even if it uses a push-pull crown. This means you can take this piece for recreational swimming without worry, making it a true beater watch.
The SNKP is packed with tons of cool quirks and features, such as the hour indices that go through the case, the beveled case back or the two-tone dial. This is certainly a conversation piece that will grab a watch enthusiast's attention.
In summary:
Once again, I think the Seiko SNKP fills every beater watch criteria, but the styling really seems to be hit-or-miss. Some collectors love the design, others hate it, but it's very hard to stay neutral in regards to this watch.
If you want a timepiece with vintage styling that stands out from the lot, but that's sturdy and capable of water submersion, the SNKP is definitely the watch you need.
Not Mechanical – Shouldn’t be decribed as a “CON” – – Quartz especially Solar is a huge PRO – – Way more accurate and won’t be needing an expensive service in five years time. —– “Mechanical” big woop – – Is it the 1920s.