Everlasting Seiko Five watches

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Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
4,960
14,297
Humansville Missouri
Like pipes, I have an unreasonably large hoard of watches, and for most daily wear I alternate between three modern Orient automatics.

But I own a couple of Seiko Five 21 jewel automatics at least two decades old, and they won’t quit.

Occasionally I wear this one, and it’s still accurate within a few seconds a day.

43A444C0-4D85-485D-95D5-70F6D5238C47.jpegCB64541F-4FCA-438F-AEAB-41BCDF53C687.jpeg668286A8-842C-4B8C-9928-411484AE102E.jpeg


A Seiko Five is as waterproof and shock proof as I am. I’ve read they’ll last up to ten years in daily service and of course longer, if rotated and not just beat to death.

Anybody else have some everlasting Seiko Five watches to show off?
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
3,795
49,275
Casa Grande, AZ
I ran Seiko Fives for years, then I switched to Invicta 8926’s after the Fives started getting pricey in the states. Similar movement and an affordable classic submariner design.

Caveat-I’m not a collector, I just know what I’m looking for: stainless, automatic, and functional. Im a field blue collar guy and wear one until it’s trashed then get another for the next 3-5 years.
 

didimauw

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 28, 2013
10,659
37,311
SE WI
I have 2 Seiko 5, an Orient mako dive watch, a citizen solar, 2 Timex and 3 g shocks.

I've only wore my one Gshock the past 3 years straight now. As much as I enjoy the idea of automatic watches, I don't like how inaccurate they can be. My solar atomic g shock is always correct to the second and I don't have to do anything.
 

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
4,960
14,297
Humansville Missouri
With his tastes in pipes, I really would have taken Briar Lee for a Timex man, maybe the old Marlins mechanicals... Not the new Chinese made Timexes.
Yes, I still have the Timex I got for my birthday in 1978.

It ran for two years and I bought a LeGant quartz watch to begin law school.

Both still run.

The Timex is no longer reliable, though.

I believe I bought my white dial Seiko 5 at Sam’s for about $50 about 25 or so years ago.

The same basic watch is still being sold, probably with hacking and stem winding, maybe not.

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Yes, I still have the Timex I got for my birthday in 1978.

It ran for two years and I bought a LeGant quartz watch to begin law school.

Both still run.

The Timex is no longer reliable, though.
I went through a spell where I was buying Marlins, cleaning and refurbishing them, but then I just ran out of time to work on them. (pun intended)
But, I have three left that function really well. But, I have just been wearing my Apple watch lately to track my work outs. I just wear my regular watches to church these days.
 

mawnansmiff

Lifer
Oct 14, 2015
7,629
8,089
Sunny Cornwall, UK.
I have four Seiko 5 watches in my collection (including the white faced model you show though mine has batons and not numerals). They're by far not my most prestigious watches but they're damned near bombproof....and very cheap to buy.

Also they can be timed (with great care & the correct tool) to great average accuracy for those who are so inclined.

All hail the Seiko 5 bdw, the Volkswagen of the watch world.

Regards,

Jay.

PS: the number 5 refers to its main features which are 1 sweep second hand, 2 automatic winding, 3 water resistant to 30m, 4 day display and 5 date display.
 
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Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
4,960
14,297
Humansville Missouri
Here is my favorite watch today.

An Orient Second Generation Version Three.

Why? Because it’s a dead ringer for my father’s 1958 Hamilton Thin O Matic Pie Pan, and it’s railroad time accurate.

C668DA35-EF96-4ECE-832D-743773707F37.jpeg7068FAAE-ED61-4893-891D-5E555FFA8A93.jpeg
Seiko somehow owns Orient, but it’s kept as a separate division.

How the Japanese make so many super accurate, long lasting, good looking automatic watches so cheap is one of the mysteries.
 
Jun 9, 2015
3,970
24,802
42
Mission, Ks
Here is my favorite watch today.

An Orient Second Generation Version Three.

Why? Because it’s a dead ringer for my father’s 1958 Hamilton Thin O Matic Pie Pan, and it’s railroad time accurate.

View attachment 202265View attachment 202266
Seiko somehow owns Orient, but it’s kept as a separate division.

How the Japanese make so many super accurate, long lasting, good looking automatic watches so cheap is one of the mysteries.
My daily is a Hamilton Khaki Diver with a peekaboo back. I love this watch, it’s built like a tank.A4F2E282-1499-42CC-80AA-E74AE2F9699D.jpeg
 

AJL67

Lifer
May 26, 2022
5,496
28,135
Florida - Space Coast
I remember the only watch my father ever known it was a really old Seiko watch, doubt he had it when he was a Frogman but I’m old and he must have had it at least in the Korean War.

Seiko has a very interesting history.

 

bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,052
41,080
RTP, NC. USA
Used to wear Seiko. Then a bunch of digital and other plastic watches. Then Marlboro + Victorinox that they gave out for smoking shit load of Marlboro. Then first Rolex sub in 97. That thing still works. Then in 16, got another Rolex sub. Don't do much to them. Every 10 years or so, send in for a service. I don't use auto watch winder. I just let them go dead. Wind it 40 times and they go again until I let them stop.