Seiko 5

[Grant Lamontagne]

If you are in a watch forum like this one, you have likely heard of and probably owned a Seiko 5 series watch.  They are pretty common and, as Seiko's entry level automatic, they are often available for pretty decent prices.

But what does the 5 in Seiko 5 mean?  I have often wondered, and I recently found out.

Seiko wanted their entry level watches to meet certain standards, and so the 5 series was founded on 5 criteria that they felt were important:

1- Diaflex (their supposedly unbreakable mainspring)
2- Diashock (their shock resistant design)
3- Automatic winding
4- Day/Date indicator
5- Water resistance

Some of it might seem like a bit of a no brainer (like the automatic winding in a series of automatic watches) but it seems that the 5 series has taken on enough of a life of it's own that there have been watches issued with the Seiko 5 markings that do not actually meet the criteria, including (gasp) some digital watches.   

So, while it seems like a great concept for a standard, Seiko is considering it more of a guideline than an actual hard and fast rule.

Now that you know this, I would like to invite you all to share pics of your Seiko 5's- I have one (and it's a cheap one!) that I will post tomorrow when the light is a little better, but I'd love to see some of yours!

Def

[Chako]

My only one...a Seiko 5 Sport Frankenmonster.

[fred2892]

My one and only watch. Like the farmer in the pic, it’s used and not pampered. Only yesterday it was dunked under a running tap to wash off wet cement. After adjustment I have it down to less than half a minute accuracy a week.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Reinier]

Here's mine. A gift from my wife. It's a customized SNZG15 with orange second hand.
I like it best with a NATO strap.

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is mine, but there is a very good chance that it is a knockoff.  It's an automatic, and probably the smallest watch I have.  The weight in the back sounds pretty clunky, not as smooth as any of my other autos.

Def

[Rapidray]

My only one...a Seiko 5 Sport Frankenmonster.

I didn’t realize the 5 came in a dive watch with the protective guard on the bezel! 

[Rapidray]

My one and only watch. Like the farmer in the pic, it’s used and not pampered. Only yesterday it was dunked under a running tap to wash off wet cement. After adjustment I have it down to less than half a minute accuracy a week.

(Image removed from quote.)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Now this is the 5 I am used to seeing! 

[Rapidray]

Here's mine. A gift from my wife. It's a customized SNZG15 with orange second hand.
I like it best with a NATO strap.

Very nice with the 24 hour! 

[Rapidray]

This is mine, but there is a very good chance that it is a knockoff.  It's an automatic, and probably the smallest watch I have.  The weight in the back sounds pretty clunky, not as smooth as any of my other autos.

Def

Nice one 

[Smashie]

Mine and my sons



Mine on the left with our Huntsman’s

And the SKX007



Same 7s26 movement

[Smashie]

And I missed one

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nice ones Smashie!   

Very sweet watches indeed, and the Huntsman is always a great choice as well!

Def

[Rapidray]

Mine and my sons

(Image removed from quote.)

Mine on the left with our Huntsman’s

And the SKX007

(Image removed from quote.)

Same 7s26 movement

That 007 dive watch is nice!

[Smashie]

That 007 dive watch is nice!

As they have just been discontinued grab one while you can. The ’replacement’ is $380 and it is NOT an ISO rated dive watch.

They will make one in the Prospex line but if take a guess at that being $600 given their recent pricing.

[Mechanickal]

I only have 1 Seiko 5.

It was thrown in a trashbin.
Someone saved it and gave it to me.
Some hour markers and the date frame were loose in the case, so I glued them back in place.
The crystal was chipped, so I installed a new one.
The slight sphere in this crystal adds a sparkle to the watch.

I then put a matching bracelet on it, but never carried it since gold isn't really my colour

[Grant Lamontagne]

Very nice watch!  I can see why you may not wear it though- it definitely seems a bit too nice for me too.  I have a few that fall into that category already, and most I will probably sell or trade simply because I will never wear them. 

Nice things and I have never really gotten on.   

Def

[Mechanickal]

It's available if anyone would like to own it

[microbe]

My wife gifted me my 5 for Valentine a few years ago. A black dial Sea Urchin. It turned out to be my most used present ever.
I did swap the metal band for a leather one.


Lume shot. (my only gripe is that I would have preferred it to be blue lume)

[pietervn]

G'Day,

Some stunning watches presented!!!

I have a Mapmeter, one of the few 200M rated ones. I wear this one quite often, one of my favourite Seiko's

Cheers, Pete

[Smashie]

G'Day,

Some stunning watches presented!!!

I have a Mapmeter, one of the few 200M rated ones. I wear this one quite often, one of my favourite Seiko's

Cheers, Pete

Very cool, not seen one of those before 

[jaya_man]

SNZG17...

[Smashie]

SNZG17...(Image removed from quote.)

 

[jaya_man]

[captain spaulding]

Hey boss! Glad to see you and what a wonderful thread. I own a Seiko 5 and it is a incredible entry level automatic as you said. I don't wear mine much as for my personal taste it is a bit small. I’m a large watch junkie. With the exception of that it has been a dream to own and wear without a single issue. I will get pictures as soon as I can. Glad to see you and everyone else!

[Top-Gear-24]

Here's a pic of my Seiko 5 along with Mr. Crunch (after all, it is Creepy Crunch month).



And here's one from my Swisstool and my Black Monster.

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's available if anyone would like to own it

I am scared to ask what you would want for something like that!  It's a gorgeous watch, but far too nice for the likes of me, and yet.... 

Def

[Mechanickal]

I am scared to ask what you would want for something like that!  It's a gorgeous watch, but far too nice for the likes of me, and yet.... 

Def

Well Grant, we all have something in common on these parts of the web.

I'm sure you'd have something you can spare in return

[pietervn]

G'Day,

I have been looking forward to today for a while now.

I bought a Seiko FrankenMonster a while ago, on a popular watch forum. The watch arrived, but needed a service and some TLC. My local watch maker has done some work on other Seiko's for me in the past and his service has been excellent. He is still an old school watch maker that can fix any watch. He still makes small parts that cannot be found. His task list included a full service, new seals, get the bezel moving and sort the bracelet out that has been in pieces. The seller sent two bracelets with, one has a lot of wear marks on, and the other one practically new. I asked him to put the best links into a single strap and leave the rest as a second one.

Today I got to collect it and wear it for the first time. I used to has a FrankenMonster but traded it away a long time ago, sadly... I have been looking at getting one again, but they don't pop up often, and usually well worn or very expensive. I'm happy to say it was well worth the wait. They are well made watches and have very solid feel to them. The Seiko 5 brand is usually not a 200m diving watch, and only a  few are rated for diving. The FrankenMonster is one of them. I do like them!!!

Now for the pics with the MileMarker I have.

Cheers, Pete

[Chako]

You have a nice pair pietervn. 

[pietervn]

You have a nice pair pietervn. 

Cheers, Chako

The FrankenMonster is stunning on a bracelet. When I got this one it was on a rubber strap, which incidentally was the OEM strap fitted to the blue face version.

A question on the one you have: Is the bezel hard to turn on your yellow Franken? Mine is perfect without the black plastic shroud, but once it is back on it turn VERY difficult. The watchmaker had no answer for me and did apply some silicone grease to it. I'm thinking of replacing the plastic shroud with a new one, it is possibly deformed due to age.

Pete