| Width | 37mm |
| Length | 43mm |
| Thickness | 11.5mm |
| Lug Width | 19mm |
| Weight | 90g (on bracelet) |
Over the past eight years of my watch collecting, my tastes have grown and evolved. Now I stand on the edge of moving up into higher price brackets of watches I collect (the old hedonic treadmill effect) or making a move, partly out of nostalgia, to go back into something I may have collected eight years ago. I think many start in the hobby with less expensive Seikos and then move on, but I find myself in the last few years moving back to some of these old models. I currently own an SKX007 and an SKX009, and have collected numerous less expensive Seiko dive watches over the years. But I never dabbled in Seiko’s old dress/sport models from the past decade or so. Until now…
This is the Seiko SNXS77 with a beautiful blue dial. This watch has been featured all over Youtube in the past number of years, so might have some baggage in enthusiasts eyes. They see the screaming avatar faces holding it up as “Rolex Killer for less than $200!!” or “Seiko’s Hidden Gem!!!” I want you, fair reader, to push all that out of your mind and simply see this watch for what it is, a watch made by Seiko to wear on your wrist and to enjoy. Let’s simply start from that.
The dimensions are 37mm x. 43mm x. 11.5mm, and yes, let’s get this out of the way, it is a small watch. Many might put it on and think this slip of a watch is too small and dainty and doesn’t work on my wrist where I need at least a 40mm and more heft. Perfectly acceptable! But, to me, the smallness, the lightness, it is the very reason I love this watch and have worn it for a week straight since I bought it. There is something very satisfying about a 36-37mm vintage proportioned watch on the wrist. It feels like a size that has kind of been forgotten, except for Rolex or some microbrands. But a steel, sports watch in these dimensions just wears well, and feels right, I don’t know how else to explain.
Now, the stock bracelet it comes with, as almost all the Youtube content you might see on this watch shows, is terrible. I actually am very forgiving for cheaper bracelets (I love the stock jubilee bracelet on an SKX007), but this I do think might be the cheapest bracelet I’ve ever experienced. Not to say it’s uncomfortable, because it isn’t, but the metal is so thin and it feels very insubstantial – very light and tinny. I wore it on the bracelet for a few days but then switched to a silicone strap I got for $15 on Amazon and that worked perfectly (and yes, the 20mm band will squeeze into the 19mm lugs, and 20mm natos should be no issue either). I have also bought an Uncle Straps jubilee style bracelet to add to it, but it hasn’t yet arrived.
The star of the show for this watch is the dial, which I find myself staring at lovingly all the time. It just feels so much more well finished than the $150 price tag would indicate, and I find no flaws. It’s obviously vintage inspired and Seiko has made similar looking dials since the 1960s, but the sunburst blue, raised indices, framed day/date window, and minimal text all just gives a beautiful cohesive whole. The polished case also adds to a much more luxery feel to the watch, although it retains enough sportiness for everyday wear. I know some complain about the slight buldge in the exhibition caseback, although I found on my wrist it sinks in fairly well and I never noticed an issue. I actually like it gives it a bit more thickness to create its nice proportions. You can source after-market closed casebacks that apparently reduce the thickness by up to 1mm, if you so choose.
Is this some Rolex Datejust or Osyter Perpetual killer or whatever hyperbole the watch content farm wants to clickbait you with? No. This is its own thing, a small, sleek Seiko sports watch for a decent price. I know it’s in fashion to promote the narrative Seiko is overpriced now and has lost its way from the nostalgic days of 10 to 15 years ago. I won’t get into that right now (although I have future thoughts) but this still is available brand new for around $150 and it’s an amazing watch. Maybe it doesn’t have a more modern movement and you need to change out the bracelet, but overall its a joy to wear and a bit of a relief when I put it on after wearing much more weighty, big, expensive watches.
I’d recommend.
