That’s how I’m able to appreciate the value proposition of the SNXS79 so much more, this time around. While the bracelet feels rather light and cheap, I must admit, it’s rather comfortable on the wrist. For the money, I seriously doubt there’s any dial that comes even close to that level. And there probably isn’t. Availability If there’s one problem I could point at here, it’s the action of the day-date display. It’s slow. Very slow. The date mechanism engages at 9 PM, starts switching some time past 11, and completes the switch by just after midnight. The weekday wheel, however, takes longer. It engages before midnight and ends the switch sometime before 4 AM.

First released in 1996, the Seiko caliber 7S26 is one of Seiko’s most common automatic movements, found in many Seiko watches and divers and most of the Seiko 5 line. It’s a true workhorse and is highly regarded as one of Seiko’s most reliable movements. The Seiko 7S26 movement has powered the watches of military service members, deep-sea divers, and emergency responders for almost 30 years, which is all the testament you need regarding its durability and reliability. It’s also easy to repair and service, with parts widely available worldwide.Beyond his writing endeavors, Chris is an avid gamer, finding solace in the immersive world of PC gaming. His passion for gaming and tech-related gadgets allows him to stay at the forefront of the industry, always seeking the latest advancements and sharing his experiences with others. This particular version is the 7S26C. It only differs from the 1st generation 7S26A in two details: the shape of the rotor has been changed (in the 7S26B), and the previous regulator has been replaced with the slightly more potent Etachron. On paper, it’s nothing special. Not exactly pretty, but not bad. The bit of extra height does help to add a touch of extra wrist presence, though not by much. 7S26 Movement I think the brushing on the bracelet kind of looks out of place – like it doesn’t belong on this watch. Especially since there are absolutely no brushed surfaces on the case to tie the look together. In addition to his automotive pursuits, Chris's horological inclinations are evident in his work for Calibre Magazine and Vintage Grail. Here, he explores the latest watch releases, trends, and the significance of various vintage timepieces, captivating readers with his knowledge and enthusiasm.

However, in practice, it’s an excellent movement. The rotor action is quiet. Sure, you can hear it, but that’s that. A considerable advantage of this one is Seiko’s Magic Lever bidirectional winding system, first introduced in 1959. It’s simply a role model for winding efficiency. As someone I know spoke of the Seiko 5, you can just rest on the couch all day, and get up only when you need to, and it’ll still give that movement just enough motion of the rotor to keep it going. The first time I owned it, I liked it. But I didn’t love it. At the time, I didn’t have many other watches to compare it to. This is especially helpful if you already own watches and watch straps with an 18mm width, so you can swap between them.It doesn’t have any screws, or even pushpins, like most bracelets, so sizing it can be extremely difficult. As my appreciation for watches (and my watch collection) grew, I began to appreciate the little aspects and nuances of a watch, more. A common feature in 5s for a few decades now was a day wheel in two languages. Most had it in English and French, or English and German. Current J-suffix models have it in English and Japanese. So, I’ve no idea why my (theoretically) European market model has it in English and Arabic. I don’t know if Seiko has on purpose delivered these to Europe, or was my watch some glitch in their exports, and was meant to be sold in the Middle East. Technically, any non-JDM SNXS79 is an SNXS79K, so that’s possible. Rays reflecting in the sunburst pattern. Sunday in red – typical feature of Seiko day-date movements. The case (and how it wears) Dimensions Between this model alone, there’s the SNXS79K1 and SNXS79J1. A Malaysian and Japanese version, respectively. The Malaysian version (K1) has a Spanish day wheel, and the J1 has a Kanji date wheel. The differences end there (aside from the price). SNK355 vs SNXS79K

The crown is small, but given that the movement doesn’t hand-wind anyway, you don’t need a bigger one. While some don’t like the fact that it’s recessed, it does wear comfortably. There’s just no way for it to dig into your wrist. The brilliant and rich sunburst grey dial looks really dynamic and with the all polished stainless steel case, the look really comes together to create the appearance almost of that of a Rolex Oyster Perpetual homage, but with enough unique design elements to stand on its own in terms of originality.

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It keeps decent time, it can take a beating for years and years without needing a service and is extremely affordable. I’ve learned to live with the original bracelet. After a few days of constant wear, I just got used to it. Sure, it isn’t the height of engineering, but it’s nowhere near as foul as the Jubilee-style bracelet that Seiko used on 5s in the 1970s and 1980s. Now, these were the hair-pinching contraptions that were just meant to land up in the bin. This bracelet is nothing like it. For the moment, I feel no need to replace it. If you are looking for an expensive status symbol that requires high maintenance, buy Swiss, if your looking for an affordable long-term service reliable watch you buy Seiko ! Chris Van Hoven is a multifaceted writer with a keen interest in technology, watches, and the world of automobiles. When he geeks out about technical details and specifications, his enthusiasm for these subjects is contagious.