12 Best Seiko Watches of All Time

Seiko is a household brand that needs no introduction. The Japanese watchmaker has been creating unique timepieces for over a century that reconciles craftsmanship, precision, style, and innovation.

In fact, the company has built a strong reputation over time for designing some of the best watches on the market. Mainly known for its reliability, high quality and affordability, Seiko has been at the vanguard of watch manufacture since time memorial.

For context, the Japanese company has been engineering watches since 1881 and is actually responsible for many of the mechanical innovations that we see in timepieces today.

Currently, Seiko sells a wide range of watches, from affordable quartz watches to high-end automatic watches, for ordinary people, modern collectors and watch enthusiasts.

In this blog post, we seek to discuss the twelve best Seiko watches of all time, based on their workmanship, collectability and desirability. So, without further ado, here goes!

History of Seiko watches

However, before we delve into our carefully curated list of the best Seiko watches, let's take a step back to explore the brand's history. Seiko has a fascinating history that dates back over a century. The company’s founder Kintaro Hattori started out as a watch repairman.

He had a vision of creating a unique watch that was not only accurate and reliable but also affordable. Consequently, he founded the company in 1881 and iteratively worked to build an unmatched timepiece that would be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

Seiko created its first pocket watch in 1895. Subsequently, in 1913, it created its first wristwatch. Seiko maintained an ethos of continual R&D and continued to push the boundaries of watchmaking. A result of this ethos was the development of many groundbreaking technologies. For example, the first quartz watch in 1969, and the first kinetic watch in 1988.

Today, Seiko watches are sold in over 100 countries worldwide. The timepiece company continues to be at the forefront of watchmaking innovation and is heralded for its precision, durability, and reliability.

Seiko watches for men

When choosing a unique Seiko watch, there are three key factors one should consider. Firstly, the style and design of the watch as Seiko builds a wide range of watches, from classic and traditional styles to modern and trendy designs.

Secondly, the functionality of the watch as Seiko offers a variety of unique watch functions. For example, chronographs, alarms, compasses and even GPS technology. Finally, the build quality and craftsmanship of the watch.

With the above considerations in mind, here are three of the best Seiko watches for men that we recommend:

1. Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar SSC819P1: This watch is perfect for men who love sports watches with its solar-powered movement, rotating bezel, and chronograph function— making it perfect for timing activities.  Additionally, it is water-resistant up to 200 metres.
   
2. Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail Time Mojito SRPE45J1: This watch is perfect for men who love dress watches as it has a green dial and a stainless steel case, giving it a classic look. It also possesses a date function and is water resistant up to 50 metres.
   
3. Seiko 5 Sports GMT SSK005K1: This watch is perfect for men who travel frequently. Its GMT function allows one to keep track of two time zones at once. It also has a stainless steel case and is water resistant up to 100 metres. 
   

Seiko watches for women

Seiko is known for producing durable watches that can last decades with proper care. However, when choosing a Seiko watch for a woman, attention to detail in the design and finish is everything.

With women, style, functionality, and quality of the watch are usually non-negotiable. However, many can argue that uniqueness whilst exuding femininity may supersede any other factor.

Here are our top picks for the best Seiko watches for women:

1. Seiko Lukia Chronograph (Limited Edition) SRWZ18P1: This watch is perfect for women who love dress watches with its mother-of-pearl dial and a stainless steel case, giving it an elegant look. It also has a chronograph function and is water resistant up to 100 metres.
   
2. Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail SRP841J1: This watch is also perfect for women who love dress watches as it possesses a pink dial and a stainless steel case, giving it a feminine touch. It also has a date function and is water resistant up to 50 metres.
   
3. Seiko Lukia Chronograph SRWZ17P1: This watch is perfect for women who love sports watches. It has a white dial and a stainless steel case, giving it a classic look. It also has a date window, a chronograph facility, and is water-resistant to 100 metres.
   

Top 12 most collectable Seiko watches

Seiko is critically acclaimed for its innovative technology, stylish and daring designs, and affordable entry-level price point. This makes it an undeniable choice for watch enthusiasts of all levels.

Here are what we believe are the 12 most collectable Seiko watches.

Seiko Prospex Diving Watch Collection

1. Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar SSC909P1

This watch is the perfect combination of technology, design, and innovation. It features a solar-powered quartz movement, which means that you'll never have to worry about winding it or changing the battery.


Furthermore, it comes with a 44mm stainless steel case, a black dial, and a black rubber strap that ensures both comfort and durability. In addition, the watch is water-resistant up to 200 metres, making it perfect for deep-sea diving.

2. Seiko Prospex Samurai Manta Ray ‘Save the Ocean’ SRPE33K1

This watch is not only a masterpiece in terms of design, but it also carries a significant message. Seiko partnered with Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, to launch a series of watches that raise awareness about the importance of preserving our oceans.

The Samurai Manta Ray ‘Save the Ocean’ is one of these watches, and it features a beautiful blue dial that represents the colours of the ocean. It also comes with a 43.8mm stainless steel case, a stainless steel bracelet that ensures both comfort and durability, and water resistance up to 200 metres, making it perfect for diving.

3. Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night Vision’ Limited Edition SNE587P1
This limited-edition timepiece is a must-have for any collector. It features a black ion-plated stainless steel case and a black dial with green luminescent hour markers and hands, ensuring easy readability in low-light conditions.

It also comes with a black silicone strap that ensures both comfort and durability, and it is solar-powered with a power reserve of up to 10 months. It is water-resistant up to 200 metres, making it perfect for diving.

Seiko Presage

This watch is a tribute to the classic designs of the 1960s, featuring a beautiful white dial with gold-tone hands and hour markers, which give it a vintage look and comes with a 40.8mm stainless steel case and a brown leather strap that adds to its classic appeal.

The timepiece has a power reserve of up to 41 hours and uses an automatic movement. It is water-resistant up to 50 metres.

This watch draws inspiration from the traditional Japanese Zen Garden and has a green dial with a subtle pattern that resembles the raked sand in said Zen Garden. It also comes with a 40.5mm stainless steel case and a brown leather strap that adds to its classic appeal.

Additionally, it is powered by automatic movement, maintains a power reserve of up to 41 hours, and is water resistant up to 50 metres.

6. Seiko Presage Sharp Edged GMT SPB217J1

This watch is a true masterpiece in terms of design and technology, exuding luxury and sophistication. It features a 39.3mm stainless steel case and a blue dial with a unique sharp-edged design that gives it an elegant and understated look.

The Seiko 6R64 automatic movement, which maintains a power reserve of 45 hours, underpins it. The timepiece also possesses a GMT feature that enables one to track two time zones simultaneously. It is a great versatile option for everyday wear.

Seiko 5 Sports

Seiko 5 Sports is a line of affordable sports watches that are perfect for everyday wear. The watches are known for their reliability, durability, and affordability, and they offer a wide range of styles and features. Here are some of the best Seiko 5 Sports watches.

The Seiko 5 Sports SRPD65K1 is a traditional sports watch with a black dial and white indices and hands. It uses the Seiko 4R36 automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve. It also features a day/date display at 3 o'clock and is water-resistant up to 100 metres.

The Seiko 5 Sports SRPE53K is a modern sports watch that features a green dial with a rotating bezel. The Seiko 4R36 automatic movement powers the watch, and it has a 41-hour power reserve. It also features a day/date display at 3 o'clock and is water-resistant up to 100 metres.

The Seiko 5 Sports Ultraseven Limited Edition SRPJ79K1 is a special watch that was released to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Ultraseven TV series, featuring a black dial with red and silver accents, a day/date display at 3 o'clock and is powered by the Seiko 4R36 automatic movement. It is water-resistant up to 100 metres.

Seiko Lukia

Seiko Lukia is a collection of watches that are designed specifically for women. These watches come in a variety of styles, from elegant and classic to sporty and casual, and they draw their inspiration from the beauty of nature.

Here are three of the best Seiko Lukia watches available:

The Seiko Lukia Chronograph SRWZ14P1 is a beautiful watch that features a mother-of-pearl dial with rose gold-tone indices and hands, a chronograph function that allows one to track elapsed time. Additionally, it is powered by the Seiko VD54 quartz movement. This unique watch is also water-resistant up to 100 metres.

This watch possesses a sleek and stylish design, with a black dial and a gold-tone stainless steel bracelet. The chronograph function can measure elapsed time up to 60 minutes, with a unique date display. The watch also maintains a quartz movement and is water resistant up to 100 metres

12. Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail SRP852J1

This watch features a beautiful blue dial with a sunburst pattern and a date display at 3 o'clock. The watch maintains a power reserve of approximately 41 hours and an automatic movement whilst remaining water-resistant up to 50 metres.

Is Seiko a luxury brand?

While some Seiko watches can be relatively expensive and luxurious, the company isn’t considered a luxury brand in the same vein as brands like Rolex, Omega, or Patek Philippe.

And while this might seem confusing, there is solid reasoning behind this classification. The reason is that Seiko watches are generally more accessible and affordable to a wider range of everyday consumers. Plain and simple!

Nonetheless, the brand has a budding reputation for manufacturing watches that offer excellent value for money with industry-leading features and functionality that can compete with much more expensive brands.

However, it’s imperative to note that Seiko has also produced some higher-end models that are at par with existing luxury watches in terms of price and quality. For example, the Grand Seiko collection, known for its unique craftsmanship and attention to detail. Or the Credor collection, which is Seiko's ultra-luxury line.

Ultimately, it is a matter of opinion whether or not Seiko is considered a luxury brand. And this opinion depends on an individual’s tastes, preferences, perceptions and interpretation of luxury.

Regardless, while Seiko may not have the same global status as some of the most prestigious luxury brands, it is undoubtedly a highly sought-after and well-regarded brand in the watch industry.

Why choose Seiko?

Seiko watches are well-known for their exceptional quality and attention to detail. There are several factors that make a Seiko watch great.

Firstly, Seiko watches are made using only the finest materials. From the case and bracelet to the movement and dial, every component of a Seiko watch is crafted with precision and care.

Secondly, Seiko watches are designed to be both accurate and reliable. Seiko has introduced many groundbreaking technologies to the industry, including the first quartz watch and the first kinetic watch. These technologies have helped Seiko watches become some of the most accurate and reliable timepieces in the world.

Finally, Seiko watches are renowned for their timeless elegance and exceptional design. Seiko watches come in a variety of styles and designs, from classic dress watches to rugged dive watches. No matter one’s style or taste, there is a Seiko watch that is perfect for them.

Conclusion

All things considered, Seiko is a watch brand that will stand the test of time. We can confidently back this claim up as the watchmaker has been around for close to a century.

Furthermore, its good reputation is cemented by its continual production of high-quality watches, both functional and stylish in character.

During the course of this article, we explored arguably the 12 best Seiko watches of all time, covering a range of styles, functionality and price points.

It was also worth noting that Seiko is not widely considered a luxury brand.

However, it offers excellent value for money for many watch enthusiasts. With its friendly price point, durability and accuracy, Seiko timepieces make a great investment for anyone. 

Whether one is a collector, an ardent enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates a good watch, Seiko is a brand that should not be overlooked in a watch store.

Check out the complete range of Seiko Watches at PolyWatch.