Seiko Men's SNK803K2 Beige Nylon Automatic Beige Dial Watch

Product Information

The case is fashioned out of bead-blasted stainless steel. This gives the piece a field watch feel that extends to the dial, which we will discuss later on.

The movement isn’t finished to perfection, nor features decorations. But remember, that is not the point. Furthermore, this is not a Patek Philippe. At this price point, we don’t expect it to be. The movement has a very industrialized look to it, which of course goes very well together with the theme of the watch. The full model number will have a J1, K1, P1, J2, K2 or P2 at the end. There may be multiple versions available and they may have different prices. The Seiko 5 is made in Japan, equipped with a Seiko caliber 7S26C Movement, which is Seiko’s own Malaysian factory made movement. The 7S26C movement was first introduced to the market in 1996. This 7S26C movement is used in many popular Seiko diver watches as well. At a price of less than 100 USD, the Seiko SNK803 offers great value for money. We would argue that it is one of the best watches for the money when it comes to automatic watches.

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It has ten adjustment holes, so it fits most wrists. Along the adjustment holes, you’ll find what seems to be leather stitched to the nylon strap. This gives a slight contrast to the strap. The Seiko SNK803, however, stands out from its peers by utilising a watch case that is considerably smaller than the standard for field watches. The Seiko SNK803 is presented in a 37mm stainless steel case. This is quite a slender case size even today. As such, the Seiko SNK803 is actually best suited for men with smaller-to-average-sized wrists, or for women, who have slimmer wrists. Its smaller size means that the Seiko SNK803 is also much less heavy than the average field watch, so you can easily tote this piece around all day as a companion to your daily routines. If there is a SNK803K1 or SNK803P1 it is made elsewhere in Asia, does not say "Made in Japan" on the dial and is more likely to have Spanish as the second language for the day. The last weak point of the SNK809 is the finishing details and quality control. In most cases, you’ll get a perfectly good copy. But, with huge production numbers, the low cost of the watch, and Seiko’s notorious occasional quality control oversights, you probably have a better chance of getting one with slight imperfections than you would with a more expensive watch. Conclusion: Yes, the Seiko 5 SNK809 is worth buying The Seiko 5 SNK809 has a Hardlex hardened mineral crystal. Hardlex is more rugged than an acrylic crystal, which is what you might expect to find on a watch of this price. And while many people prefer sapphire crystals these days, Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex is a decent budget alternative. It’s less scratch-resistant than sapphire but also a bit more shatterproof. However, it’s generally not going to be as durable as sapphire in many situations.

For one, there are the snug dimensions of both a 37mm case diameter and a lug-to-lug of 43mm, making this watch wear perfectly on a variety of wrist sizes.The Seiko 5 wears extremely well. It’s a perfect size and silhouette for smaller wrist sizes.The SNK803 leans casual due to it being a field watch with the military-inspired aesthetic. Seiko 5 is beloved by the watch community. The other thing that makes the SNK809 worth buying is its size. While watches are slowly coming down in size, and there are more and more sub-40mm offerings available all the time, there are still not as many to be found in the 36-37mm range. For those with smaller wrists or those who prefer smaller or mid-sized watches, the SNK series fits the bill. Overall, the strap is… okay. It’s nothing to write home about. A positive of this strap is that the lug width is 18mm, making it easy to find replacement straps to swap in. Conclusion: A No-Brainer

Fourth, there’s no anti-reflective coating on the hardlex glass, which isn’t all that bad actually. Lastly, the watch is customizable, as evidenced by the many people who modtheir Seiko 5 watches with different dials, hands, etc. The dial has been sandblasted, which allows for a rich, matte, and textured finish. The matte dial reduces glare and reflections which improves legibility (apart from looking great). Seiko SNK803 movement Having powered several generations of watches within the Seiko 5 line, the 7S26 is known to watch enthusiasts and collectors alike.I am very happy with this little "Fleiger style" watch, particularly with it's dial, which compares to any that I have seen in the affordable watch space. The dial has a great deal of well composed detail, this is subtle and hard to see in photographs. In person this very inexpensive watch actually looks high-end. If multiple versions exist they are assembled by identical machines using the same components under the same quality controls and should therefore be of equivalent quality. The bright nature of the color choice contrasts well with just about any wrist, making this dial pop.

This model is available with a number of different dial colors, but this exact reference, the SNK803, has a beige/cream dial. Overall I’m a big fan of the whole SNK series, typically the SNK809 is the most popular, however, I’d definitely consider going for this model next. The 7S26 automatic movement at the heart of the watch is a popular workhorse movement that’s favoured in the community. It’s a great timepiece that offers a good level of quality for a very reasonable price in my opinion. As mentioned before, Luminox is one of the best go-to brands when it comes to reliable military field watches. One top-notch model from the brand is the Luminox Atacama Adventurer Field Ref. XL.1761. Hailing from the Luminox Atacama Field collection, this is a robust field watch that shows off a very understated and sleek charm.After 5+ years of wear now, the Seiko 5 SNK is still one of my favorite casual watches to wear year-round.