When you want to buy your first automatic watch, it is not necessarily easy to find your way: which type of model to choose? Which brand to prefer? What budget to plan? But fortunately, for those taking their first steps in watchmaking, there are some sure values that allow you to find beautiful models without (too much) breaking the bank.
Among these valid alternatives, Seiko has several items of interest in its collections. Here are 3 Japanese automatic watches not to be overlooked if you have a budget of less than 500€.
Seiko 5 Sports SRPJ47K1
As its name suggests, the Seiko 5 Sports collection sports a sporty, classic, and timeless look. It mainly includes steel watches… but not only.
For more than half a century, the Japanese brand has continually reinvented itself to incorporate field watches of military inspiration as well as models reminiscent of some of the more prestigious diving watches.
With this SRPJ47K1 reference, Seiko offers us an excellent compromise: the watch is equipped with a generous 42.5 mm diameter case, topped by a two-tone brown and black knurled rotating bezel. But here, it’s certain details that make all the difference, such as the crown offset at 4 o’clock or the transparent brown dial, which reveals the day and date mechanisms (and which is a tribute to the Seiko Time Sonar from the 1970s).
Offered for less than 350€, this Seiko 5 Sports watch is therefore an excellent choice for a first automatic watch.
Seiko Prospex PADI Edition
For an even more assertive sports look, Seiko has envisioned the Prospex collection. A worthy successor of the first Japanese diving watch born in 1965, this special edition was designed in collaboration with the professional association of underwater diving instructors (PADI, Professional Association of Diving Instructors).
Unsurprisingly, the bracelet and case are made of steel, with an imposing diameter of 45 mm but a cushion shape that does not confine this watch to the strongest wrists. Since it is made for the deep sea (it is water-resistant up to 200m), this Prospex also proudly displays a unidirectional bezel inspired by Pepsi, with its coating of blue and red carbonated titanium.
To power this model, Seiko has paired it with its automatic 4R36 caliber, providing a power reserve of just over 40 hours. Next to other models like the Promaster from Citizen, this Prospex diver’s watch is more than ever a safe bet!
Seiko Presage Cocktail “The Blue Moon”
We conclude this selection of cheap automatic Seiko watches with the most elegant model, one that has nothing to envy to some of its more expensive Swiss counterparts…
This Présage Cocktail stands out for its “open heart” dial, with an opening at 9 o’clock that allows you to glimpse the watch’s mechanism. It is, in this case, the 4R38 calibre, which also provides about forty hours of power reserve (with an average accuracy of +45/-35sec/day).
At the heart of the sleek 40mm case, the dial also captivates us with its color inspired by the Blue Moon, a cocktail made with gin and blue curacao (obviously!). This makes this Presage a perfect dress watch for your future social evenings, it’s a short step away. Especially since with its price under 500€, it’s sure to impress many!
If you have a slightly higher budget, Seiko still offers excellent models between 500 and 1000€… or even more. Prospex for sports watch enthusiasts, Presage for a more refined style, there really is something for every taste.
Then, once you are no longer a novice in watchmaking, we can only advise you to take a look (or even two) at the luxurious collections of the Grand Seiko brand, as it hides real gems!
Discover other Seiko watches for less than 500€
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