How good are solar watches?

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LuckyLes

·Nov 4, 2021

Hi All,
I have a mate who turns 75 in a couple of weeks and his wife has asked me to help her choose a watch for him.
He is an active, hands on guy, so something tough is the go. Budget will be somewhere in the vicinity of AU$500.
What are the current crop of Seiko Solar watches like?
Thanks in advance
LuckyLes

 

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Spruce

·Nov 4, 2021·Sunburst dial fan

I owned a Citizen Eco Drive which I ultimately gave to my son in law.
It was fine and, I assumed, similar to a Seiko Solar.
It ran well (provided your mate doesn’t put it in a drawer) and is well within budget. Just depends which model his missus likes.

 

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eugeneandresson

·Nov 4, 2021

Solar watches are great. Solar radio controlled watches are even greater. Just wear and enjoy and accuracy remains within a second forever…

This one cost me 100 CHF (on special from 170)…I know it’s not a Seiko…

 

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Alpha

·Nov 4, 2021·Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector

Highly recommend Citizen Eco drive, your mate and I are shall we say similar age groups and I really love it. If it is reasonably charged before you put it away just pull out the crown and it is usually ready to go when next you need it.

 

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DaveK

·Nov 4, 2021·Yoda of Yodelers

A YouTuber mused that the US radio time signal will be shut down as a cost saving measure. Who knows, but maybe a radio time correction watch isn’t worth the premium?

That’s it, I just came to spread rumours

 

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Canuck

·Nov 4, 2021

Don’t buy one, assuming you’ll be saving money by not having to buy batteries. When the capacitor fails and you have to replace it, it’s catch-up time!

 

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JimInOz

·Nov 4, 2021·Melbourne Australia

You won't find a Seiko solar powered watch for $500 Les, probably best to go for mechanical or quartz.

You can use the Seiko Australia site to look around for something that will get close to the budget.

Another interesting watch could be the Timex Q re-issue, I'll see if I can find one in Australia for you to check out.

Here you go, I've bought from them before and no problems at all.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/154628499446

Edited: Nov 4, 2021

 

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time flies

·Nov 4, 2021

My three...

I wear them regularly. When not being worn they live on a south facing window sill.

have fun
kfw

 

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JimInOz

·Nov 4, 2021·Melbourne Australia

Canuck

Don’t buy one, assuming you’ll be saving money by not having to buy batteries. When the capacitor fails and you have to replace it, it’s catch-up time!

I have to agree even though I wear a solar Citizen.

Seiko accumulators/capacitors in Australia cost an average of $25 (much more at a battery changer stall).
That's buys a lot of quality batteries to power a quartz watch.

 

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3nicewatches

·Nov 4, 2021

I have three solar watches, the two old boys are a G-SHOCK that is still going strong at 20 years old and a Citizen Skyhawk that is going similarly strong at about 15 years old. Never needed any maintenance other than exposure to light.

 

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Canuck

·Nov 4, 2021

JimInOz

I have to agree even though I wear a solar Citizen.

Seiko accumulators/capacitors in Australia cost an average of $25 (much more at a battery changer stall).
That's buys a lot of quality batteries to power a quartz watch.

Some Seiko capacitors cost me in the neighbourhood of $35.00 (Cdn.). It is hard to understand the huge spread of the costs on these capacitors. Some are under $10.00! Few of the watch repair kiosks in major malls will look at changing these capacitors (and if you value your watch, you wouldn’t take it there in the first place). So that means a trip to the watch repair. Then the store doubles their cost. So one capacitor could cost you a lifetime of regular cells.

 

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perks713

·Nov 4, 2021

I'd start with finding out what size watch your buddy likes. I looked at the Citizen that Alpha posted because I'm a sucker for dive watches and I think it looks like a nice sturdy watch you can feel confident wearing in most situations (raining, swimming, fixing things around the house, dressing up) but the problem I'd worry about is case size. It comes in at 44mm which to me would feel massive.

Start by finding out what size watch your friend likes, then narrow down your options.

 

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LuckyLes

·Nov 4, 2021

Hi All,
Some great ideas floated there, thank you. He is about as thin as a stalk of grass so 44mm would probably be too big. He likes my Speedie Auto, but that is obviously out of the question. A quartz certainly would do the job, I haven't been looking at Seiko Solar prices as I had no need of one. I had read somewhere that some pretty good discounts were available on Seikos.
He would prefer a bracelet. I know this because I lent him a Diver I had with a nato strap and he didn't like the strap.
I'll have a chat with his wife over the weekend and find out definitely what the budget is.
Thanks so far, keep the ideas coming.
Les

 

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Spruce

·Nov 5, 2021·Sunburst dial fan

Some Citizen Eco-Drives sell for about £200 here in the UK

 

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RI Omega Fan

·Nov 5, 2021

If your friend likes your Speedmaster, has skinny wrists, and you want to buy him a solar watch, have you looked at this new 39 mm Seiko? I haven’t done the currency conversion, so this might stretch the budget - sorry…

Here’s the link:

https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/products/prospex/ssc813

 

D

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derv

·Nov 5, 2021

RI Omega Fan

If your friend likes your Speedmaster, has skinny wrists, and you want to buy him a solar watch, have you looked at this new 39 mm Seiko? I haven’t done the currency conversion, so this might stretch the budget - sorry…

Here’s the link:

https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/products/prospex/ssc813

Man, that’s a good looking watch. Perfect size and solar so it’s low maintenance…sign me up.

 

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time flies

·Nov 5, 2021

RI Omega Fan

If your friend likes your Speedmaster, has skinny wrists, and you want to buy him a solar watch, have you looked at this new 39 mm Seiko? I haven’t done the currency conversion, so this might stretch the budget - sorry…

Here’s the link:

https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/products/prospex/ssc813

And here's a diver version with the same sub dials, locking pushers and a usefull in everyday life bezel. And at a good bit less price point.

have fun
kfw