Seiko 5 SNKL23 - UPDATE: SNXS79K

OmeGez · May 15, 2020

Morning all,

I am looking at getting a watch for my fathers birthday. As Diverse as I am with watch enthusiasm, I’m a complete novice on Seiko.

I’m looking for a reliable, plain design Seiko, which made me stumble across this SNKL23.
Now I know this is discontinued and now commands a ‘premium’ - it ticks all the boxes for what I’m looking for. £150 still seems an utter bargain?

What I do like is that Hodinkee have reviewed the watch and rated it highly - so I kind of like this because it gives a ‘cheap’ watch some significance.

He doesn’t have a massive watch interest - but it’s a nice stainless and it’s a good automatic. The clear case back also provides a nice upmarket feel.

Does anyone own one and care to share their thoughts on this model?

Gez.

JimInOz · May 15, 2020

If I received that from my Son I'd be very happy.
It's a classic style from a well respected brand and houses the workhorse 7S26 movement.

I like it.

OmeGez · May 15, 2020

Cheers Jim!

I think he’ll appreciate it too.

ZIELSZIEK · May 15, 2020

I considered this model too, but I did not pull the trigger fast enough before Hodinkee drove the prices up. I have to admit that put me off.
Anyway, It is indeed a very nice watch for the money.
While I cannot comment on this exact piece from an owner's point of view I can as a Seiko enthusiast. It is a very nice watch that can be worn daily, to say the least.
The 7S26 is a proven movement that you don't have to worry about. I bought this used 5 years ago and I have no clue about the service history. It still keeps great time and power reserve.

Also, since you want something with a little "flair" how about this? They do command a "premium" but with some shopping around they can be found for a tad under what the snkl23 goes for. Not everybody's cup of tea but a nice dial, imho.

Regardless, let me tell you that what you are doing is a very nice gesture. Your dad will surely enjoy it.
Too bad mine doesn't like wearing watches anymore.

OmeGez · May 15, 2020

Also, do I need to do more research on these? I can’t see a £150 watch being faked?

Should I be fine just making sure the watch matches the certificate?

ZIELSZIEK · May 15, 2020

OmeGez
Also, do I need to do more research on these? I can’t see a £150 watch being faked?

Should I be fine just making sure the watch matches the certificate?

They do fake cheap watches too, sadly.
The execution ranges from poor to somewhat convincing. What I have seen is that they rarely bother to engrave the rotor with the proper markings, so that should be a giveaway. I have not seen this exact model being faked, but who knows. Anyway, a close look will usually give a fake Seiko away, being that they are cheap the fraudsters don't put in too much effort.
The watches pictured below are fake
.

Pics taken from here: https://www.quartzimodo.com/how-to-spot-a-fake-seiko-watch/

OmeGez · May 15, 2020

@ZIELSZIEK Thank you for your input, it’s massively appreciated.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see him wearing the Arabic dial style. He’s quite reserved in taste, which I think is why the SNKL ticks the boxes - It’s a lovely unassuming looking watch, with what seems to be a robust movement.

OmeGez · May 15, 2020

Can anyone help with movement shots, please?

This is the Hodinkee article one:

And this is the one I’m interested in:

The only thing I can point out is that the one I’m interested in, doesn’t have ‘Malaysia’ engraved in the rotor or on the clear back case.

vintage hab · May 15, 2020

I think it's a beautiful watch. I bought a blue dial Seiko 5 day/date as a teenager. I wore it for 15 years without issue. I loved that watch: kept great time and was thin. My wife didn't like how thin it was, so bought me a luxury watch one year, and I put the Seiko in a drawer where it's bounced around for almost 20 years.
Unfortunately, I didn't take care of it. Your photo is pushing me to resurrect it & get it serviced. Probably not worth the money but it has sentimental value. Thanks for your post!

OmeGez · May 16, 2020

I’ve submitted an offer for one...! Wish me luck!

pongster · May 16, 2020

Good luck

OmeGez · May 16, 2020

Just to update this.

After another look around this evening, I actually decided to go for the Seiko 5 SNXS79K Automatic.

After stumbling across this, it was a no brainer. I can still get my hands on this model new, so that left me not worrying about a fake. Also, I liked how it shares ‘some’ similarities with the
Date Just.
I bought it off GBWatchShop for £126 delivered. I know they’ve crept up in price over the last couple of years, but it’s a price I’m happy with.

I can’t thank you all enough for your inputs, much appreciated.

I shall update this when my father receives the watch 😀

wagudc · May 16, 2020

OmeGez
Morning all,

I am looking at getting a watch for my fathers birthday. As Diverse as I am with watch enthusiasm, I’m a complete novice on Seiko.

I’m looking for a reliable, plain design Seiko, which made me stumble across this SNKL23.
Now I know this is discontinued and now commands a ‘premium’ - it ticks all the boxes for what I’m looking for. £150 still seems an utter bargain?

What I do like is that Hodinkee have reviewed the watch and rated it highly - so I kind of like this because it gives a ‘cheap’ watch some significance.

He doesn’t have a massive watch interest - but it’s a nice stainless and it’s a good automatic. The clear case back also provides a nice upmarket feel.

Does anyone own one and care to share their thoughts on this model?

Gez.

Classic, classy watch. Could wear it anywhere, but the most formal of places.

JwRosenthal · May 16, 2020

My lady wears the same one a @ZIELSZIEK showed in his first pic. She has some spectacular watches (including 5 vintage Omegas and a Tudor I will never get back), but that her go-to watch for work (she works in a bakery), so it gets beaten to death and dumped in sinks and buckets of frosting and flour- scrubs up perfectly in the sink and has never missed a beat. I find myself coveting it when I see her wearing it.

OmeGez · May 17, 2020

I’m actually quite excited to get it now. Already had the confirmation of it being posted.

I’d wear it myself! Excited to see his reaction.

OmeGez · May 20, 2020

The Seiko arrived yesterday...!

I will upload some pictures tomorrow, on my day off work. First impressions look good!

NT931 · May 20, 2020

OmeGez
The Seiko arrived yesterday...!

I will upload some pictures tomorrow, on my day off work. First impressions look good!

Good to hear that! These Seiko 5's are tough, unpretentious, and affordable. Good choice!

OmeGez · May 20, 2020

Can anyone shed some light, please?

The Seiko 5 has an English day date and a French date.. it shows the English day and then flips to the french day word for the other half of the day.
So it fully rotates through Mon/Tue/Wed...etc and the same in French too..

There is a way to set it to English only, but the instructions seem a little vague?

Any tips? 😀

vintage hab · May 20, 2020

OmeGez
Can anyone shed some light, please?

The Seiko 5 has an English day date and a French date.. it shows the English day and then flips to the french day word for the other half of the day.
So it fully rotates through Mon/Tue/Wed...etc and the same in French too..

There is a way to set it to English only, but the instructions seem a little vague?

Any tips? 😀

My old Seiko is not working, but the day is in both English and German. I would push on the crown to switch between languages. But it never did half and half.

OmeGez · May 20, 2020

I might be exaggerating saying the ‘other half’ I only fiddled with it briefly. I’ll have a good look tomorrow and I’ll upload pictures here anyway 😀

thank you buddy.

Seiko 5 SNKL23 - UPDATE: SNXS79K

OmeGez

JimInOz

OmeGez

ZIELSZIEK

OmeGez

ZIELSZIEK

OmeGez

OmeGez

vintage hab

OmeGez

pongster

OmeGez

wagudc

JwRosenthal

OmeGez

OmeGez

NT931

OmeGez

vintage hab

OmeGez

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