Seiko 5 SNKE51: The Working Man's Automatic

KMII · 2015-12-22T13:23:36Z

Discover the enduring appeal of the Seiko 5 SNKE51, a collector's first automatic watch and a symbol of mechanical watch accessibility. Read about its durability and sentimental value.

KMII

WPS member · Seiko forum

28 replies3384 views3 photos

KMII shares a deeply personal account of his Seiko 5, a watch that served as his first automatic and a gift from his parents. This post delves into the watch's unexpected journey from a reliable daily wearer to a sentimental piece requiring a minor repair, highlighting its enduring significance despite its humble origins. KMII's narrative underscores the emotional value watches can hold beyond their monetary worth.

One of my watches I have not yet written about here - a humble Seiko 5 I got as a present from a trip to Japan my parents did many, many years ago. At the time it was my first automatic and it appeared to me to be the epitome of an engineer's watch - the engineers I knew most certainly did not wear Milgausses or the like

As Seiko 5s are supposed to, it reliably ticked away without much care or attention being lavished on it until it developed a very weird problem overnight - it appeared that the hour hand got displaced by half an hour (i.e. it would point to the hour marker only when it was actually half past). As there were no other issues and as it worked completely normally otherwise, I never bothered with this but I did with time start wearing it less.

Until I finally decided that enough is enough and took it to the AD to check it out. Even if the service was to be more than the watch, I'd probably have gotten it sorted, as it does have an emotional significance - but to my positive surprise, it cost next to nothing to check out and sort, even if it took some two weeks or so.

While it proudly bears the scars of its life (not having been coddled at all) it now works in all its glory and the hour hand once again points exactly where it is supposed to. It also returned with a precision of about +10 secs / day, which is certainly very good for a watch in this price range. So here some shots of the working man's automatic from Japan

Would probably not be comfortable doing this with many of my other watches

But the 5 takes everything in its stride...

Te hands may be a tad short but it does the job. The lume is reasonably strong and lasts surprisingly long if properly exposed to light previously.

So there it is, the cheapest and oldest Seiko in my collection - and probably the only watch I would comfortably refer to as a beater

Key Points from the Discussion

The author's Seiko 5 is identified as an SNKE51, a popular design within the Seiko 5 line, and a personal favorite of another collector who successfully repaired and modified theirs after a drop.
The Seiko 5 is lauded as a crucial entry point into mechanical watches for many enthusiasts, often compared to the 'Toyota Corolla' of the mechanical watch world for its durability and accessibility.
Despite its low cost, the Seiko 5 offers robust mechanical watchmaking, contrasting with more modern, plastic-constructed alternatives like the Swatch Sistem51, often at a similar or lower price point.
Seiko's role in popularizing mechanical watches for new generations is noted as ironic, given the brand's historical impact on the mechanical watch industry during the quartz crisis.
A common frustration among collectors is Seiko's seemingly random market distribution, where desirable models are often exclusive to specific regions, making them harder to acquire globally.
The Seiko 5 served as a 'gateway drug' into horology for one contributor, who still appreciates its robustness, practicality, and suitability for tinkering.

The Discussion

KIH

Dec 22, 2015

But, interestingly, most models are available ONLY outside Japan!!! :-( Great watch, indeed. Ken

bimbeano

Dec 22, 2015

And when it's beaten up to the bone you just order a new one ... unless off course it has great emotional value like yours. Now let me see if i have a 50 quid bill lying somewhere to buy one Bim

Luis6

Dec 22, 2015

Seiko 5 is an important part of the watch world, as it allows many people to enjoy or experience mechanical watches.

KMII

Dec 22, 2015

And actually made in Japan, too, which I believe not all 5s are.

KMII

Dec 22, 2015

They are probably rarer than Seiko 5s The 5 is a watch all enthusiasts should be grateful for - it probably gets more people into mechanical watches than any other piece. And unless you truly abuse it, it\'s also fairly durable. The Toyota Corolla of the mechanical watch world?

KMII

Dec 22, 2015

And in spite of not having a System 51 type manufacturing process and being of metal, rather than plastic construction, it costs the same or less than the System 51, too. Not a watch many lust after but an important one, nevertheless

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Seiko 5 SNKE51: The Working Man's Automatic

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