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It’s been some time since we reviewed a Seiko on worn&wound, which is a shame because Seiko is one of our favorite brands. As long time readers may recall, we’ve reviewed a number of Seiko’s including two from their Seiko 5 line, the SNK military field watch and SNZH diver, both of which have quite a following from the watch nerd community. Seiko 5’s are known for being sturdy, affordable mechanical watches that come in a variety of flavors, and today we’re going to take a look at the SNZG, a mid-sized military field watch that retails for $100 to $115 depending on strap choice.
The Seiko 5 line of watches is vast, including watches from a number of genres (dive, dress, military) with varying dial colors, case finishes and strap choices for each model. That said, you very well may be wondering “What makes a Seiko 5 a Seiko 5?” That’s a great question, and from researching the subject, I have learned that the 5 in the Seiko 5 name signifies five key components of any Seiko 5 watch found across the entire line. These components are as follows;
- Automatic mechanical movement
- Day/Date display
- Water resistance (varies across line)
- Diaflex mainspring (commonly referred to as “unbreakable”)
- Diashock shock resistant design
It is rather amazing that these are the standards for a line of mechanical watches that are frequently priced well below $200, and are often found available for $100 or less. Add to the equation that Seiko is a brand with roots dating back to the late 1800’s, with a horological tradition as rich as many Swiss brands, and the value of a Seiko 5 is much greater than its price tag may suggest.
Now that you know a bit more about Seiko 5’s your next thought may be “Great, I’m sold. Now which Seiko 5 is right for me?” Another great question. The Seiko 5 variations are endless, though a good place to start when trying to decide which is right for you may be to look at those models that have, over time, developed a fan base. Included in this group are two watches that we have reviewed on worn&wound, the SNZH diver and SNK military field. As Zach pointed out in his review of the SNZH, its a diver with heritage design elements similar to that of the iconic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, making it a no brainer Seiko 5 for dive enthusiasts. As for the SNZ, it’s classic military styling is spot on, and is commonly priced well less than $100, making it another great Seiko 5 pick. Unfortunately for those who prefer mid-sized to larger watches, the SNK is not an option, measuring just north of 37mm in diameter.
This is where the Seiko 5 SNZG steps into the spotlight. Measuring a more robust 42mm in diameter, the SNZG is a great Seiko 5 pick for someone in the market for an affordable mechanical military field watch. It is available at an astounding price of $115 with metal bracelet, as reviewed here, or as low as $100 on a nylon strap. So, without further ado, lets jump into the specifics of the SNZG.
