Seiko Men's Analogue Automatic Watch with Stainless Steel Bracelet – SNKL45K1

Product Information

I like the case shape of the SNKL45 (I used to own one), but given the small size, I always thought it looked a disproportionately chunky on aftermarket 18 mm bands. Rather than holding up your collection, this should be considered a background player in your watch wardrobe.

Essentially the little brother of the SARB duo, the SNKL23 packs a punch, with all of the minimal, yet elegant, design cues of the SARB and Grand Seiko lineups in a smaller, and more budget-friendly package. Of course, this watch would look just as at home on a brown or black leather band, to enhance that rugged, tool-watch look. And the hands and hour markers are filled with luminescent paint which lights up in the dark to make the watch easier to read.

It has a beautiful, all-polished case with dimensions that include a 37mm diameter, which is on the smaller side by modern standards, but at 13mm thick, it has just the right amount of wrist presence for almost any size wrist. It has folded links, feels light, cheap and jangly and adds no additional heft or feeling of security when wearing it on your wrist. At the time, after wearing a dive watch for a couple of months, I thought the Seiko 5 looked too small and effeminate on me. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience.

I’ve worn, tested, and reviewed dozens of Seiko 5 watches, many of which are still in my collection today. As my appreciation for watches (and my watch collection) grew, I began to appreciate the little aspects and nuances of a watch, more. Seiko is known for generally having very strong lume on their watches, but some of the Seiko 5 models fall short in this area.Among the most popular Seiko 5 models, the entry-level automatic SNKL45 has a crowd-pleasing stainless steel band and case, ironclad movement, and a handsome black dial that adds a touch of elegance to its already understated appearance. If multiple versions exist they are assembled by identical machines using the same components under the same quality controls and should therefore be of equivalent quality.

The dial is an anthracite grey, similar to the SNXS79, which is rich and complex and changes colors slightly in different light scenarios. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development.The rich, dark dial juxtaposed against the pronounced bezel of the bright, polished case really packs a punch. You could swap the dials if that's what you want, but then I'd swap the SNXS79 dial into the SNKL45's case. The watch has 100 meters of water resistance and a big bulky crown that is easy to grab and wind, or change the time. It’s a very thick, distressed grey, vintage style leather strap with stitching on either side near the lugs.

This brings us to the SNXS73K, a simple, understated timepiece with automatic movement and a silver dial to match its silver bracelet and 36. Part of this is because it’s mostly the movement jotting out at the bottom of the case, adding to the thickness. At only 37mm in diameter, and 11mm thick, the SNK355 sits close to the wrist, making it an extremely dressy-looking piece that is just screaming to be worn on an exotic leather strap like a crocodile or lizard. The simple and minimal design makes this an amazingly versatile piece that can be dressed up, or down with ease.I’m a practical person and don’t give a rat’s arse about status symbols, I like things that are a reasonable cost to purchase, reliable and long lasting.