Recently got given this Seiko 5 as a birthday present for a significant milestone, and my first “proper” watch. It’s on the modest end of the spectrum compared to most, but you can feel the quality and effort that Seiko put into even into their most entry level watches. It feels very solid and like it will hopefully last a lifetime with good use.

It’s going to be really sentimental to me as it was a deeply thoughtful gift from my kids, and I can easily imagine it being my trusted daily driver for many years to come. Because of that connection, I really hope it lives up to the expectations of a lifelong companion. A Recently got given this Seiko 5 as a birthday present for a significant milestone, and my first “proper” watch. It’s on the modest end of the spectrum compared to most, but you can feel the quality and effort that Seiko put into even into their most entry level watches. It feels very solid and like it will hopefully last a lifetime with good use.  
It’s going to be incredibly sentimental as it was a deeply thoughtful gift from my kids, and I can easily imagine it being my trusted daily driver for many years to come. Because of that connection, I really hope it lives up to the expectations of a lifelong companion. A mechanical watch has a unique soul compared to a smart watch, and knowing that this tiny engine is ticking away on my wrist purely through the kinetic motion of my daily life makes it feel incredibly special. It is the kind of engineering you can genuinely appreciate every single time you glance down to check the time.  
The only immediate drawback is the strap. I am seriously considering a new option though, as the original leather on this one is pretty stiff and taking a long time to break in properly. Upgrading the footwear on a watch is one of the best ways to completely transform its character and personal comfort. A softer strap would make it sit much better on the wrist and elevate the entire experience of wearing it every day watch has a unique soul compared to a smart watch (was wearing an Apple Watch before) and knowing that this tiny engine is ticking away on my wrist purely through the kinetic motion of my daily life makes it feel super special. It is the kind of engineering you can appreciate every single time you glance down to check the time.

The only immediate drawback is the strap. I am seriously considering a new option though, as the original leather on this one is pretty stiff and taking a long time to break in properly. A softer strap would make it sit much better on the wrist and elevate the entire experience of wearing it every day. Any thoughts on this or recommendations for where to look?

What do you guys think of the choice?

[Seiko SRPJ89K1] My First Watch