I 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 very sentimental as it was a  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 (like I was using 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 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. A softer strap would make it sit much better on the wrist and elevate the entire experience of wearing it every day.

What do you guys think of the choice? Personally I’m obsessed with it, and my opinion is the only one that really matters but I’m curious about how other people rate this watch, and this range of entry level Seiko’s in particular?

[Seiko] My First Watch