Got this watch as a gift in 2014. 6 years later, I still find myself admiring this little Seiko SNK809 whenever I put it on the wrist!

I did some minor modding throughout the years: – Domed sapphire crystal – Removed Seiko 5 shield. I’d been wearing the Seiko SNK809 for years before my watch collecting journey picked up about a year ago. A few Seikos later, I’d still say the SNK wears the best (43mm lug to lug) on my 15cm wrist. Although the 18mm lug is not ideal for my strap collection, the versatility of this bad boy is off the roof! Dress it down on a nato for a more casual look, or pairing it with an oxford shirt and a leather strap, this watch can do it all.

Removing the 5 shield definitely gave this watch a totally new look (for me at least). Upon closer inspection, the 2 holes left behind from the shield can be seen. The black dial definitely helps to hide it. Wouldn’t recommend this for snk803 or snk807 though haha. The 7S26 movement gets the job done so there are no complaints from me. Also, the power reserve is decent at about 40 hours.

One minor gripe for me would be the tiny crown that messes up my manicure, just kidding. The crown is just a bit hard to pull out due to its size, even for my smaller fingers. Back to why I’m calling this a gateway automatic watch. At this seiko SNK809’s affordable pricing, I believe this would be the perfect first pickup for anyone looking for their first automatic watch. This Seiko will fit easily into anyone’s wardrobe due to its versatile styling. At about 80 USD for an automatic with a bit of brand heritage, what more can you ask for?