Seiko SNK809 Review: A Worthy Choice With a Good Bang for Buck

Written by Paul Morrison
| Last Updated on July 22, 2021

We love a good watch because of how functional and stylish it is at the same time. We can’t imagine leaving our house without wearing our favorite watch.

Through the years, Seiko has always been a crowd favorite because of the diverse options they have. The watches come in different styles, colors, and movements.

But lately, Seiko is making rounds on the internet because of its Seiko 5 SNK809.

It’s becoming one of the most popular automatic watches from Seiko, and in this guide, we will tell you why.

Seiko SNK809

★★★★★

Seiko SNK809

Pros

  • A reliable and affordable timepiece for both adults and children
  • The Seiko SNK series comes in various color options: black, red, beige, green, and blue dial
  • Replaceable strap
  • Functional and stylish

Specifications

  • Model: SNK809
  • Case Dial: 37mm
  • Power Reserve: 40 hours
  • Strap or Lug Size: 18mm
  • Movement: Automatic
  • Water Resistance: 30mm

Introducing, the Seiko SNK809

History

Before we go any deeper with the Seiko SNK watches, let’s go back to where all the greatness began.

Since the 1960’s Seiko has set itself to be a watch brand that provides a wide range of selection, at an affordable price point. And the rest is pretty much history for Seiko.

Seiko only kept improving through the years, delivering the most unique and functional watches. And through those years, the Seiko 5 came to life.

For many watch enthusiasts and watch collectors, the Seiko 5 already rings a lot of bells.

It’s practically a watch that checks everything you’d want for a timepiece: 4 o clock crown location automatic, day/date feature, durable body, great water resistance, and more!

But with the creation of the Seiko 5 SNK 809, we can say Seiko outdid themselves once again. It stands as one of the best automatic watches in the market coming from a big brand, without breaking your budget.

You read that right, the Seiko 5 SNK 809 comes at a pretty affordable price point.

And to think that this Seiko watch is powered by the all-too-familiar and powerful 7S26 automatic movement, it’s practically a steal!

Why can’t we get enough of the Seiko 5 SNK, and what makes it the best?

Out of the Box First Impressions

Watches in the Seiko 5 family are stunners when it comes to physical appearance. This is why we set our expectations pretty high when it comes to the SNK809.

And boy we weren’t disappointed. If at all, it probably exceeded our expectations. Fresh right out of the box, the SNK809 just looks so stunning. But not in the flashy and shiny way.

The watch looks very clean and simple, you can wear it with any outfit! And that’s one of the many reasons why we love this Seiko 5 watch.

Gorgeous Black Dial

Seiko snk809 dial

One of the many reasons why this SNK watch is so beautiful is because of its dial. It’s clean and sleek and works well with any style. Strangely enough, it looks both modern and classic at the same time.

The dial is very easy to read thanks to its white markings. But unlike other watches, the Seiko 5 SNK watch has markings for both minutes and hours.

The outer circle sports markings for the minutes, instead of the hours. While the inner circle markings indicate the hours. It’s a design unlike what we’ve seen before.

You’ll also find the day/date display on the 3 o clock marking, a design we’re all too familiar with.

Believe it or not, you can even enjoy the beautiful display at night! Both the hands and markings sports luminous features, for you to tell the time of day even in the dark.

Now if you plan to change the time, you might notice a slight difference with the crown positioning. Why? Well, the crown isn’t in your usual 3 o clock position.

Instead, this Seiko 5 SNK watch sports a 4 o clock crown position. It might need some getting used to, but otherwise, it’s appealing nonetheless!

Overall, the brushed stainless steel finish on the case and lugs gives this Seiko 5 SNK watch a nice modern finish. It gives it a nice and premium feel, set at a very affordable price.

Case Back

Seiko SNK809 back

The back of this Seiko 5 SNK watch is just as impressive as its face. If you flip the SNK809 over, you can marvel at the beautiful and unique exhibition case.

It’s like a skeleton watch but only in reverse! You can watch the inner workings of this Seiko 5 SNK, and be amazed at how the 7S26 movement powers this timepiece.

Without a doubt, the case back is easily one of our many favorites from the SNK809. Who would have thought that this watch offers so much more on its backside?

Canvas Watch Strap

So far, we’re loving every aspect of this Seiko SNK watch. But when it comes to the strap, we’re still trying to wrap our heads around it.

You see, the SNK809 sports a black canvas strap. Does it look bad? Not exactly.

But for us, the watch strap could’ve been better. If Seiko decided to use a different strap for this watch, then we might not have anything bad to say about it!

Nevertheless, once you’ve got your head around the canvas strap, you’ll end up loving it anyway.

The strap looks pretty basic, it’s comfortable on the wrist and not bad for everyday wear.

But if you’re still unhappy with the strap, the 18mm lugs lets you spice things up. You can change the canvas strap to something different.

And the good thing about this is that you’ve got a ton of choices ahead of you. So consider this a redeeming factor for this Seiko SNK 5 automatic watch.

Automatic Watch Movement

Like other watches in its line, Seiko used its 7S26 movement to power this timepiece. Safe to say, it’s pretty decent. It’s simple and reliable, two of the most important characteristics you’d want to watch out for.

Because the Seiko SNK line is an automatic watch, you’ll need to wear this timepiece regularly to keep it running. Nevertheless, the SNK line movement sports up to 40 hours of power reserve.

Watch Size

The SNK809 looks a little small for some people, measuring only 37mm wide. That said, the size makes it a good unisex watch! Not too small nor wide, just in between.

However, for people with larger wrists, the SNK809 might appear too small. Luckily, Seiko offers other watches similar to this one to enjoy!

Overall Impressions

Like what we’ve said before, the SNK809 comes with a pretty affordable price tag. It sells for less than $100, and can even get lower when you chance upon a sale.

That being said, you’ll need to manage your expectations when it comes to quality.

It’s not that this watch isn’t decent. But if you compare it with bigger brands or other Seiko models, the SNK809 might feel a little short.

Nevertheless, it’s still decent and impressive when ranked with similarly priced watches, and among one of the best Seiko watches in it’s pricerange. We even dare to say it can outrank other expensive watches out there. It’s that good.

Although the Seiko SNK doesn’t use any fancy sapphire material, Seiko still made sure the watch is fully protected.

Seiko uses Hardlex for the dial, similar to its other line, making it scratch resistance. You don’t have to worry about the face being damaged any time soon.

The second-hand sports a nice red tinge, to make it stand out. Plus, the Seiko SNK sports a decent water resistance, measuring at 30m. If you ask us, it’s not bad at all.

This Seiko timepiece feels great on the wrist and isn’t heavy at all. You can move your hands around without the strap bothering you!

Conclusion

Now that you know more about the SNK809, what are you waiting for? It’s high time to get one for yourself! It’s affordable, comes with tons of color options, completes your look, and more!

And if you manage to find a sale for this watch, don’t pass on it! You’ll be missing out on a great deal!

Anywhere you go, regardless of the place, the SNK809 will fit in seamlessly on your hand. What’s not to love about that?

We hope you enjoyed our review of the SNK809. Feel free to leave a comment below, and let us know what you think of the watch! We’d love to hear all about it.

You can also share and post this guide to your friends! Who knows? They might also be looking for some of the best watch models out there.

Seiko SNK809

★★★★★

Seiko SNK809

FAQ’s

What Straps Can I Get for the SNK809?

You can always change the color and design of your straps to fit your mood. Luckily, you can get the straps nearly anywhere or any place which sells straps.

But of course, you don’t want just any strap or bracelets. As much as possible, you’d want to make sure it’s quality complements the dial.

We recommend pairing the SNK809 with a leather nato strap, canvas, perlon, or anything that looks plain. A nato strap and canvas come highly recommended by a lot of people.

In general, you’d want to stay away from fancy leather straps because it won’t look great with the casual appearance of this watch.

Is the Seiko SNK809 Worth It?

The SNK line is a worthy choice. Considering its durable stainless steel case, reliable features, awesome movement, and more, why not?

You won’t find watches that come at an affordable price like this one, which is pretty much a bang for your buck if you’d ask us! If you’re lucky, you might even chance upon a sale!

It’s the perfect watch for everyone, kids and adults alike. And if you’re new to the world of watches, why don’t you give this watch a chance?

The size is average, making it ideal for any wrist. It has some of the things you’d want for a starter watch, and even more!

You can also mix and match the watch strap depending on your style and look.

About Paul Morrison

For years I’ve been buying and selling watches as a hobby, which led me to the decision of starting Watch for Tomorrow. I write a lot of the content, and I enjoy doing it. The most important aspect for me is the guidance of buying watches as well as avoiding bad ones. There are many bad watches out there, that are just too expensive. Hopefully, I can help you find your dream watch!