The Seiko 5 Sports SNXS Returns

No frills but a lot of value.

In production for decades and one of Seiko’s most affordable mechanical watches, the SNX series has been updated and refined to create the Seiko 5 Sports SNXS Series. According to Seiko, the SNXS was inspired by “EDC”, short for “everyday carry”, a catchall phrase for useful items that can be carried on your person. Consequently, the SNXS is concise, practical, and very accessible.

Available in three distinct dial variants, black, blue, and ivory, the SNXS features a clean dial made more interesting with an orange seconds hand, patina lume, and a contrast-colour flange. The case is an evolution of the historical SNX design and matched with a steel bracelet. And like most Seiko 5 models, the SNXS has an automatic movement with a day-date function.

Initial Thoughts

It is safe to say that Seiko has a dominant position in the sub-US$500 segment, with the Seiko 5 leading the way. They are robust and reliable, so much so Seiko is something of the gateway drug to the world mechanical watches. Although simple in execution, the fit and finish of Seiko 5 in general is impressive for the price point.

The Seiko 5 is available in a myriad of flavours, from the Seiko 5 Sports Bruce Lee Edition to the Seiko 5 Sports Street Fighter V. The SNXS Series, however, adopts a different spirit with its low key and vintage-inspired aesthetic.

The design is simple but detailed nicely with contrast finishing on the case surfaces. It does without a sport bezel, though the baton hands and indices give it a tool watch-like aesthetic. The orange second-hand adds a nice pop of colour to what would might have been a monochromatic watch. At under US$400, the Seiko 5 Sports SNXS Series is obviously an excellent value proposition.

Clean aesthetics

Although the Seiko 5 Sports SNXS Series is part of the wider Seiko 5 Sports line, it shares few similarities with the rest of the collection. Granted, it has the recessed crown at four – a trademark of the Seiko 5 – but it has a cleaner aesthetic without a rotating bezel and simple baton indices and hands.

Instead, the SNXS Series has a simple fixed bezel, no crown guards, and newly designed bracelet. Though simple, the case is finished with alternating brushed and polished surfaces, and offers 100 m of water-resistance.

The dial itself is also very different from the rest of the line-up. All three colours are finished with a sunburst brushing that gives it a bit more of a refined appearance compared to most Seiko 5 models.

Like other Seiko 5 models, the SNXS is powered by the 4R36. It’s an in-house automatic with 41 hours of power reserve and a day-date function.