Seiko Watches

Frequently Asked Questions | Are Seiko watches good?

Seiko is a well-established watch brand, with a long history of making great timepieces. They make quality watches at affordable prices and they have a reputation for being reliable and precise.

Seiko is a well-established watch brand, with a long history of making great timepieces. They make quality watches at affordable prices and they have a reputation for being reliable and precise.

They have some amazing watches for both men and women in the mid-range category that look and function like high-end luxury watches. The quality of Seiko watches is one of the features that makes them so popular. They are made with high-quality materials, and they have a long history of being durable and dependable. They are also known for their accuracy, which is another reason why they are so popular among collectors.

Where are Seiko watches made?

Seiko watches are predominantly made in Japan with a number of designs manufactured in Malaysia, Singapore, and China. However, all of their luxury watches are manufactured in-house. In fact, their luxury watches are made at the Shizuku-Ishi watch studio which is located in Iwate, Japan. An example of a luxury watch made here is the Grand Seiko watch.

Keeping you in mind, we offer Seiko watches directly to your door for free, Australia-wide. Our trusted, acclaimed sales and service team have been key to establishing our position as a trusted partner of Seiko watches in Australia.

Is Seiko a luxury watch?

Seiko is one of the top watch brands in the world. They have their own in-house movement factory where they develop and manufacture some of the best watch movements globally, many of which are used by other luxury watchmakers for their timepieces.

Seiko is known for its precision, reliability and excellence in design - attributes that have made it a trusted name in timepieces since 1881. It's also known for being accessible. Seiko has been making affordable luxury watches for decades, and it's widely regarded as a manufacturer of high-quality timepieces that won't break the bank. The Credor line, one of Seiko’s luxurious finishes, has highly decorated handmade movements that are only available as special order pieces and may take up to a year to produce. Some models cost several hundred thousand dollars each and are considered by many to be on par with true luxury brands.

At Watch Direct, you can find a wide range of Seiko watches in Australia.

How to spot fake Grand Seiko?

Fake or counterfeit watches are unfortunately a part of the industry and the first thing that you should do is to examine the watch thoroughly. In order to do so, you should compare it with an authentic one. This is not always possible, but if you have the chance, then it will be really helpful for you. The first thing that you can see are the markings: on an original watch, they are clear and crisp whereas on a fake one they are blurry and often not that deep.

Furthermore, the genuine Grand Seiko watches have a very specific serial number on the bottom left side of the case back. In fake GS watches, these serial numbers are often incorrect, or non-existent. Genuine GS watches have a specific weight to them, especially when compared to other Seikos. The bracelet, case and bezel should feel solid and well-made, not cheap-feeling like plastic or low-grade steel. Another feature you should look at is the hands: on an original watch, they are quite sharp and long, whereas on a fake one they may look shorter and thick. You can also pay attention to the sweep second hand: it must have a little red dot at its end. If it does not, then it means that the watch is fake.

Is old Seiko watches valuable?

Yes. In fact, many older Seiko watches are very valuable.

Seiko has been producing its own movements since 1959 and these are generally quite robust and reliable. Seiko has been making mechanical watches for over 60 years and they have produced some beautiful and interesting pieces in that time. Most of the vintage mechanical watches were made in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

The Seiko 7A series is a family of automatic movements from Seiko that provide timekeeping accuracy of between -15 to +25 seconds per day, approximately 40 hours of power reserve, date calendar, hacking second hand (stop-second function), 24 jewels and manual winding capability. The first movement was introduced in 1968.

Can you manually wind a Seiko automatic watch?

The short answer is yes, you can wind a Seiko automatic watch by hand. To manually wind your Seiko watch, simply find the crown on the right-hand side of your watch and pull it out to position 2 which is the manual winding position. All you need to do now is simply turn the crown clockwise 10-20 times in short sharp movements. You will feel some resistance as this builds up tension in the mainspring. Once you have done this, push the crown back into position 1 which is the normal running position and your watch should now be fully wound up and ready to run.

How to check Seiko's serial number?

Every Seiko watch has a serial number on the case backing. The first number in the serial number is the last number of the year in which it was made. Next, look at the first two digits of the serial number. These numbers will increase with each new model made.

For example: If your serial number starts with 9A, it means that your Seiko watch was manufactured in 1979 (9) and that it is the 1st watch made that day (A). Visit our online store to buy Seiko watches at a price point that's right for you.