Review: Seiko 5 Sport SNZG13

It’s been some time since we reviewed a Seiko on worn&wound, which is a shame because Seiko is one of our favorite brands. As long time readers may recall, we’ve reviewed a number of Seiko’s including two from their Seiko 5 line, the SNK military field watch and SNZH diver, both of which have quite a following from the watch nerd community. Seiko 5’s are known for being sturdy, affordable mechanical watches that come in a variety of flavors, and today we’re going to take a look at the SNZG, a mid-sized military field watch that retails for $100 to $115 depending on strap choice.

The Seiko 5 line of watches is vast, including watches from a number of genres (dive, dress, military) with varying dial colors, case finishes and strap choices for each model. That said, you very well may be wondering “What makes a Seiko 5 a Seiko 5?” That’s a great question, and from researching the subject, I have learned that the 5 in the Seiko 5 name signifies five key components of any Seiko 5 watch found across the entire line. These components are as follows;

1. Automatic mechanical movement
2. Day/Date display
3. Water resistance (varies across line)
4. Diaflex mainspring (commonly referred to as “unbreakable”)
5. Diashock shock resistant design

It is rather amazing that these are the standards for a line of mechanical watches that are frequently priced well below $200, and are often found available for $100 or less. Add to the equation that Seiko is a brand with roots dating back to the late 1800’s, with a horological tradition as rich as many Swiss brands, and the value of a Seiko 5 is much greater than its price tag may suggest.

Now that you know a bit more about Seiko 5’s your next thought may be “Great, I’m sold. Now which Seiko 5 is right for me?” Another great question. The Seiko 5 variations are endless, though a good place to start when trying to decide which is right for you may be to look at those models that have, over time, developed a fan base. Included in this group are two watches that we have reviewed on worn&wound, the SNZH diver and SNK military field. As Zach pointed out in his review of the SNZH, its a diver with heritage design elements similar to that of the iconic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, making it a no brainer Seiko 5 for dive enthusiasts. As for the SNZ, it’s classic military styling is spot on, and is commonly priced well less than $100, making it another great Seiko 5 pick. Unfortunately for those who prefer mid-sized to larger watches, the SNK is not an option, measuring just north of 37mm in diameter.

This is where the Seiko 5 SNZG steps into the spotlight. Measuring a more robust 42mm in diameter, the SNZG is a great Seiko 5 pick for someone in the market for an affordable mechanical military field watch. It is available at an astounding price of $115 with metal bracelet, as reviewed here, or as low as $100 on a nylon strap.  So, without further ado, lets jump into the specifics of the SNZG.

Case

The case of the SNZG is simple and clean with really no frills or surprises to speak of. Measuring 42mm in diameter and 12mm tall, it sits in a comfortable middle ground between the larger watches that are very popular of late and the sub 40mm pieces of yesteryear. The top case of the SNZG is a brushed finish, and along the sides is polished finish. On the rear of the watch you will find a display window revealing the 23 jewel Seiko 7s26c automatic movement, which in and of itself is not much to look at, but on a watch that sells for $100, the addition of a display window is more than you should expect. As per usual with Seiko watches, the SNZG also features Seiko’s proprietary and very scratch resistant hardlex crystal.

While the details of the SNZG’s case may sound a bit unremarkable, that is rather appropriate for the military field watch aesthetic. In fact, I bet in 20 years, a Seiko SNZG with its fair share of dings, scratches and a bit of patina is going to make for one bad ass looking military watch. Also, as mentioned previously, the SNZG’s size fills a void in the Seiko 5 line for a mid-sized field watch. Especially for those Seko SNK fans out there with larger wrists, the SNZG case may very well be a thing of beauty.

Dial

The dial of the SNZG is good example of a utilitarian dial that while displaying considerable information, remains well balanced, clean and legible. Along the very outer rim of the dial is a raised internal bezel with large luminescent hash markers for hours and small non-lume hash markers for minutes/seconds. This raised bezel not only ads depth to the dial, but also draws your eye toward the hour/minute/second markers with a greater ease.

Moving further toward the center of the dial, you will find a large 12-hour numerical scale. A bit further in from there you will find a 24-hour scale. This is common for the military field watch, and provides a touch of authenticity and utilitarian sensibility to the watch. Also on the dial is an applied Seiko 5 logo with the work “Sports” printed beneath it, and the words Automatic, 23 jewels and 100M above the 6 o’clock position.

As you may recall, one of the five key elements of any seiko 5 is the presence of a day/date function. What we really like about the day/date on the SNZG is that the date wheel matches the dial with white text on a black background. Lastly, the hour and minute hands of the SNZG are fence post style and are fully luminescent, while jus the red pointed tip of the second hand is lume filled.

Straps and Wearability

The SNZG we tested came with a stainless steel bracelet which adds approximately $15 to the total price of the watch (as priced on amazon.com). The bracelet is comfortable to wear and provides for a slightly more “dressed up” look. It features a signed deployment clasp, and we found resizing the bracelet to easy. IT is worth noting however that the mechanism that attaches the bracelet to the lugs of the SNZG (and several other Seiko’s we’ve tested) is quite tough to adjust. Taking the bracelet off is fairly painless, bit getting it back on is quite difficult. This has a but to do with the snug fit of the bracelet to the case of the SNZG, so to that end, the trouble may be worth it. Nevertheless, it is worth noting.

As you may imagine, the SNZG also looks great on a nylon NATO strap. The Military styling of the watch pairs perfectly with the rugged good looks of a nylon NATO, we have pictured it here with a green NATO, but it does look fantastic on other colors as well.

On both the steel bracelet and nylon NATOS I found that the SNZG paired quite well with both formal office attire (slacks, oxford shirt, leather shoes) and weekend rags. The metal bracelet certainly helps the the SNZG look at times a bit more formal and at others quite sporty. And with either the bracelet or a NATO, the SNZG is quite comfortable to wear, making it an ideal watch for daily use.

Conclusion

There is a lot to like about the Seiko 5 SNZG, from its spot on military styling to its trusty, and full-featured Seiko automatic movement. Further, I found that the versatile styling of the SNZG made it ideal for daily wear. So, at $115 with a metal bracelet or $100 on nylon, the SNZG seems like an obvious addition to any watch nerd’s collection, or the perfect starter mechanical for a young collector. It is also important to keep in mind however that the Seiko 5 line is held up to higher standards for excellence than most other watches in its price range, and comes from a company with horological roots dating back the late 1800’s. So whether you’re an avid collector or new to the world of watches, appreciate the Seiko 5 for all that it has to offer and all that it stands for.