Watch Reviews 4U The Seiko 5 Blue Dial 7009-4040 Automatic Watch Japan review

 A look at the Classic Seiko 5 Blue Dial 7009-4040 model Automatic Watch

Seiko 5 Blue 7009-4040 On a leather strap

The Seiko 5 Series designed in the early 1970's from Japan is rightly a design classic and as it approaches its 50th anniversary, I'd like to do a review on what is probably my favourite version of the Seiko 5 watch.

Clean and unfussy, the Stainless back on this model

has been updated with a glass back on the modern version

I first came across Seiko watches in the early 70's - my uncle had come back from working in the USA and purchased a Seiko watch there which fascinated me. 

I hadn't seen anything as modern looking before, my grandfather's old Oris manual wind seemed so  old fashioned and uncomplicated in comparison. The Seiko with its alarm was just like something from outer space!

 

Striking blue dial and simple design

My first Seiko I owned was a Blue dial Seiko 5 7009-4040 with a Blue dial, purchased in 1983 for over £90, about 2 weeks wages then. It served me for over 12 years until the dial became disconnected and I should  really have had it fixed.

It was a tremendously accurate watch and I was just lucky to have chosen a design classic that worked as well as it looked. Powered by a Seiko movement, it was just a simple but modern dial and case design and was worn daily. 

I couldn't fault it and although I prefer larger 40mm + size watches now, this one is still a favourite even at the c. 37.5mm case size, I can read the dial easily and that suits me. Which Is why I have a few in my collection!

With the famous multi-link strap

The watch had an adjustable metal strap and I had to take a few links out of mine to get it the right size but it was very comfortable to wear, although some complained it caught the hair on the arm and pulled a bit. The bracelet was a nice multi-link design and seems better quality than the modern SNK version of it.

This design looks modern even now

The 'hair trapper' bracelet

The modern SNK Version of the old Blue 5 7009 series

Likely due to popular demand Seiko has brought a version of this old Seiko 5 to a new market. Still with the same sized sub 40mm case about 37.5mm, it looks the part. 

Now powered by a Citizen Miyota automatic movement, you still get a dependable and accurate piece that looks the part.

This modern SNK incarnation looks the part and is now Miyota powered

Seiko has obviously had its eye on the retro market in vintage watches and has likely seen the retro appeal of the Seiko 5 as a reason to effectively reissue it or responded to customer demand. Having owned both the original and the modern, the modern one stands up very well.

However, I have managed to find a few original 7009-4040's in Blue dial finish so I have gone 'back to the roots' and now have a few of those. The new version has a special 'wave' patterned guilloche dial which is nicely done, but the old classic blue is what appeals to me.

The Longines Master collection 40mm watch

A £2000 watch with similar styling to the old Seiko 5 in Blue

In conclusion, I have owned a good many watches over the years and in my opinion the Seiko 5 series ones I have owned have and continue to be in the collection because they are so good. The SNK ones are a more modern take on the old 7009 but still stand up very well in comparison. In the 1970's Seiko had a lot to prove and their quality of design and manufacture still shows - quality sells and these old ones are still popular.

If you get a chance to buy an old Seiko they are well worth having and are now truly vintage in their own right, servicing is fairly inexpensive and will keep your watch going for some years. Plus the sabres situation is still good.

Seiko 5 automatic watches - the design classic you should own!

The classic Seiko 5 - 50 years of great style

The great Seiko 5 in blue

As the Seiko 5 Series approaches half a century of production, this icon of watches has remained little changed. 

Some might call it retro fashion, I just think of it as a piece of great design in the vein of Bauhaus - where the beauty of the design was equal to the functionality.

For me, the Seiko 5 does both. The case looks modern and streamlined and surprisingly enough, is still available in an almost unchanged format from the originals.

Seiko 7009 - 4040 like mine

Years ago, in 1983 I purchased a 7070-4040 and I think it had to be about the best all round watch I ever owned. The finish was excellent, it kept perfect time and was reliable as anything. 

Recently, I decided to see what was around and found some old 4040's with the  blue face which I purchased. You can still find some decent used ones out there and also some of the Seiko 5's from similar model ranges. 

Modern Seiko 5 SNK with Blue face

I don't think you can go wrong here with one of these

Really for the money you can't go wrong. I personally think the blue face ones really look the nicest and those with the jubilee bracelet like the one above look best. The modern SNK version I think looks a good modern day alternative to a 4040 and they seem to enjoy good reviews.

Old school Seiko 5 6319 in blue from the early 1970's

Best of all, these don't need a battery, they are just powered by your movement! 

Check out Ebay for Seiko 5's, they are a good buy at the moment but interest is starting to pick up on them.

Going back in time - The classic Seiko 5 7009-4040 blue face 17 jewel automatic watch

Going back in time - The classic Seiko 5 automatic watch

The classic Seiko 5 7009-3040 automatic watch with blue face
virtually identical to the 4040 except the bezel is more vertical than angled

I first became aware of Seiko watches when my uncle brought one back from the United States in the 1970's. I was intrigued with this watch which had an alarm even though I was only about 6, so I hoped one day to own one. I was mechanically minded then.

Inside the Seiko 7009-4030 - the 17 jewel engine

I had to wait until 1983 to buy my own Seiko watch, going through a selection of mechanical and digital efforts from Timex, Solus, Casio from the age of about eight onwards, I purchased a mechanical watch in 1982 just after I started working but it wasn't very nice quality and what would you expect for £17 then? 

The Seiko it had to be

A walk past the local James Walker jewellers in my local high street back in 1983 presented me with a plethora of watches at a range of prices, the one I decided on was a Seiko 5 series with the dark blue dial. A 7009 - 4040.

I thought that the midnight blue colour dial really set off the stainless steel construction and it remains my favourite colour. I think from memory it cost me £90 which was at the time about 2 weeks wages and some more. 

It really was a great quality watch after my previous one, there was just no comparison. The 'made in Japan' quality was sought after around this time and was a guarantee of quality, Tokai guitars I also liked at this time had this same great build quality and finish. 

The Seiko stamped clasp on the jubilee strap

later ones have the Japan word stamped on too, some have the '5' logo.

I can remember having to have the strap altered on the blue Seiko as it was somewhat too large! It was certainly a hard wearing watch and really quite accurate, I wore it for about 15 years until I had a problem with the watch and should really have had it repaired.

The nicely finished case and strap has no sharp edges

The later straps have less pieces in them and the pieces are bigger. 

Nice modern design, even now it looks good.

This was designed in the early 1970's and hasn't aged in look.

I started a quest to replace my long lost Seiko 5 about 10 years ago, but I was not aware of the model number of mine from long ago. I was delighted then to see a modern version of my old one and bought one, but it just wasn't the same.

After much detective work, I managed to find one 7070....

And then another two! Now I have three!

Suddenly about a week ago, I found a Seiko 5 just like my old one in the dark blue, which I think was a rare colour back then I believe. 

And then found out the magic model number - 7009-4040 the designation for the blue one just like mine. Almost immediately I found two more Seiko 5's the in blue, so took a punt and have the three, as they were reasonably priced. 

Maybe buying an old Seiko 5 is a bit like turning back the clock, but I am certainly glad to have these in my collection. Although these are smaller than many current watches of the 40-45mm size - which seems the fashion and are easier to read, I do like the smaller Seiko, in fact I am wearing one now and it is keeping great time.

Another later Seiko 5 type, 21 jewels -

at the money, a good buy. No 4.

As a collectible watch, these Seiko 5's are still affordable and coming out of people's drawers after years of not being worn onto the market, so there are still some nice examples out there, also a few road worn ones too, but the prices are usually quite low, under £100 for a nice one still and £30 to 50 for quite usable ones.

But be aware, there are Seiko 5's being faked.... A lot are being done in India and are called 'Feikos' by the collectors - usually under £20 when they should be about £80 if genuinely original, some are 're-engined' old Seiko 5's and others well, just repros often using old parts. The stamping on the backs also often gives them away too, as well as the poor dial details.

Anyway, I am glad to have finally found some nice original Seiko 5s.