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.

Chinese Mechanical and Automatic watches - good or bad?

A quick look at higher quality Chinese made watches

Stylish watches that often suffer from 'questionable' brand names?

Forsining brand watch - a bit too close to Foreskin - your opinion?

There are some nicely styled watches made in China on the market, at what look like ridiculously low prices. Are they all show and unreliable? Or are they viable alternatives to Quartz watches?

If you collect watches, the biggest drawback is that Quartz watches use batteries that typically last a year or eighteen months typically, so an inconvenience to have to keep renewing them. 

Automatic and manual watches may seem 'old school' but they are a better solution in that they never need batteries and a reliable movement can be an accurate time keeper, adequate for most of our needs.

Attractive styling - and price meaning you can often own a selection

There are some reviews on sites where some customers have reported reliability or time keeping issues, but then consider that of the many watches that are produced, the reviews are often good and the negative and problems reported seem few in context to the happy customers.

Jaragar - nearly Jaguar, why not Jagura?

The better made Chinese watches often feature genuine Citizen/Miyota type movements which have long been used in Japanese quality watches. Some cheaper ones do use 'clone' movements. 

Jaragar triangular shape watch - modern sports look and inexpensive

Generally speaking a genuine movement should give excellent timekeeping. Some watch forums contributors have criticized the assembly of parts, such as leaving fingerprints, inconsistency with lubrication of the movements, hair or dust on the movements etc.

The design and the finished product often look modern, but the real problem is the brand names. The ones they choose often might work in the far east, but don't work in the West.

Sewor - Sewer is too close, surely?

Stylish Sewor watches, but again let down by their brand name which is too close to 'Sewer', if only the factory had consulted with British brand name specialists or marketers before production, then the likelihood is that they would sell better.

Impress the ladies with your Parnis - Oo err Missus...

Parnis are nicely made watches with an almost 'French' sounding name but almost sounds too close to a male body part for some? 

46mm of Parnis! Even the hour hand looks like a knob!

If you forget the 'watch snobbery' - then you will often find that your stylish and inexpensive watch has people asking where you got it and then are surprised at the smaller price tag then they were expecting.

Parnis unbranded military/aviator style watch - 

looks attractive and classic and has no embarrassing brand name -

and at probably under £100 - could pass for a £500+ watch

Hand wind Swiss type movement Parnis for £60?

Corgeut in Blue - nice styling -

note the accurate strap stitching a sign of quality.

Unusual dished ribbed bezel.

Another nice 44mm Parnis

Parnis Chronometer with automatic movement 

a 44mm watch with power reserve indicator for around £60?

Stuhrling - Why not Sterling? 

But a clever play on combining the German 'Uhren' for watch and Sterling.

Stuhrling - the works view through the glass back

A nicely presented movement

Stuhrling is another interesting brand with a wide variety of products, at the higher end, they are higher priced. Often as with the watches featured in this discussion, they are 21 plus jewels movements which perform smoothly and keep good time.

Seagull - this one features a Swiss movement -  

some similar upmarket Chinese brands use the Unitas and similar movements

Finally, we move to the use of Swiss movements in Chinese watches. Essentially a good move, when combined with a nicely designed case and face, the Swiss movement is often seen as the desirable movement to have.

When you see a big name Swiss watch costing thousands, then the inclusion of a Swiss movement into a stylish far eastern attractive chassis makes good economic sense for the customer and the producer. 

Elegant Pilot style 6497 Corgeut, the unusual bezel I like

at around £70 why not? 

These watches fill a void between quartz watches, low end manual and automatics and the big name often Swiss made brands. 

Corgeut - sounds French a bit like Courgette 

but better than most brand names from Chinese watches! 

has a 6497 style movement and 44mm at the price what's not to like?

Filling the mid range £400 plus bracket watch range, these are affordable and appeal to many who want to wear a stylish watch that looks more expensive that it actually cost. 

A 6497 46mm case one which looks very Aviator at around £50 worth a punt

hand wound but a small price to pay - like the price tag!

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for they say and the higher end Chinese made watches have perfectly filled a market, a good product at a good price with reliability. The only negative is sometimes that the names are not always attractive to Western consumers.

Certainly for the price, you should get some years of use from them. Any on this review look stylish and classy, for the money they are good, but as I say you get what you pay for, however, some Chinese watches are high priced when they don't need to be so shop around.