Are you curious that all the other reviews say "under $200" and the price is closer to $400? That's because ALL the vendors are now running out of this watch, including Amazon, and STUPID SEIKO (great quality company otherwise) has decided to permanently discontinue this awesome watch!
There are two reasons to select a watch: good price for great function and good price for "sizzle" value. If you are 100% pragmatic, go for the Timex. If you have even the least bit of desire for sizzle-- this IS the one!
I confess that I've mostly been the Timex type, not the Swiss watch afficiando, or collector. My $20 watch died, and I was attracted to this one for two reasons (you will laugh): 1. Good size for small wrists in Seiko quality and a "sports" look and 2. Ease of adjusting the links yourself. Well, was I in for a surprise. I had no concept of how many people would say "WHAT IS that?" "WHERE did you get that?" Wow, now I get why people like the sizzle side. Whether you're in grubs or dress mode, it fits in-- you don't need one for sports/ leisure and one for business with this design. I've never had so many people comment on a watch, partly because mine have been so ho-hum, but mostly because this is an incredible look, with the contrasting mirror-like band spine and the contrasting grey/black face with red and white accents. I looked at over 30 other Seikos before deciding on this one-- save yourself all that surfing! Don't fault me for being obsessive, this is a lot to spend!
I also found that the "fix it" scratch repair pen seen on TV (by simoniz) works great for covering tiny nicks on the band. This is a permanent "ink" cover up, and I've also read that a simple permanent metal "magic marker" inks also work. Only one warning: these will eventually run out of stock, will not be made again, and as the supply dwindles, MSR, now over 500, will likely make these $450 plus, if you can get them at all. That's a LOT of money for a Timex guy! This is a big admission: for the first watch I ever bought that's over $300, I have no regrets! It's got a real look of class and success in a time when it's tough to achieve either. If you get this for your guy, I GUARANTEE he'll be blown away, even if he doesn't consider himself a "watch look" person.
Quick tips: 1. If you have a small wrist, the band will be very large, however, it's quite easy to remove links (between 4 and 5 will need to go), and the face, once on, looks awesome even with a small wrist. To remove the links, get a safety pin, and look at both sides of the pins in the band. One side will have a little score mark that looks like a screw, the other will have just a tiny rounded dot. Push in on the pin with your safety pin FROM the side with the dot NOT the "screw" looking (scored) side (otherwise you'll break the pin trying to take it completely out). If you have to remove 5, take two links from one side and three from the other.
2. When you first take the watch out of the box, if it seems like the clasp is IMPOSSIBLE to open (as in way too tight) do NOT try to force it open! This clasp has two little rectangular safety button catches you simply push in to pop the band clasp open! This prevents the band from becoming bent and eventually popping open all the time and is a quality feature, but if you've never had a watch with one of these, you might start trying to pry too hard and ruin the band. Once you see the little side buttons, it opens with ease.
3. ENJOY!
Buy Seiko Men's Chronograph Black Ion Watch #SNA765!
