The good news is, this raises the entire watch off your wrist a bit and gives you a bit of extra wiggle room when moving your wrist around, adding to the overall comfort. This movement adds hacking and hand-winding features that aren’t entirely necessary but are nice-to-haves, becoming more common in entry-level watches. At only 37mm in diameter, and 11mm thick, the SNK355 sits close to the wrist, making it an extremely dressy-looking piece that is just screaming to be worn on an exotic leather strap like a crocodile or lizard. This is more of the vintage Rolex that has been passed down in the family for generations look, rather than the large, blingy gold monstrosities you might find on a rapper’s wrist. If you want a watch that is simple and clean enough to be worn as a dress watch, but still sporty enough to be rocked every day, the SNKL41 may be the perfect choice for you.

The top-brushed lugs are accented by a polished bevel that really adds some visual dimensions when viewing this watch from different angles. The thickness of the strap combined with the raw, unstitched edges makes the leather strap wear very thick and was instantly recognizable, for me, as a perfect fit. While many of us might not need such an apparatus on our watch, one that our phones can likely do better for us non-divers, I like using it to time how much time is left for food in the oven, or how much time I have left in a parking meter. The circular case and the fixed bezel have been polished, while a recessed crown is positioned besides at the 4 o’clock mark, which allows the watch to sit comfortably upon the wearer’s wrist.Easily one of the most beautiful affordable alternatives to the Seiko SARB is its Seiko 5 counterpart, the SNKL23. If you’re the active type and don’t have the budget to amass a stable of Seiko watches for men, avoid formal looks and stainless steel bands. A matching black date wheel ensures continuity throughout the entirety of the dial, with no harsh visual breaks like some other watches tend t have. If there is a SNKL45J1 it is made in Japan, has "Made in Japan" written on the dial and is more likely to have Arabic as the second language on the day dial. Closer to a field watch than a dress watch, if a more rugged and tough vibe is what you’re looking for, the Hamilton Khaki Field is a great alternative.

The Seiko SNXS79 has rather unusual dimensions that, on paper, don’t really reflect how the watch wears. However, while the watch will survive for generations, if properly looked after, you will need to have the movement serviced by an experienced watchmaker. Sunburst watch dials can be a bit flashy, as they vary greatly in different lighting conditions, while glossy or matte dials usually look rather neutral. One of those dramatic elements is its black dial featuring intricate subdials and more gold accents. The included Jubilee bracelet is one of the most solid I’ve ever worn, and I’ve tried dozens of third-party Jubilees from companies like Strapcode for watches like my SKX.Housed inside of the Visodate is an impressive Swiss automatic movement with hacking and hand winding. These Seiko 5s still offer incredible value for the money, and like most Seiko 5s, they look much more expensive than they really are.

This is the case with every mechanical watch, as its series of tiny mechanical parts need to occasionally be cleaned and lubricated to run properly. If you’re looking to make an impression with your watch as opposed to having it blend seamlessly into your wrist, this’ll do that and do it well. This watch is a strap monster, and the neutral silver-white dial means you can really have fun experimenting with different colors as well. I also wasn’t a fan of the all polished case of the SNXS79, and how easily the mineral crystal smudged up and looked ‘dirty’ from fingerprint smudges all the time (little did I know, sapphire crystals can be WORSE about this sometimes). The SRPE53 takes some of the dive watch elements from the SKX, namely the large, rounded hour markers, and beefy hands, both filled with lume to glow in the dark.Of course, this watch would look just as at home on a brown or black leather band, to enhance that rugged, tool-watch look. I was gifted a gold Seiko 5 from the ’80s passed down from my grandfather, which I wear regularly, and barely shows any signs of wear.