It?s well-known that we?re big fans of the Seiko 5 line here at Worn & Wound, and I?m certain that it?s a sentiment shared by many watch lovers across the spectrum of collecting. Because they’re very cheap, Seiko 5 watches are often called the ultimate gateway into mechanical timekeeping ? the first steps into the shallow end of the pool before the obsession takes hold and we get pulled into the deep end. But I think that does a disservice to these timepieces because, money considerations aside, these are truly great watches that punch well above their weight. Zach, who?s probably handled thousands of watches at this point and has owned some truly wonderful pieces over the years, still wears his SNK regularly, and that’s because the watch simply holds up.  I recently took a deep dive on Amazon to see what other cool Seiko 5s exist, and for today?s guide I?ve rounded up some of my favorites ? and all of them can be had for well under $200 a pop. 
“Fifty Fathoms-lite”

Refs. SNZH53, SNZH55, and SNZH57

This one?s a bit of a classic and it?s a deep cut to the early days of Worn & Wound. Unsurprisingly, it still holds it own. The SNZH5x-series measures 42 millimeters across and features models with metallic blue dial, a black dial, or a black dial with golden accents, respectively.  Aesthetically, it is reminiscent of the Fifty Fathoms, and these get modded with some regularity to look even more like the FF. Regardless, this one?s a looker...