Sometimes, I kick myself for having ignored Seiko for so long. Not that I didn’t respect the brand, but my focus up until very recently was almost solely on Swiss and German watchmaking. My last few visits to Seiko at Baselworld, but especially the addition of vintage watch collector Michael Stockton to the Fratello Watches team a few years ago, have made me realize that there are so many nice Seiko watches to explore ? new and vintage.
We at Fratellowatches have covered Seiko numerous times in the meantime, and here I finally run down my Top 5 favorite Seiko watches. They comprise a combination of new and vintage Seiko models that are definitely worth checking out if you love watches. Each of them are on this list for a particular reason, from offering great value to simply being stunning. Without further ado, here are my Top 5 Seiko watches:
1. Seiko Marinemaster 300 SBDX001

The Marinemaster 300 is a serious divers’ watch from the Seiko Prospex (Professional Specification) collection, using a movement (Caliber 8L35) that was used as a base for the Grand Seiko 9S55 caliber. It doesn’t come cheaply (around the $2,000 mark) but the monobloc case, 8L35 movement and attractive appearance still gives you lots of bang for the buck. It can handle its competition from Switzerland and Germany in a higher price range very easily. The only downside to me is the stainless steel bracelet (which comes with most Seiko models), but this watch also comes with a “tr...