How could you be sure it wasn't counterfeit, Ben? If there was one product that screams counterfeit then it's a watch.
You'd be much braver than me to buy a decent watch from an overseas website. Perhaps you'll be lucky but if it was me I would stick to a reputable UK bricks and mortar Seiko dealer.
Ian
PS I love Seikos. I bought a Kinetic for £250 when I retired as a special treat and it's my prize possession, I love it
The online place is highly respected and held in good regard by Seiko experts all over the world, so there's nothing dodgy in that respect. I was going to go for a Kinetic, and still might, but I love looking through the glass on the back of the auto at the marvel that is the movements.
The problem seems to be that in Europe the auto range is very limited, mostly 7S26 movements (at a reasonable price anyway). I'd love a 6R15, but would be quite happy with a 4R36 / 37 / 38. The Kinetics appeal in that they are more accurate though, but then the autos (most of them) have a sweep second hand which is nice. My thinking is that as Mrs W got her eternity ring when Daisy was born, I should be able to treat myself when the next one comes along and before I get my bits cut off. And the Seikos are a hell of a lot less than her eternity ring
Any links to pictures, Ben? I'd love to see a few of what you're looking at.
Ian
EDIT - here's mine. It looks a bit tired now but it's been well worn and well-loved. It's the green face that won me over - very 'eco'. It was an impulse purchase
Well i had a nice watch bought for me from my wife when i retired and last year i was unloading the boot of the car and caught the winder knob somehow and it whipped it out! although i had not noticed it for a while, i found the knob in the boot and took the watch etc and had it repaired,
Never was any good after that really, anyway the wife went to the village church fete last summer and came home with a men's Sekonda wrist watch she bought for £2 for me, well it's been going for nearly a year and has not lost any time at all,
Mind you being retired now Time is something i at last do not have to worry about, thank goodness
Cheers,
Roger.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
In reply to Ian, this link compares the 6R15 with the 7S26, the 6R15 being reserved for the more expensive watches. I love the miniaturisation of the mechanics and the engineering (I'm not that arsed about the time )
That's a lovely watch Ian, my old one had a really simple white face and was a basic quartz, but I quite like the blue faces.
There is the 4R37 or 4R39 which seems to be a good compromise between price / performance. There is a nice example here, albeit with a black dial, which I can't make up my mind about.
Thanks for the links. They are all lovely, Ben, but not informal enough me. I never dress smartly any more, except at work - and then I need a digital watch to keep the trains on time!
I really like the green face one with the leather strap. It's got a lovely retro style. Of the bracelet ones, I like the expensive one the best, obviously
Good luck with your search - I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever you choose.
That's the thing Ian, I've worn a bracelet watch for years, but most of my earlier watches had a good old leather strap. I am tempted to venture back that way, but its been so long since I've worn one. I seem to remember (and its been a while) that the leather straps gave me sweaty wrists!
I had to laugh at the "formal" implication, I'm probably the least formal person I know. Work don't like it much
I just remembered I had another Seiko that I haven't worn for years. I fell in love with this one in Hong Kong (it was a reliable jewellery store where all the BA crew shopped so they needed our custom). It looks terribly dated now - real 80s bling But it made me happy for a while.
It now lives at the bottom of a box of cufflinks and other bits and pieces that I've never had a need for
EDIT - speaking of leather straps giving you sweaty wrists you can see that this one suffered from the opposite! Sweaty wrists discoloured the straps!
That's a smashing one mate. They do one very similar now, but looks more like a divers watch on the outside. I'd love to be traveling to all those places to make proper use of it
But it made me happy for a while.