Opinion: 3 affordable blue dial Seiko watches for the skinny wrist in 2020.
When it comes to dial colours for versatility, black and white reign supreme. However, blue dials can often be as versatile and add some colour (literally) to your outfit. Let’s take a look at some affordable options from Seiko.
Seiko SNXS77
- Diameter: 37 mm
- Thickness: 12 mm
- Lug Width: 19 mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 43 mm
- Movement: 7S26 (automatic)
- Water Resistance: 30 m
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Price: $100
Probably the rarest piece on this list, this is the blue dial variant of the more popular Seiko SNXS79, which I covered here. Although these have been discontinued, they are still available in the grey market if you look hard enough. Serviceability will not be an issue given the ubiquity of the 7S26 movement, so grab one now when you still can.The gorgeous blue sunburst dial has dynamic play with the light as you would expect, changing from a deep navy to a bright electric blue. A versatile watch due to its stick markers and baton hands, the Seiko SNXS77 can easily take you from the board room to the beach.
Seiko SNKL43
- Diameter: 37 mm
- Thickness: 11 mm
- Lug width: 18 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 42 mm
- Movement: 7S26 (automatic)
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Price: $80
The SNKL43 should be easier to find compared to the SNXS77 if you’re looking for a really affordable blue dial watch from Seiko. Housed in what is described by some as the most comfortable Seiko 5 case, the SNKL43 should wear really well on the wrist. Its wider lugs also give it a sportier aesthetic, making this a great everyday watch. From what I can tell, the sunburst dial here is almost identical to that of the SNXS77. If you are adventurous enough, you can even swap the SNXS77 dial into the SNKL43 case to have the best of both! Note of caution: the SNXS77 movement and dial can be transplanted wholesale into the SNKL43 case, but it will not work the other way round due to the size difference of the plastic movement holder.
Seiko SRPB41
- Diameter: 40.5 mm
- Thickness: 11.8 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 47.5 mm
- Movement: 4R35 (automatic, hacking, hand-winding)
- Water resistance: 50 m
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Price: $340
The most flamboyant piece on this list, the Seiko SRPB41 is also affectionately known as the Blue Moon from Seiko’s reissue of the Cocktail Time series. The dial has a radial gradient from light blue in the centre to black around the edges and as you can see above, looks gorgeous against the light. The domed crystal also contributes to the light show and gives a nice distortion when angled. Even with the busy dial, legibility is not an issue as the hands feature a beveled edge with a brushed and polished surface on either side. It may not be as versatile as the others on this list, but it does certainly have a sense of occasion to it that is absent from the rest. Read the full review here.
