Some of the hottest microbrands in the world owe a huge thanks to Seiko. Why? Well, without its mechaquartz movement technology, such brands would have never been able to kick things off with their attractive entry-priced chronograph offerings to introduce their designs to the world. It is a clever solution, offering hassle-free, lower-priced, accurate quartz timekeeping with the mechanical chronograph experience – a perfect first foray into an analogue timekeeper before one plunges into the depths of the sickness, remortgaging their house to afford a Micro Artist Studio creation…
And when it comes to forming an attractive design around a mechaquartz foundation, who better than the in-house manufacture that built the movement? Seiko’s latest trio of mechaquartz chronos, the SSB477, SSB479, and SSB481, offer vintage aesthetics that would be far more costly were you to buy something fully mechanical from the era, with its in-house 8T63 movement to keep pricing below US$500.
The cases
For this mechaquartz trio, each stainless steel case is what I would describe as Goldilocks-sized, not too small nor too big for the majority of wrists. Measuring in at 38mm in diameter, 12.6mm thick, and 45.1mm lug-to-lug across the wrist, the case has a modern-meet-vintage sense of proportion. The case finish is classic and sporty, with a full satin brush to both the case front and flanks. Framing the dial is a colour-matched bezel with a tachymetre scale in white to legibly contrast the backdrop.
The dials
No… The registers are not melting. The vintage-inspired box-shaped Hardlex crystal warps the registers at this angle.
Whether blue, black, or green (as seen above), each of the dials has a subdued matte finish, and with their darker hues, the three brighter chronograph registers at 9 o’clock (elapsed minutes), 6 o’clock (small seconds), and 3 o’clock (24-hour indicator) have a nice panda pop. To minimise the interruption of the contentious 4:30-positioned date window, each of the dials utilises a white-on-black date disc that, though not colour-matched, is certainly colour-blending – at least enough to not disrupt the symmetry of the three registers. Lastly, the outer perimeter of the dial and the three register sub-dials have a classic railroad track and a vintage-flavoured typeface to drive the classic vibes home.
Beyond the colour of the main dial, no two dials are exactly the same. The green dial’s distinct element is its usage of a rose gold tone for the applied Seiko logo, the applied hour indices, the three central hands, and the three small hands for the registers. For the black dial, though it shares the same white metal tone for the hands, indices, and Seiko logo, it is the only one of three to lean into some patina play, with an aged colour for the luminous material within the central hours and minutes hand and the backdrop of the three registers. The blue dial variant keeps the metal and register backdrop white, and perhaps feels the most modern as a result.
The bracelet
The Seiko SSB477 (blue), SSB479 (black), and SSB481 (green) are all affixed to a case-matching stainless steel bracelet that is Jubilee-esque in look, but only has two narrow and polished intermediary links. The polished accents throughout the watch overall are scarce to keep a vintage, tool watch feel, with only the narrow links, the crown, the pushers, and the bezel frame given a mirror finish. Should you wish to play strap monster, the 20mm lug width measurement caters to a near-infinite number of options.
The movement
Were you to look under the solid caseback, you would find the aforementioned in-house 8T63 mechaquartz movement. It offers reliable, hassle-free timekeeping with an accuracy range of plus or minus 15 seconds per month and an approximate autonomy of three years before you would need to have the battery replaced.
The verdict
In terms of Seiko releases, I am not going to go so far as saying these three watches are the most exciting releases from the brand within the last year. Then again, the Seiko SSB477, SSB479, and SSB481 are not meant to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they are meant to deliver a look and performance that Seiko (and I) understandbly expect many watch wearers around the world will enjoy. At a price of US$450, to deliver an in-house design with a desirable vintage aesthetic and sense of proportion is a job well done. It is simply a matter of where you are in your collecting journey, and if you are in the market for something stable, not too expensive in the context of the broader watch market, with a timeless sense of proportion and design that will never go out of style.
Seiko SSB477, SSB479 and SSB481 pricing and availability
The Seiko SSB477, SSB479, and SSB481 are all available now for purchase. Price: US$450
Brand
Seiko
Reference
SSB477 (blue)
SSB479 (black)
SSB481 (green)
Case Dimensions
38mm (D) x 12.6mm (T) x 45.1mm (LTL)
Case Material
Stainless steel
Water Resistance
50 metres
Crystal(s)
Boxed Hardlex crystal front
Dial
Matte blue, white-registers
Matte black, aged registers
Matte green, white registers
Strap
Stainless steel bracelet, three-fold clasp
Movement
8T63, in-house, mechaquartz
Battery Life
~3 years
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, 24-hour indicator, chronograph
Availability
Now
Price
US$450