This topic may have been covered before. I've read a few things about Seiko kinetic watches but would like some feed back here. What do you all think about the Seiko kinetic movement? I own mostly automatic watches and am currently wearing my Seiko Ananta Double Retrograde Automatic. I am thinking about rounding out my Seiko watch collection with a kinetic movement. I don't want to spend more than a couple of hundred dollars for a kinetic as I am currently saving my money to buy a Grand Seiko automatic. So, are the kinetic movements any good? Is the 5M84 a good movement? Are they reliable? Are they durable meaning will the kinetic movement last a lifetime? Your thoughts please. I'll worry about getting a Spring Drive watch after I get my hands on a Grand Seiko automatic. Thank you in advance.
Your thoughts on Seiko Kinetics, please
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There are a lot of threads on this board and others with folks' thoughts on Kinetics - some love them, some hate them. Just do a quick search for any thread that discusses any aspect of Kinetics - usually general opinions come out even in the most technically-oriented threads.
Operationally, you can expect the same performance as a quartz watch (that's all they really are - a quartz movement with a tiny generator integrated into the circuitry). Personally, I own two Kinetics - one with a 5M62 and one with a 5M65 - and have found them to be reliable and accurate.
The major sticking point seems to be that to get one fully charged and keep it there, you have to wear the watch very frequently (i.e., every day, or at least every other). For this reason (and because anyone on this site likely owns multiple watches!), solutions on the internet range from buying one of Seiko's own Kinetic induction chargers (read: $$$), to mickey-mousing one out of an old Sonicare charger, to (of course) wearing it all the time. I'm not too OCD about keeping mine fully charged - they usually hover somewhere around the 7-days-to-1-month charge indicator, which is fine with me. Occasionally wearing one on a jog doesn't hurt, either.
Give the other threads on this site a read, and why not buy a used one online (or in the SCTP) and give it a test drive?
Cheers,
TW
Operationally, you can expect the same performance as a quartz watch (that's all they really are - a quartz movement with a tiny generator integrated into the circuitry). Personally, I own two Kinetics - one with a 5M62 and one with a 5M65 - and have found them to be reliable and accurate.
The major sticking point seems to be that to get one fully charged and keep it there, you have to wear the watch very frequently (i.e., every day, or at least every other). For this reason (and because anyone on this site likely owns multiple watches!), solutions on the internet range from buying one of Seiko's own Kinetic induction chargers (read: $$$), to mickey-mousing one out of an old Sonicare charger, to (of course) wearing it all the time. I'm not too OCD about keeping mine fully charged - they usually hover somewhere around the 7-days-to-1-month charge indicator, which is fine with me. Occasionally wearing one on a jog doesn't hurt, either.
Give the other threads on this site a read, and why not buy a used one online (or in the SCTP) and give it a test drive?
Cheers,
TW
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My Kinetic is a perpetual model and has the TRS (Time Relay System) which means the watch suspends hand movement after 2 days of inactivity but continues to keep time inside the circuitry. When you finally move it again, the hands spin around to the correct time, to the second. Not only a great way to get long charge life but fun to watch too !
With TRS the charge purportedly lasts 6 months or more.
With TRS the charge purportedly lasts 6 months or more.
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Wow that's impressive engineering from the Japs yet again
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Similar "impressive engineering" present in the Citizen Eco-Drives with power save modes 1 and 2. PS1 stops the second hand when watch deprived of light. PS2 stops the hour and minute hands when watch is light-deprived for a longer period. Correct time is resumed when watch is again exposed to light.Wow that's impressive engineering from the Japs yet again
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I saw my first one of these in the flesh today. Some italian dude I know sells expensive watches. For instance he had a £4000GBP Rolex Sub in his pocket. On his wrist? A Citizen Eco-Drive and I loved it
I'm going to have to expand my collection I think to include at least one of those!
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Decent price Tony did you buy it ?I saw my first one of these in the flesh today. Some italian dude I know sells expensive watches. For instance he had a £4000GBP Rolex Sub in his pocket. On his wrist? A Citizen Eco-Drive and I loved it
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The Rolex? Hate them. Every bugger in the pubs here owns one
The Citizen? No I should have asked as he does deal in watches but he said it was his personal watch and he seemed to like it. I've been looking on fleabuy and have not found the same watch yet though! He will be at the Birmingham fair on Sunday so I might ask him there if I go which is all depending on whether the weather plays ball as I don't fancy 6 hours of soaking on my bike.....
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You need an Eco Drive Tony!I saw my first one of these in the flesh today. Some italian dude I know sells expensive watches. For instance he had a £4000GBP Rolex Sub in his pocket. On his wrist? A Citizen Eco-Drive and I loved it
Geez, ain't I a stinker!Cheers!
Mike
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I had a few Kinetics in the past(the older AGS models). Paid too much for them and had no luck with them, so away they went.(I may have had too high expectations for them). Recently I picked up another, which grew into 3. These are still the older 5m movements, but I'm finding that I like them alot and these are my daily drivers for work. Even though two of them have weak capacitors, they are quite reliable while wearing them. On a totally unrelated subject(sorry to hijack the thread), I never had any luck with Eco Drives either, however, I just picked one up and this one is a good one.
Cheers!
Mike
Cheers!
Mike
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Im quite taken by this new one thats about to come out, modular case....
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Sweet, David! Mine says Hi and thank you!Here is my work watch...Spot the Custom Work...
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Wearing her today. Just about to post it in today's roll call.
Cheers!
Mike
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3,238 Posts
You never know until you take a chance. As I said, my first go-round with both types of watches didn't go too well. This time, I'm rather pleased. I think I'm changing my mind. I like them now.Thank you all for your input........I think I'll pick up both a Seiko kinetic and a Citizen Eco-Drive
<hand salute>
Cheers!
Mike
Love em. Have far too many and its like painting the Forth Bridge keeping them charged. My charger is on virtually all teh time (with a small fan arranged to keep everything nice and cool)
I am encouraged that Seiko are sticking with this technology as I my opinion, they are very under-appreciated and will become collectable
I am encouraged that Seiko are sticking with this technology as I my opinion, they are very under-appreciated and will become collectable
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