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If you love easy-to-maintain watches, are a fan of solar-powered watches, you will most likely appreciate this watch.
It comes from Seiko, one of the respected brands, and runs via solar energy.
It’s a man’s watch and looks classy and solid.
In this Seiko SNE331 review, we will highlight its strong points.
- Black solar-powered watch featuring stencil-like numerals and day/date window
- 43-mm stainless steel case with hardlex dial window
- 10-month power reserve once fully charged
Bold Looking Black Dial
One thing you will notice about the timepiece is the bold appeal. It looks very masculine and should appeal to male wearers.
The dial is plain black and features large time indices, 12, 3, 6, and 9, all written in Arabic. They are white in color just like the rest, which come in the form of sticks instead of numbers.
They have decent luminosity for convenient time viewing at night or in the dark.
You also see the Seiko brand name below the 12 O’clock point, the date/ calendar adjacent to the 3 o’clock marker, and the 100m resistance indication and solar text above the 6 o’clock point.
Stylish Stainless Steel Case
To complement the bold-looking black dial, the company settled for a black case.
And just like the face, it also looks masculine. It is all black with no frills or any fancy appeal. The diameter of 43mm feels okay and is not too small or too large.
The thickness can also be said to be average standing at about 10mm.
The case is all stainless steel and provides decent strength to protect the builtin mechanism and dial. For extra appeal and longevity, it is IP-coated.
Simple Flexible Nylon Strap
The military appeal is evident in this watch.
Besides the boldness and ruggedness, you also get a simple nylon strap. It comes in a woven pattern that gives it is a rugged look.
It is relatively strong and won’t fray, rip, and come apart easily. It is also very flexible for easy and quick removal and wearing.
It measures 22mm wide and secures to the wrist using a metal clasp. This particular piece comes in brown, although you can get other colors.
You can also choose to upgrade to leather, which is stronger and more luxurious.
Scratch Resistant Mineral Crystal
Seiko opted for mineral crystal in this watch.
While it may score better in comparison to others, when it comes to hardness and resistance to scratches, it lags behind the likes of sapphire, which is found in some Seiko watches.
The clarity of the glass is pretty good. It does not seem to experience a yellowish appearance after some time.
It also has good tolerance to glare, reflection, and is better than sapphire in terms of combating shattering.
On the opposite end of the face is a plain case back, which does not feature any logos or impressions.
Solar Powered V158 Quartz Movement
One unique feature about the watch is that is runs via solar power.
It captures the sunray and converts them into electricity which is then stored in the built-in rechargeable battery. This piece when fully charged can run for 10 for months without problems.
The movement is Japanese Quartz, which is accurate, and hassle-free.
Our Verdict
Anyone searching for a nice-looking and practical solar watch will find this piece a good deal. It very simple and requires minimal maintenance.
It is strongly built and can put-up with everyday needs well. And despite looking high class and expensive, it is an affordable unit.