First of all let me say that, regardless of any potentially critical comments, this is a great watch, and worthy of the Seiko name, both in style and construction. I am proud to have it on my wrist.

The Premier line, as the Seiko literature states, is their reinterpretation of the great art deco timepieces of the past, and it is truly a work of visual art. While the style may not be right for everyone, it’s surely eye-catching and dramatic. I get a lot of comments on it from other watch lovers. Since getting it, it has become my main watch.

Mine features the black dial with three sub-dials – one for the alarm and secondary time, one as the second-hand for the main time, and one for the chronograph features. Like many chrono watches, the large second hand is not used for the main time, but for the chronograph (stopwatch). The watch also has a small date display that is both handy and unobtrusive. The alarm dial can be used for the alarm (obviously), but can also be used to keep track of a second time zone when you need it. It operates completely separate from the main time, and with a little creativity, can also be used to extend the chronograph functionality from a skimpy 30 minutes to a more useful six hours.

The curved sapphire crystal is extremely hard and won’t scratch short of being abused. It’s curved nature creates an interesting look also reminiscent of older watches with thick crystals. This is another nice retro touch.

The bracelet is a high-quality, solid stainless steal bracelet, but represents what I consider to be the main drawback to this otherwise great watch. It isn’t fully flexible and is actually quite uncomfortable if not perfectly adjusted, and because this is a mid-to-high-end Seiko timepiece, you won’t be able to adjust the band yourself unless you have the special tools. In my case, it took two separate trips to the jewelry store before I got just right. I would have preferred being able to do this at home on my own. Aside from this, the bracelet exudes quality and fastens easily and securely.

The Premier Chronograph is water resistant to 10 bar (100m), which makes it safe to wear while swimming or bathing, but is not really useful for real diving.

This watch uses Seiko’s popular 7T32 quartz chronograph movement, which is found in many, many of their mid-priced chronograph watches. This is a venerable movement, but is not easy or cheap to repair. This means that while it’s likely to last through several years (5 to 10) and several batteries, it’s not likely to be a watch you’ll hand down to future generations. If that’s what you’re looking for, better choose something else in the Seiko catalogue – something mechanical, not a quartz.

This watch ‘retails’ for more than $400, but can be readily found online for around $200. Don’t pay more than $250 for it.

Recommended: Yes