Seiko SNDC31 Review - The Best Classic Chronograph Under £100
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For under £100, there aren’t that many chronograph watches worth buying. Sure, there are plenty of bizarre drop-shipped pieces of garbage; but what’s the point in wasting money on something that will likely fall apart in a few months?
Well, what if I told you for under £100, you can grab a classic-looking chronograph from a respected brand with solid build quality and performance? Surprisingly, it’s true and it’s right here on my wrist. This is the Seiko SNDC31P1 and here’s a quick summary of why it might be worth your consideration.
Packaging
The watch arrived in this double-layered box, which is far more substantial than I expected for such a budget piece. I remember the supposedly ‘luxury’ Vincero watch I reviewed came in much cheaper packaging; making this Seiko opening feel much more premium in comparison.
Nevertheless, the packaging isn’t going to be sitting on your wrist all day! So, what’s inside?
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Watch Dimensions
Well, we have a watch with a case size of 40.2mm, a thickness of just 10.1mm and a lug to lug of exactly 46mm. If there were ever a set of dimensions designed to please the masses, this would be it. The watch may look a fraction big on my 6.25-inch wrist, but I think it’s still just about wearable; fortunately, that short lug to lug length ensures it doesn’t surpass the edges of my wrists.
Full Specifications:
Case diameter: 40.2 mm
Case thickness: 10.1 mm
Band width: 19 mm
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese-Quartz
Dial
The most striking part of the SNDC31 has to be the vintage-inspired dial. Undoubtedly, this has many design cues from the mid 20th Century, from the italic serif numbers to the cream colourway and raised minute track. When each piece is drawn together, you’re left with a timelessly classy dial, which is easy to pull off with a variety of outfits. It looks smart enough to wear with a suit but somehow casual enough to wear with a polo and shorts, especially with the stock brown croc strap.
This look isn’t going to be for everyone, it’s the antithesis of many of the current minimalist trends and to some extent, not a great fit for my wardrobe. However, I think it does provide a well-executed vintage aesthetic, that should have a wide-reaching appeal. They also do a black variant of this called the SNDC33 (click here to check it out on Amazon), which I think looks even better; it just wasn’t available at the time of this review.
There are a couple of other interesting touches, such as the applied Seiko logo and the engraved rings around each subdial. Other than that, the rest of the dial is printed and a bit flat for my preference; I think some raised or embossed markers on the chapter ring would make the watch look higher quality. Despite this, I like the fact that the smaller integers appear in the same font style as the larger numbers. It provides additional consistency that keeps the look on-theme. Under colder tones of light, such as the studio lights I use, you can see there is a slight variance in tone between the flat and raised sections; though in most environments this difference isn’t visible.
Case
A polished finish adorns the majority of the stainless steel case, which features a stepped design down the flanks. While the finishing isn’t the most precise, I do like the overall shape and look, especially from above. Perhaps the lack of any brushed sections is a bit of a missed opportunity, considering the sides feature long slim sections that would perfectly accommodate it. Nevertheless, it’s just as good as most of the competition and the use of steel is better than the plated brass used in rivals such as many Timex chronographs that hover at a similar price point.
This pairs nicely with the surprisingly high water resistance, which is 100m. There is no screw-down crown or pushers on this model, but those in place are very responsive and I particularly like the distinct clunk provided by the pushers when engaged. Either way, the aquatic performance will have you covered for any everyday situation and could even handle light swimming without a hitch. For this style of watch, that is rather unexpected and nice to see, considering the retail price.
Watch Glass
Across the dial, there’s a bevelled piece of flat mineral crystal, which protrudes slightly from the case but looks attractive. This is the standard stuff at this price point, though it’s nothing special. It will give some limited scratch resistance.
Movement
As is typical of sub £300 chronographs, this one utilises a quartz movement, providing you with the typical timekeeping functions. This Caliber 7T92 is pretty well aligned, sitting only a fraction to the left of centre and is easily slim enough to maintain a thin case depth. You can expect an accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month and you get a date complication at 3 o’clock, with a white window that integrates reasonably well with the cream dial. I’ve been pleased with this unit as the tick of the chronograph second hand is firm and lacks flinch when activated.
Strap
To round out the components, we have the strap. As you can see this is a dark brown, almost oxblood, croc-style calfskin, which is of completely wearable quality. It’s surprisingly supple and features a branded Seiko buckle, which is a nice touch and ultimately, this should last a long time. Visually, it works well but I think this watch could easily handle a variety of other leather options. If you wanted to switch it out, this one doesn’t feature quick-release tabs so you will need a tool. Nevertheless, the indentations towards the base of the watch would make thicker alternatives viable.
Is The Seiko SNDC31 Worth It?
In terms of raw value, you can probably get slightly more with some of the Aliexpress Chinese specials; a couple of which I’ve featured before on this blog. Nevertheless, I think this is quite tastefully done and comes with a level of water resistance that many of the competition can’t compete with. It’s likely one of the best options on the market unless you’re prepared to jump to that £200+ range, where the selection becomes a lot greater.
At the time of recording, this is hovering at a penny under £100 on Amazon, which I think is a fair price though not outstanding value. Thanks to them for providing the watch free of charge, so that I can make this review. It’s linked below if it sounds like it ticks your boxes.
