Why your luxury watch collection should start with Seiko

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There are some brands that need no introduction. They’ve been part of consumers’ collective consciousness for so long that they feel omnipresent. Seiko is one of those companies. And if you’re new to the world of luxury watches, it’s a brand name you’ll want to get familiar with. While buying stock in Seiko Group Corporation and other public Japanese companies sounds enticing, it may be more prudent to start smaller, like buying one of its watches.  Founded in 1881 by 21-year-old Kintaro Hattori, Seiko makes some of the world’s best watches at almost every price point. As a watch collector myself, I can attest that you can’t go wrong by starting your own collecting journey with Seiko. It’s a sound initial investment for those looking to get their beaks wet in the luxury watch world without dropping thousands, which is easy to do with some high-end brands.

Joining the luxury watch club

The Seiko SRPL85 Automatic Luxury Watch is a wonderful option for getting your foot in the door when it comes to starting your own collection. That’s because it has so many of the hallmarks made famous by Swiss luxury watchmakers like Rolex, Omega, and Audemars Piguet. As an example, Rolex’s most legendary, and still most popular, watch is its Submariner. It’s a rugged automatic dive watch that’s available with a date function. That’s exactly what you’re getting with this Seiko model, but with a far more manageable price tag. Unfortunately, some luxury brands like Rolex trade in the manipulation of supply and demand, which creates an overhyped and overpriced secondary market.  

Long story short, you can’t simply walk into most Rolex boutiques and buy a Submariner. When I asked to have a look at one, I was told by a Rolex boutique employee that they reserve them for their established customers with a spending history. You have to build a relationship and wait until they offer to sell you one, which could take years. That leads to overinflated prices on the gray market (secondary sellers), where you can expect to pay an additional 20% to 40% over the standard retail price. Add to that recent Rolex market volatility, and it’s the definition of a risky investment.

Most Seiko watches, on the other hand, are readily available through the brand itself and thousands of retailers worldwide. That actually has the opposite effect of the aforementioned Rolex example. Because there’s so much retail competition, you can find a brand-new Seiko for a great price at any time. This SRPL85 model is a watch that you can buy brand new, wear regularly, and sell later if or when you wish to upgrade. You won’t likely make a profit from it, but if it’s in decent condition, it will hold a fair amount of its value. However, if you happen to own a limited-edition Seiko model, or one that gets discontinued, there’s definitely a possibility that it could increase in value. There is always a market for Seiko watches at every price point and in virtually any condition. 

Seiko SRPL85 Automatic Luxury Watch

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Although Switzerland is the country most associated with luxury watches, the Japanese watch industry (led by Seiko) is a major player as well. It has seen continued growth, not only in stock price, but in market share. Seiko’s stock is up more than 500% in the past five years, and the company controls roughly 2% of the global watch market. That’s a massive piece of the timekeeping pie. You can personally be a part of that growth by starting (or maybe continuing) your collection with an impressive Seiko watch at a reasonable price. 

Why the Seiko SRPL85 is a great first investment

In addition to the Seiko SRPL85 Automatic Watch being a great investment for value retention, it’s also just an amazing timepiece to wear. It has a traditional size of 42.5 millimeters, a 316L stainless steel case and bracelet, and a highly accurate automatic movement. For the uninitiated, automatic watches like this one harness the energy of your arm’s movement throughout the day to spin an internal rotor that winds the watch. That means you never have to wind it manually, and there are no batteries to be replaced. 

This model has serious dive watch chops as well, starting with 100 meters of water resistance. It’s a continuation of Seiko’s famed SKX line of dive watches that boasts a nautical heritage loved by just as many, if not more, consumers than the Rolex Submariner. In fact, the SRPL85 has at least one advantage over the Submariner in the form of its clear caseback. It allows you to turn the watch over and see exactly how it works. Its Rolex counterpart, on the other hand, simply has a plain steel cover that reveals nothing, other than maybe a lack of imagination.

Rounding out this Seiko watch’s practical benefits are its unidirectional rotating dive bezel, luminescent hour markers and handset, and convenient day date function. All of these factors combine to create a luxury watch that’s sporty enough to dive with, but refined enough to wear with a suit. After all, if James Bond can wear a dive-style watch with a tuxedo, so can the rest of us. 

While there are lots of Seiko watches worth investing in, as a seasoned collector, I think the Seiko SRPL85 Automatic Luxury Watch is a strong contender as one of the best. It has all the features of major Swiss luxury watches with virtually none of the downsides, like waiting lists, insurance costs, and security concerns. However, if you enjoy owning the watch (which you will) it’s a great way to dip your toe in the luxury watch-collecting pool before diving in headfirst and making larger investments. 

More luxury Seiko watches

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