Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1007 in Watches
• Brand: Seiko
• Model: SNP017
• Band material: stainless-steel
• Bezel material: stainless-steel
• Case material: stainless-steel
• Clasp type: fold-over-push-button-clasp-with-safety
• Dial color: black
• Dial window material: scratch-resistant-sapphire
• Movement type: Japanese Automatic
• Water-resistant to 330 feet

Features

• Quality Japanese Automatic movement; Functions without a battery; Powers automatically with the movement of your arm
• Strong scratch resistant sapphire crystal
• Case diameter: 41.5 mm
• Stainless steel case; Black dial; Date function
• Water resistant up to 330 feet (100 M)

Amazon.com Product Description
Seiko Coutura where innovation meets refinement. Time is perpetual: Now there’s a watch to reflect it. By the simple movement of your wrist, the rechargable battery charges itself. Once fully charged, it captures and stores energy up to six months. Kinetic – the most advanced electronic watch technology. Environmentally friendly. This masculine watch has a brushed steel case with a Black Ion Finish and is presented on an attractive link bracelet; polished steel bezel is accented with studded detail. The attractive black dial has Lumi Brite hands and markers with twelve month and twenty-four hour subdials. The calendar is accurate to 2100. 100 meters water resistant.

Kinetic: A powerhouse in technological innovation

Like mechanical and quartz, Kinetic is a platform. Over the past 20 years, SEIKO has created on this platform a suite of Kinetic movements, each bringing unique features to the consumer.

It was at the 1986 Basel Fair that SEIKO unveiled its first Kinetic prototype. Introduced under the trial name of 'AGM', it was the first watch in the world to convert kinetic movement into electrical energy. It was the first step in a development that, 20 years later, has made Kinetic synonymous with environmental friendliness, high performance and long-lasting convenience to a generation of users worldwide. From the launch in 1988 of the first commercially available watch (then under the new name AGS) until today, over eight million Kinetic watches have been sold (as of 2007).

In 1998, Kinetic Auto Relay was released, extending the 'at-rest' operating period of the watch to a remarkable 4 years. 1999 saw the launch of the Ultimate Kinetic Chronograph, a masterpiece which fused the very best of SEIKO's mechanical and electronic watch making skills, and in 2003 another Kinetic Chronograph was launched. At Baselworld 2005, the Kinetic Perpetual made its first appearance, combining Kinetic convenience and longevity with a perpetual calendar, correct to the year 2100. In 2007, SEIKO's emotional technology Kinetic Direct Drive is introduced.

About Seiko
From Humble beginnings, Kintaro Hattori’s Vision for Seiko has become reality. A consuming passion for excellence - imprinted in our Corporate DNA passed from generation to generation. Seiko, for 125 years committed to the art and science of time.

A culture of innovation connects a 19th century Tokyo clock shop with 20th century advances in timekeeping to an extraordinary 21st century "quiet revolution." Continually driven by dedication and passion, established a multitude of world’s first technologies… transforming the principles of timekeeping.

The first quartz wristwatch – changed the history of time.

The first Kinetic – marked a new era in quartz watch technology.

In 1969, Seiko Astron, the first quartz wristwatch - was introduced.

In an instant, Seiko exponentially improved the accuracy of wristwatches –And Seiko technology firmly established today’s standard in Olympic and sports timing.

1984, another celebrated first – Kinetic Technology – powered by body movement.

Kinetic – a quartz mechanism with unparalleled accuracy –the driving force behind more world’s firsts.

Kinetic Chronograph – the next generation of high performance timekeeping.

Kinetic Auto Relay – automatically resets to the correct time.

Kinetic Perpetual - combining the date perfect technology of perpetual calendar with the genius of Kinetic Auto Relay.

And now Kinetic Direct Drive – move, and the watch is powered automatically. Or hand wind it and see the power you are generating in real time.

In the realm of fine watches, time is measured by Seiko innovation – A heritage of dedication to the art and science of time.

Customer Reviews

IMO the most beautiful watch money can buy
I'm a man who does his research before purchasing, and I also like to think that I have good style. This watch was compared to watches ranging from $100 to $3000, and none had the styling that this one possessed. Talk about an every-day any-occasion watch! This will look just as stylish with a suit as it will with casual clothes. The price IS quite expensive for ANY watch, but here's my pro's and con's:

Pro's:
1) Beauty
2) Saphire crystal lens which can not be scratched unless done so by saphires, diamonds, or perhaps other gems(?).
3) Kinetic drive = never worry about a battery again.
4) Holds date and time if it goes into power-saving mode (up to 4 years if it were fully charged prior to power-saving mode) - just shake it and it will readjust itself automatically! Power-saving mode is only activated if the watch has not moved for 24 hours.
5) Perpetual calendar - Never have to adjust the date to account for leap years or 28-31 days in a month.
6) It's a Seiko!

Con's:
1) No timer, alarm, chronograph.
2) Cost (subjective)

The lack of anything but time and calendar was a huge disappointment to me as I often use a timer or alarm on my watches. However, I have a cell-phone that can easily double for such tasks, or I can use other items to fill this void. The watch was a graduation present from my parents (yes, I helped them pick it out for me ;) ), and I know I will cherish it every time I look at it - for many many years!

Very beautiful watch.
I have had this watch for 6 months now. I agree with the other reviewers, it looks so much better than in the pictures.

Sometimes at work, when the watch is hidden under my sleeve, and I let it show, the looks on the faces of the people around me is as if a girl just "flashed" her "boobs" in front of them, pardon my expression.

Simply the best, but not 100% perfect...
If it were possible, my actual rating would be somewehre between a 4.5 and 4.9. All other reviewers have hit the nail on the head! This watch does exactly what it says, and look beautiful.

While some gripe about a seemingly superfluous "Leap Year Dial", they fail to realize that it's this little dial that makes this watch such a marvel. In addition to the kinetic energy charge with power saving feature to ensure you'll never need a battery change, you will also never have to set the date again. How many watches actually have these two features?!

I only have a few minor reservations, so I'll list them first.

CONS:
- Weight: the watch is sometimes listed as "titanium" but is actually rather heavy (but not unbearable)
- Calendar features: no day of the week
- Finish: requires constant cleaning, as it's very prone to smudges. Also easy to scratch. This is not a good watch for outdoor activities :)

PROS:
- Impeccable timekeeping: in addition to excellent calendar, this watch doesn't miss a beat, and will go to "sleep" after 24 hours of inactivity to ensure it.
- Finish: looks gorgeous. Depending on the light, it's a nice black, or light shiny gunmetal.
- Size: I have quite a small wrist, and although this is a rather large watch, it still fits snugly around with a band adjustment.
- Bezel: virtually scratch free, clear, easy to clean, and shiny
- Price: while the list is $775, most places will sell around $450. I'd expect a watch like this to sell for thousands.

In conclusion, any watch aficionado will appreciate this watch for it's sheer beauty and features for it is a well crafted piece of jewelry. You'll just have to get used to cleaning & wearing a watch that's slightly heavier than most.