Seiko Essentials SSB403 Chronograph (8T63) Reviewed
A must-have for anyone wanting an affordable chronograph.
I have never considered myself a ‘watch guy’. Seeing as watches seem to complement cars, it was inevitable that I step up my game and buy a couple of wristwatches. It doesn’t help that I hang out here and see the rest of you buying some interesting pieces either. So, when I saw this Seiko pop up with a chronograph and racing-inspired band, I couldn’t help myself.
This is the Seiko Essentials SSB403 with the 8T63 watch movement. The chronograph dial is finished with a grey dial and metallic elements and orange accents. The band screams ‘Racing Livery’ with a single orange center stripe and flanked by grey and black. If the 1970s had a racing theme, this band nails it. The case is a hefty 41mm with a solid quality you’d even expect of watches north of its $285 USD retail price. It’s also 10 BAR rated, which if I end up 330’ under the water, it’s not because I wanted to be there, it’s because I fell off the boat.
Unboxing the watch is typical of Seiko with a two-piece box with the watch carefully strapped to a black Seiko stitched pillow. There is a warranty card you fill out and place into a sleeve for your records. Surprisingly, there is no instruction manual. I bought a Seiko last year that came with an instruction manual in several languages with a font small enough to make the most familiar religious scholar chuckle. Instead, Seiko directs you to their website to search for the instructions by watch movement (8T63).
Fumbling around with the watch, prior to reading the manual, I was a bit confused. Pressing the upper button with the orange stripe (later found out to be button A) produced no discernable difference. The large orange second hand didn’t move, but the smaller lower dial hand did. What did this button do? I pressed it more deliberately, to feel the button depress further and produce a concerning shallow metal clash. The orange hand began to move! Obviously, this was the button for the stopwatch and the orange hand was the second hand for it. The lower button (button B) serves only as a reset after you’ve stopped the second hand with button A again.
The face has three smaller dials. The lower middle I’d already gotten confused with the stopwatch, but this is just a second dial. The dial on the left is for minutes for the stopwatch and the right is for the hour in 24 segments. When I pulled the crown to set the time, I’d mistakenly set it for 0400 instead of 1600. A quick look at this 24-hour dial set me straight. The crown has two parts, a short pull-out is for the date, and a longer pull-out is for setting the hands. Both places are easy to find based on their position and solid click to each.
The band is a smooth nylon strap. I’d steer clear of dirt and solvents, but I also doubt this watch was made for blue-collar work. Sweat and blood don’t look like they’d be too friendly to these colors. Seiko does recommend a light wash for the band if necessary and to keep the band out of continuous direct sunlight—something I don’t imagine the dial would appreciate either, other than the LumiBrite hands and markers.
All and all, this is a good watch, with a classic design, and a sporty feel. If you don’t have a chronograph yet, this could be your must-have on a budget. Did I mention they’re also on sale for $163 USD right now too? Get yours before they’re all gone!
