Everything You Need to Know About Seiko Premier Watches

Introduced in 2001, Premier is an extremely successful wristwatch collection from Seiko. This dress watch family has been renowned for neoclassic designs, the unanticipated but synchronized blending of materials, ideas and finishes. It offers both ladies and gents timepieces boasting a classically inspired contemporary style and strong dress appeal.

The Premier line frequently derives inspiration from ancient and modern architectural marvels. For example, deeply sculpted dials of some models are inspired by architraves of a Greek temple.

This comprehensive Seiko timepiece family is traditionally comprised of four key segments based on the type of movement: Kinetic, Mechanical, Quartz and Solar. 

(1) Seiko Premier Mechanical

In the mechanical segment, the Premier Collection is presently offering a number of watch models equipped with the 4R series automatic movements. Made of stainless steel, all Seiko Premier mechanical watches feature sapphire crystal case backs to provide a view of the movement. Right now, only the Gent’s wristwatches are available in this range.

Most noteworthy among them is a time-only version featuring an open-heart mechanism at 9 o’clock and a 24-hour indicator. This stainless steel model has a case diameter of 42.9mm and a thickness of 12mm. It is mounted with sapphire crystal glass. The movement is Seiko 4R39 with a power reserve of 41 hours, 24 jewels, stop-seconds hand function and automatic with manual winding capacity.

This Seiko watches for men are available in references like SSA369J1, SSA371J1 and SSA373J1. Depending upon the version, the Premier automatic watch comes with a black or satin white dial. Both SSA369J1 and SSA371J1 are fitted with stainless steel bracelets featuring a three-fold clasp with push-button release. SSA373J1 has a leather strap.

With the same functionality and movement, two smaller references are also available: SSA215J1 with a white dial and SSA213J1 with a black dial. They feature a 41.5mm diameter case. Another interesting model from the Premier mechanical family is SSA399J1, which features a partial skeleton dial in blue color with an open-heart complication at 9 o’clock. This 42.9mm stainless steel watch is equipped with the 4R71 automatic movement.

The retail price range of the mechanical series is about HK $4,000-5,000. 

(2) Seiko Premier Quartz

In the Premier quartz category, Seiko offers watches for ladies and gents. This line-up is typically comprised of chronographs, date and time-only models. These watches are equipped with extremely reliable quartz movements.

Among them, references like SNQ155P1, SNQ157P1 and SNQ159P1 are perpetual calendars. They feature a full-auto calendar correct to 31 December 2031. Adequately secured with a sapphire crystal front glass and a screwed steel case back, these masculine watches have a diameter of 41.5mm and a thickness of 9.6mm.

This segment also offers chronographs like SNAF73P1, SNAF75P1, SNAF77P1, SNAF79P1 and SNAF82P1. Driven by the Quartz 7T62 caliber, these gent’s timepieces offer alarm function (single-time alarm), chronograph up to 60 minutes in 1/5 second increments and date. They measure 41.2mm diameter and 9.8mm thickness.

For men, the series additionally offers minimalistic, thin wristwatches provided with date indication. For example, SKP391P1 is a stainless steel premier quartz watch with a case diameter of 40.7mm and a thickness of 6.3mm. It has a simple and eye-pleasing dial layout with two hands at the centre and a discreet date window at 6 o’clock.

For women, the Premier quartz segment provides various types of models: with a round or rectangular case and with chronograph, date function or time-only configuration. Among them, both SWR030P1 and SWR029P1 are rectangular models.

The notable ladies watches with round case are SWR025P1, SWR026P1, SWR028P1, SXB438P1 and SXB429P1. Among these references, the first three are two-hand time-only models featuring 24.5mm diameter cases. The remaining two models are moderately larger in dimensions. They feature 30.5mm case and spotlights a two-hand with date display.

The Premier quartz collection also includes ladies watch models with small seconds like SRKZ64P1, SRKZ66P1, SRKZ61P1, SRKZ58P1 and SRKZ60P1. The notable chronograph models are SNDV68P1 and SNDV70P1. Some Premier quartz lady watches feature mother-of-pearl dials.

The approximate Seiko HK retail price range of the quartz series is HK $3,000- HK $4,300. 

(3) Seiko Premier Solar

This range is comprised of lady’s and gent’s wristwatches equipped with solar-powered movements. The Seiko Premier Solar family is presently offering chronograph watches and three-hand with date models.

The men’s chronograph version features a 43.4mm diameter case and it houses the V175 calibre. It offers functions like a 24-hour hand, stopwatch up to 60 minutes in 1/5 second increments and date display. The notable Premier solar chronographs are SSC595P1, SSC597P1 and SSC597P2.

The men’s date version measures 42.9mm X 10.9mm. Equipped with V157 movement, it highlights a centre three-hand configuration and a date display at 3 o’clock. Presently available references are: SNE453P1 with a white dial and SNE455P1 with a black dial.

The Premier line is currently offering Seiko ladies watches like SUT321P1, SUT322P1 and SUT346P1. They measure 31.5mm in diameter. They are provided with the same functional features of the men’s date version. These timepieces house the V137 calibre.

After fully charged, Seiko’s solar-powered movements provide exceptional autonomy (6 months and above). These technically advanced watch calibers are also equipped with overcharge protection. They do not call for any battery replacement, unlike the regular quartz movements.

The retail price range of the Premier Solar series is HK $3,000 – HK $4,000. 

(4) Seiko Premier Kinetic

These watches are typically powered by Seiko’s proprietary Kinetic technology introduced in 1988. The Kinetic movement is an amalgamation of traditional watchmaking principles and modern micro-electronics. It accumulates energy from the wearer’s movement and then delivers the power to electronic circuits. The Kinetic caliber means battery change is never required. The other stand-out features of this technology are quartz accuracy and maintenance-free operation. 

The Seiko Premier Kinetic series is mostly comprised of men’s wristwatches. The current line-up offers Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph and Moonphase models.

The Seiko Premier Kinetic Perpetual Calendar Watch features a 42.9mm case. It houses the calibre 7D56. Its dial hosts a multitude of functions: centre hour, minute and seconds, large date at 12 o’clock, a 24-h indicator at 4 o’clock and a sub-dial at 6 o’clock for displaying the month and leap year. Presently, the Premier range is offering several Kinetic Perpetual Calendar models like SNP146P1, SNP145P1, SNP150P1, SNP133P1, SNP134P1, SNP135P1, SNP136P1, SNP139P1, SNP141P1, SNP152P1 and SNP153P1.

The series also includes the Kinetic Direct Drive Moon Phase models like SRX015P1 and SRX017P1. In addition to centrally positioned hour, minute and seconds hands, they exhibit a moon phase at 12 o’clock, date of the month at 3 o’clock, a counter for displaying hour & day of the week at 6 o’clock and a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. Its case measures 42.5mm X 12.7mm.

The Seiko Premier Kinetic Perpetual Calendar Chronograph model (SPC159P1) features 24h Indicator, alarm, chronograph, date, day, month and small seconds. It comes with a 41.5mm case.

The approximate retail price range of Seiko Premier Kinetic collection is HK $5,000 – HK $7,000.

Summary

Classically inspired, yet modern in expression, the splendid Seiko Premier collection is a significant product lineup from the iconic Japanese watch manufacturer. It brings a new and elevated contemporary functionality to the dress watch. Its exceptional manufacturing quality is expressed in every detail. Like the classical architectural wonders that inspired the design, every Premier watch guarantees enduring performance and appeal.

Most of the timepieces from this collection feature column motif on the side of the case and sculpted edges to the bracelet links. Seiko’s Premier watches highlight the finest attitude in terms of aesthetics, designs and materials. All of them are made of solid stainless steel. Some Premier Seiko watch models are available in gold-plated, blackened and dual-tone iterations. They usually come fitted with sapphire crystals at the dial side. Depending upon the model, they feature transparent sapphire crystal or steel case-backs.

One of the stand-out features of the Seiko Premier line is the impressive water resistance rating. Except for some ladies quartz watches, all of them rates for 10 atm (100 meters) in water-resistant. Similarly, most of the watches feature crown protectors.

Depending upon the reference, the type of strap varies. Presently from this collection, Seiko is offering watches models with stainless steel bracelets with solid links or leather straps.