SEIKOCoutura Men's Solar Perpetual Calendar Alarm Chronograph Watch

Other reviewers have already captured this watch's excellent value, feature set, looks and quality. Below are my observations; I'll summarize that this is a dress watch that makes slight trade-offs for looks over functionality (rather than being a sports or everyday watch), and is really well designed and manufactured for that purpose.NOTE: You must properly set the watch the first time around, otherwise calendar and alarm may not work right. It's all in the manual! Shouldn't have to touch it again for a long time.Battery: It's solar-powered, so you shouldn't have to replace the battery for a long time.Size and fit: The case size of 44 mm is on the smaller side for men's chronographs these days, and should work for more wrists. The lugs curve downwards from the watch back (rather than going straight out, or being offset by a domed back), helping the watch wrap nicely on my thinner wrist. There's plenty of removable links - in fact, they *all* can be removed (no one's going to, but just so you know).Functions: I compared this to a Citizen PCAT, which was also in the running. Seiko's functions are easier to use - lower side button for chrono, upper side button for checking date-month-year-battery reserve. Pull crown to position 1 for setting alarm, position 2 for setting time and calendar. Missing are world time, multiple time zones, and radio time sync (compared to more expensive Couturas and the Citizen PCATs), but those weren't worth the premium for me.Buttons: Two side buttons, that shouldn't get pushed accidentally, thanks to the raised "shoulder" of the crown, as well as their own resistance and clickiness (might take some time getting used to). The alarm is set using the side buttons rather than by turning the crown. In some contexts, holding the button pressed will move the hands faster (like when setting the alarm or the time/calendar).Dials and hands: Top dial is for day, date-hand function indicator and power level. The "day arc" dial is less common in watches, and I like how it's done here. Bottom dial is alarm time/chrono hour+minute. Left dial is always seconds. The normal second hand is actually a calendar hand on this watch, cycling between displaying date, month and year when pressing the top side button. It's much more readable than a small date dial, of course less so than a date window - but the date hand is unique and works for the look of the watch vs a date window.The big dials has 1/5th second markings for the chrono functions, but these are missing near the big 5-minute markers - for looks I guess, but I'd have preferred if they had kept the fine markings everywhere.Hands are nicely styled, with the hour and minute hands having plenty of LumiBrite. The calendar hand is really thin; a bit more width would have been nice. Other markings are white against black, no LumiBrite here - will be difficult to read in "mood lighting".Materials and build: can't complain, solid parts are solid, moving parts are well-fitted, glass is sapphire crystal and flat, water resistance of 100 m is adequate (not planning on scuba diving with this dress watch). The polished silver band will slowly scratch, so enjoy it while it lasts. After that, declare it "brushed metal"? The band styling is unique to the Coutura line, as far as I can tell, and quite attractive.You won't find a replacement band from Seiko, so take care of the original (or maybe buy a busted Coutura for the band if you must).Comparable watches: Seiko SSC787 is this watch but in silver with blue tone. Citizen PCATs offer similar dial layout, more features (time zones, tachymeter, radio sync, and 200 m water resistance, but lack month-year) at a higher price.Finally, be careful where you buy it from - either get it from Amazon.com directly, or an authorized Seiko seller. My first attempt landed me a "new" watch from an inventory liquidator, and many of the negative reviews here appear to have had a similar experience.

So far so good. This is a gorgeous watch, although is a little snug on my big wrists. Still# it seems to keep good time and I haven't had a problem yet. I have had a couple of compliments though

very nice watch,beautifully made it is just a little to large for my wrist

Fue un regalo para mi esposo y le encantó

SE deja ver buen reloj, lo malo que la corona llegó rayada como si fuese usado

El reloj es mejor de lo que imaginé, verlo en fotos es muy distinto que tenerlo cerca. En otras opiniones noté que puede ser complicado el primer ajuste, sin embargo tuve suerte porque la hora en pantalla es la correcta. Me encanta el diseño, desde hace muchos años le eché el ojo a este reloj y finalmente esta en mi poder.

Watch arrived well packaged, A beautiful time piece well made, quality construction. It’s a little difficult to setup but well worth it

Bought it with lot of expectations. Hard to read details about date and day compared to a previous version of perpetual calendar Seiko that I own. Good ornament on the wrist but difficult to read watch unfortunately.