Many enthusiasts think that the best value watches are to be found in the mid-price sector.
When it comes to the brands operating in this category, there are not many that can compete with Seiko in terms of the quality of their products or their value for money.
The Japanese manufacturer has been making some of the most popular and reliable timepieces for decades, and their watches are worn by people all over the world.
In this article, we will try to settle the following question: “how much is my Seiko watch worth?“.
To do so, we will need to learn a bit more about the brand’s watches…
- Are they a good investment?
- Do they hold value?
- Which models & collections are worth the most?
For this and more, stick with us for the next few minutes.
How Much Is My Seiko Watch Worth?
The answer to this question is not easy as it seems.
Although the vast majority of Seiko watches oscillate in the mid-price basket, they can vary greatly in terms of:
- the complexity of the movement
- accuracy
- quality of materials
It’s also worth noting that while it’s true that most Seiko watch models are on the affordable side, some of the more elaborate releases can cost you well into thousands of dollars.
For example, the Grand Seiko collection (which by many is considered a wholly separate brand because of the major price difference) can easily compete with some of the best in the industry, such as Rolex or Omega.
Grand Seiko watches use some of the most intricate movement technologies in the industry (Spring Drive) and is thought to be a great investment option.
With that in mind, it’s important to do your research before making a purchase and to know exactly what you’re looking for.
How Much Are Seiko Watches Worth? (a Look at Collections)
Now that we’ve established some basic facts, let’s see how much Seiko watches are worth when looking at the brand’s different collections.
How Much Is a Seiko 5 Watch Worth?
By some distance, Seiko 5 watches are on average the most affordable, with some models available even below the $100 mark.
That means that they’re a great entry point for those just starting their watch collection or who are on a tight budget.
At the same time, they aren’t really considered a great investment if you’re looking to cash in on your Seiko watch in a few years’ time. Like most low-budget models, they’re likely to deplete in value quite quickly.
However, if you’re looking for an everyday beater that you can wear without having to worry too much about it, a Seiko 5 is a great choice.
How Much Is a Seiko Presage Watch Worth?
While Seiko 5 watches are more on the sporty spectrum, the Presage collection is where the Japanese brand’s dressier side comes into play.
The watches in this range are usually more expensive than their Seiko 5 counterparts, with some models retailing for a few hundred dollars.
However, they’re still a far cry from some of the other manufacturers’ high-end releases.
With that in mind, a Seiko Presage watch is a great choice for those looking for an elegant timepiece that won’t break the bank.
And, like most other things in life, you usually get what you pay for — in terms of accuracy, materials, and build quality, a Presage will usually outperform a Seiko 5.
Also when it comes to the watches’ worth long-term, you’d expect Seiko Presage to be a better investment than the Seiko 5.
How Much Is a Seiko Prospex Watch Worth?
If you’re looking for a Seiko watch that’s built for the great outdoors, the Prospex range is where you should be looking.
Prospex watches are designed and engineered to withstand some of the most extreme conditions on earth, whether that’s diving to the depths of the ocean or summiting a snow-capped mountain.
- Read Also: Seiko Dive Watches
Because of their robust construction and added functionality, Prospex watches are usually more expensive than your average Seiko.
However, they still offer great value for money when compared to similar releases from other brands.
And, of course, being built for the elements means that a Seiko Prospex watch is likely to hold its value quite well over time.
How Much Is a Seiko Astron Watch Worth?
As you might have heard before, the Astron is Seiko’s answer to the smartwatch.
Featuring GPS and a whole host of other tech features, the Astron is one of the most unique collections released by Seiko so far.
The watch is entirely powered by light, meaning that you never have to worry about charging it or replacing a battery.
Of course, all that added functionality comes at a price and the Astron watches are usually on the pricier side.
However, if you’re looking for a cutting-edge timepiece that’s packed full of features, the Seiko Astron is definitely worth checking out.
What also contributes to the overall value and popularity of this collection is the fact that one of the first Astron models kick-started the so-called Quartz Revolution.
It was a period when battery-operated timepieces started dominating the global market, pushing many traditional watch companies (particularly from Switzerland) to the brink.
Seiko and its Astron 35SQ, the world’s first quartz wristwatch, are considered the driving force behind this change.
How Much Is a Seiko Premier Watch Worth?
With the Seiko Premier collection, we’re already entering the realm of truly excellent watches.
The Premier is another Seiko’s range of dress watches and, as such, they boast much more refined designs than the brand’s other collections.
They’re also usually made with higher-quality materials (sapphire crystal glass in an ever-present element) which contributes to their elevated price tags.
- Read Also: Types of Watch Crystals
Also, it’s not unusual for these to come with unique complications such as moon phase indicators and power reserve displays.
Certainly, another major selling point is the inclusion of Seiko’s proprietary kinetic movement which we will discuss in more detail in a few moments.
All of this not only means that you should prepare to dig deeper into your pockets but also that a Seiko Premier watch will likely hold its value very well over time.
How Much is a Seiko King Watch Worth?
The name of this collection isn’t a coincidence. The King is, without a doubt, the Seiko watch to rule them all.
Featuring premium automatic movements with excellent longevity and accuracy, as well as top-end materials, the King is the pinnacle of Seiko’s engineering prowess.
It’s also, on average, by far the most expensive Seiko collection available at the moment (outside Grand Seiko which we consider a separate brand altogether and will discuss next).
The reasons for this are, once again, quite simple. The King is packed full of features that serious watch enthusiasts will love and appreciate.
On top of that, it’s also a very well-made watch that’s built to last a lifetime (or even longer).
Style-wise, it’s another dressy Seiko watch.
How Much Is a Grand Seiko Watch Worth?
Although Grand Seiko can be considered a completely separate brand (it was even sold as such in some markets for a while), we feel like it would be unfair to leave it out.
After all, the company is still very closely linked to Seiko and its history.
With that being said, Grand Seiko watches are, without a doubt, some of the finest timepieces money can buy.
Featuring Seiko’s in-house movements that are among the best in the business, as well as top-notch materials, these watches ooze quality and refinement.
Spring Drive movement, used exclusively in Grand Seiko watches, is considered one of the best (if not the best) mainspring-powered movements ever made. Despite its mechanical properties, the movement is accurate to 1 second/day which is nearly unfathomable.
Of course, all of that comes at a price and most Grand Seiko watches will set you back quite a bit.
However, we feel like they’re definitely worth the money and, what’s more, these watches are likely to appreciate in value over time. In terms of long-term investment, Grand Seiko watches are by far the most promising option that can easily compete with the top sharks in the industry.
How Much Are Seiko Watches Worth? (a Look at Movements)
Seiko is one of the industry leaders when it comes to the number of different movements used in their watches. As such, it’s no surprise that the prices for Seiko watches vary quite a bit.
Now, let’s quickly look into Seiko timepieces’ worth based on the movement type.
How Much Is a Seiko Quartz Watch Worth?
Although quartz watches have pretty much unbeatable accuracy, they’re usually not worth all that much.
And why is that?
Battery-powered timepieces are much easier to assemble which makes them cheaper to produce. They also don’t require such skilled labor which reduces the price even further.
- Read Also: Cheapest Seiko Watches
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and some quartz watches (especially those made by Seiko) can be quite valuable.
But, on average, you shouldn’t expect a Seiko quartz watch to hold its value all that well over time.
Seiko’s entry-level quartz watches can be found for around $70 but the prices go up from there depending on the model and materials used.
Even the most expensive Seiko quartz watch is likely to cost you less than $1,000 which, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t all that much.
How Much Is a Seiko Automatic Watch Worth?
More often than not, a Seiko automatic watch will be worth much more than a comparable quartz model.
The reason for that is quite simple, really. Automatic watches are, by nature, more complicated (and often better-made) timepieces that are usually worth the extra money.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule but, on average, an automatic watch will cost you more than a quartz watch.
Seiko’s entry-level automatic watches start at around $200 which is already nearly three times the price of their quartz models.
And, as we’ve mentioned before, the prices only go up from there.
The most expensive (and exclusive) Seiko automatic watches can cost well into thousands of dollars.
As you can probably guess by now, automatic watches tend to hold their value much better over time which makes them a great investment.
How Much Is a Seiko Kinetic Watch Worth?
Kinetic watches are something you can find exclusively in Seiko’s offer, hence most of these are also on the pricier side.
Like automatic watches, kinetic models require the wearer’s movement to function which makes them a bit more complicated (and often more expensive) than your average battery-powered watch.
However, what differentiates kinetic watches from automatics is the fact that they have much longer power reserves. While the average power reserve for an automatic model is around 40 hours, kinetic watches can accurately tell time for months on a single “charge”.
This is down to how the movements are charged. The movement in kinetic watches charges a capacitor while in automatics it winds a mainspring.
Because of its uniqueness, a Seiko kinetic watch is likely to preserve its value (or even increase it) over time.
How Much Is a Seiko Solar Watch Worth?
Solar watches are powered by, you guessed it, solar power. These timepieces have a small solar panel on the dial that captures sunlight and converts it into electrical energy which is then used to power the watch.
Solar watches are usually more expensive than your average battery-powered timepiece but not nearly as much as automatics or kinetics.
A Seiko solar watch will likely cost you somewhere between $200 and $500 depending on the model and materials used.
While solar watches don’t usually appreciate in value over time, they do have one big advantage over other types of watches – they practically never need a battery change.
So, if you’re looking for a watch that you won’t have to service very often, a solar model might be the way to go.
How Much Is a Seiko Spring Drive Watch Worth?
Finally, we’ve arrived at the most exclusive and, consequently, most expensive type of movement in Seiko’s offer – the Spring Drive.
These watches are powered like automatics (by a mainspring) but instead of using an escapement mechanism to regulate the release of energy, they utilize a glide wheel.
This makes them much more accurate than your average watch (±1 second per day as opposed to ±15 seconds).
Needless to say, such accuracy comes at a price. In fact, Seiko Spring Drive watches are some of the most expensive Japanese-made timepieces you can find on the market today with prices starting at around $5,000.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
We’re pretty sure that by now you have a great idea of how much a Seiko watch is worth.
However, there are still some things we haven’t covered so, to make sure you have all the information you need, we’ve decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Seiko watches’ worth.
How Much Are Old Seiko Watches Worth?
As we’ve mentioned before, Seiko watches are known for their durability and accuracy which makes them highly sought-after by collectors.
This means that, depending on the model and age, an old Seiko watch can be worth quite a lot of money. That’s especially true when it comes to discontinued collections such as Seiko “Monster” or “Baby Grand Seiko”.
Of course, how much an old Seiko watch is worth will also depend on the condition of the watch. A well-preserved vintage model in good working order is likely to be worth more than a newer watch that’s been through a lot.
To get a better idea of how much your old Seiko watch is worth, we recommend taking it to a specialist or looking up its value online.
How Much Is a 1970 Seiko Watch Worth?
The value of a 1970 Seiko watch will depend on a number of factors such as the model, materials used, and condition.
That being said, you can expect to rake in anywhere from $100 to $5,000 for a vintage Seiko watch from the 1970s depending on all of the aforementioned factors.
How Much Is Seiko Watch Worth to Pawn Shop?
Pawn shops are businesses that offer loans in exchange for personal belongings.
The amount of money you can get from a pawn shop will depend on the value of your watch, the condition it’s in, and the specific pawn shop you’re using.
With that said, as a general rule, you can expect to get around 30% of the resale value of your watch from a pawn shop.
So, if you’re looking to get quick cash and you’re not worried about getting the full value of your watch, pawning it might be a good option.
Otherwise, we recommend selling it to a specialist or through an online marketplace.
How Much Is a Seiko Mickey Mouse Watch Worth?
The iconic Seiko model with Mickey Mouse dial, known as the Mickey Mouse watch, is certainly one of the most popular and recognizable timepieces amongst Disney fans.
Due to its widespread popularity, there are a lot of different Seiko Mickey Mouse watch models on the market today which means that their prices can range quite a bit.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $1,000 for a Seiko Mickey Mouse watch depending on the model and the movement it uses, as well as its condition. Most Mickey Mouse models are relatively cheap since outwith a few exceptions, they’re all battery-powered.
How Much Is a Seiko Gold Watch Worth?
Naturally, because of the materials they’re made from, gold watches tend to be a lot more expensive than their stainless steel counterparts.
The price of a gold Seiko watch will depend on the karat (the purity of the gold) as well as the model and condition. With that said, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000.
So, How Much Is My Seiko Watch Worth Really? Conclusion
We hope that by now the question that has been nagging you lately, “how much is my Seiko watch worth“, has finally been answered.
As you can see, the value of a Seiko watch can vary quite a bit depending on the model, materials used, age, and condition.
That being said, Seiko watches are, in general, quite durable and accurate which makes them highly sought-after by collectors.
If you’re looking to sell your Seiko watch, we recommend taking it to a specialist or searching for it online where you’re likely to get the best price.
