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tertius
Original Poster
4,689 posts
99 months
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Just bought this on a bit of a whim really, but it is quite amazing, seems to be unworn and, I think, really cool. It is so nice I am unsure I can bring myself to actually wear it:    It is a Seiko 5 Atlas - SKZ211J - the LH crown adjusts the inner "compass" bezel.
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johnbaz
362 posts
47 months
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Hi Tertius I love the Atlas but have never gotten round to buying one yet!! Yours looks a beauty- get it strapped on and use it  John 
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Hoofy
47,921 posts
151 months
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My cousin's bf bought the same on a whim, too. It was Christmas Day. I showed him the "what are you wearing on Christmas Day" TZ-UK thread. He spots that watch. Hits ebay. Buys watch.  Cousin wasn't impressed. 
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NeMiSiS
3,695 posts
44 months
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I had a few of those and rated them highly, in fact I posted my findings here and a few guys bought one on the strength of the post.
Things I didn't like included, no quickset on the date change mech, no quick charge, poor quality lug and fit, and the compass inner wheel turns when you wear the watch, it was also pointed out that the compass actually has no purpose whatsoever.
The lume is excellent, I like the fine ratchet on the bezel, and the size and finish of the watch was excellent for me. I had blue/black and white face models and one had different coloured pointers.
They are also commonly known as the Seiko Gadget watch.
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Hoofy
47,921 posts
151 months
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There's a way of using the sun with a 12 hour watch face so once you find north, you can align the internal bezel. That said, if you're using the sun as a compass guide, it isn't very accurate so I have no idea why you'd use the sub-readings on the compass dial.
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Doofus
2,464 posts
42 months
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What's the significance of the '5'?
So many of Seiko's watches are 5's, and this one, for example, bears no relation that I can see to the inexplicably popular "Which watch for £50" Seiko 5. So what's with the 5?
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LukeBird
17,049 posts
78 months
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Doofus said: What's the significance of the '5'? It's to do with 5 design 'features' that Seiko wanted to include in a watch range that was reasonably priced, with the features being what they deemed useful functionality i.e. great for the average person to wear day-to-day. Seiko 5 refers to: 1. Diaflex (unbreakable mainspring) 2. Diashock (Seiko's shock resistant design, equivalent to the Swiss "Incabloc" or "Kif," etc.) 3. Automatic winding 4. Date/date indication 5. Water resistant
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tertius
Original Poster
4,689 posts
99 months
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Hoofy said: There's a way of using the sun with a 12 hour watch face so once you find north, you can align the internal bezel. That said, if you're using the sun as a compass guide, it isn't very accurate so I have no idea why you'd use the sub-readings on the compass dial. Right, but I don't a rotating bezel to help me do it - you just point the hour hand at the sun, halfway round the dial from there to noon is South.
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Hoofy
47,921 posts
151 months
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tertius said: Hoofy said: There's a way of using the sun with a 12 hour watch face so once you find north, you can align the internal bezel. That said, if you're using the sun as a compass guide, it isn't very accurate so I have no idea why you'd use the sub-readings on the compass dial. Right, but I don't a rotating bezel to help me do it - you just point the hour hand at the sun, halfway round the dial from there to noon is South. That's my point. It's not pointless but a bit unnecessary.
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Doofus
2,464 posts
42 months
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LukeBird said: It's to do with 5 design 'features' that Seiko wanted to include in a watch range that was reasonably priced, with the features being what they deemed useful functionality i.e. great for the average person to wear day-to-day.
Seiko 5 refers to:
1. Diaflex (unbreakable mainspring)
2. Diashock (Seiko's shock resistant design, equivalent to the Swiss "Incabloc" or "Kif," etc.)
3. Automatic winding
4. Date/date indication
5. Water resistant Thanks for that. As long as there's a reason, I'm happy 
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zb
488 posts
33 months
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That's a very nice watch indeed, congrats.
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Nick M
3,137 posts
92 months
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Ah dammit... Someone hide my credit card please...
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krusty
2,314 posts
118 months
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Nick M
3,137 posts
92 months
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krusty said: Creation Watches had these on offer last week.... I managed to get one before they sold out... Aha !! So it's your fault I wasn't able to buy one then !!! Actually, thanks - saved me an embarassing conversation with SWMBO !! 
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tertius
Original Poster
4,689 posts
99 months
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Nick M
3,137 posts
92 months
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krusty said: They were back in stock this week. I may have 'accidentally' purchased one  Waiting for it to arrive. At the office...
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bigandclever
6,358 posts
107 months
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tertius said: Updated to say I just got another, equally, if not more, amazing Seiko ... this one a Seiko Stargate, SKZ327: I've got a SKZ325 - black face, red minute hand. Like you say, comfy watch. Some different strap suggestions here.
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Gizmoish
15,518 posts
78 months
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NeMiSiS said: the compass inner wheel turns when you wear the watch, it was also pointed out that the compass actually has no purpose whatsoever. So once set - let's say that North is at 3 and you're heading West - after a bit of walking it will have moved? But you'll remember that it was at 3. Except that won't help you at all, because you don't know whether you've walked in a straight line. When I first saw those I assumed that the inner ring was actually magnetic... but I suppose that would interfere with the mechanism. Having said that... instead of a balance weight swinging around, couldn't you have a ring inside the case with a (smaller) magnetised weight, affecting a magnetised spring? The rest of the movement would need to be made from non-magnetic material, but that's feasible.
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Tanguero
3,302 posts
70 months
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According to Donald de Carle in "Complicated Watches" the "direction finding" bezel is used by pointing the hour hand at the sun and adjusting the bezel to indicate north with a compass. To find north later you just point the hour hand at the sun. Though if you had a compass in the first place... Or alternatively one of these  (not my pic)
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