Chronograph watches have fascinated people ever since Omega, Rolex, and other luxury brands have introduced it to the market.
More than the functionality, it’s the sophisticated look that attracts many users around the world because they just simply work as they should.
However, many luxury timepieces are too expensive for most customers that just fall out of the range of a decent quality chronograph.
Thankfully, there are watchmakers like Seiko who manufactures mechanical, quartz, digital and solar powered chronograph watches with the same functionality and features but without all the precious metals and fairly priced at a lower range.
New watch enthusiasts and seasoned collectors alike are known for wearing Seiko because they functional pieces that are appreciated by all.
Rich and lower class a like.
If you’re on a budget but still want to get your hands on a fully functional chronograph watch then we’ve listed the best and affordable chronograph timepieces from Seiko.
Affordable Seiko Chronograph Watches
Here are the top Seiko Chronographs worth adding to your collection.
Seiko SSB031 Chronograph
The 40mm SSB031 Chronograph has a stainless steel case, an ion-plated bezel with a tachymeter scale, a stainless steel bracelet, a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal, a date window, luminescent hands and hour markers, and a Seiko Caliber 6T63 Japanese quartz movement.
The three chronograph subdials feature 60-second, 60-minute, and 24-hour scales.
Pros:
- Accurate timekeeping feature
- Chronograph functions have intuitive controls
- Good lume brightness
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Low-quality strap
- Date window is hard to see
- Poor alignment of the chronograph hands
Price: $120 to $425
Seiko Men’s SNN241
The 43mm SNN241 has a stainless steel case, a Hardlex crystal, a brown-colored dial, a genuine leather strap, a date window at the 6 o’clock position, Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
It features two chronograph subdials with 60-second and 60-minute scales.
Pros:
- Affordable chronograph watch
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Great lume brightness
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- It’s thick and a bit heavy on the wrist
- Small date window
- Chronograph hand isn’t aligned with the markings
Price: $95 to $215
Seiko SSC141 Solar
The 42mm SSC141 Solar is a solar-powered watch with a stainless steel case, bezel, and band, a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal, a blue-colored dial with a tachymeter scale on the outer portion, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a Seiko Calibre V172t Japanese quartz movement.
The three chronograph subdials have 60-second, 60-minute, and 12-hour measurements.
The timepiece also has an alarm function.
Pros:
- Timeless look that can be used on any occasion
- Durable build that’s great for everyday use
- Power reserve of up to 6 months
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Little lume applied on the hands
- Small date window
- Inaudible alarm
Price: $170 to $375
Seiko SSC021 Solar Diver
The 43mm SSC021 Solar Diver has a stainless steel case, a unidirectional rotating bezel with black ion plating, a Hardlex crystal, a rubber strap, a date window, circular hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
The three chronograph subdials feature 60-second, 60-minute, and 24-hour scales.
Pros:
- Time is easy to read
- Buttons are easy to press
- Excellent lume brightness
- Sturdy build that’s great for outdoor use
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Band is stiff and uncomfortable to wear
- Small date window
- Bezel isn’t aligned with the hour indices
Price: $175 to $375
Seiko SNA411 Flight Chronograph
The 42mm SNA411 Flight Chronograph has a stainless steel case and bracelet, a bidirectional bezel covered with black PVD, a Hardlex crystal, a screw-down crown, a date window, luminescent hands and hour markers, and a Seiko Caliber 7T62 Japanese quartz movement.
The chronograph subdials feature 60-second, 60-minute, and 12-hour scales.
The watch features an alarm function, tachymeter markings, and a slide rule for measuring fuel consumption and flight climb calculation.
Pros:
- Affordable chronograph pilot watch
- Complexity of the dial makes it look expensive
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Bezel is hard to read
- Cluttered watch face
- Small date window
Price: $220 to $475
Seiko Excelsior SSC139
The 44mm Excelsior SSC139 has a stainless steel case, a two-colored bracelet, a silver and grey bezel made of stainless steel, a scratch-resistant mineral crystal, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a Seiko Caliber V172 Eco-Drive movement.
It features three chronograph subdials with 60-second, 60-minute, and 24-hour scales.
The 24-hour subdial has a built-in alarm feature.
Pros:
- Eye-catching bracelet design
- Power reserve of up to 6 months
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Too shiny that it looks cheap
- Date window is too small
- Low-quality bracelet
- Heavy to wear
Price: $240 to $500
Seiko Prospex SSC081
The 41mm Prospex SSC081 is a solar-powered chronograph watch that has a stainless steel case, a silver-toned stainless steel bezel, a solid case back, a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal, a black dial with large Arabic numeral hour markers, a leather strap, a date window at the 3 o’clock position, luminescent hands and markers, and a Seiko Caliber V172 Eco-Drive movement.
The Prospex SSC081 features a compass scale on the outer dial and an alarm function.
The three chronograph subdials have 60-second, 60-minute, and 12-hour scales respectively.
Pros:
- Its sporty look is matched by its durability
- Excellent lume brightness
- Power reserve of up to 6 months
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- It’s quite thick and heavy
- Busy watch face
- Alarm is almost inaudible
Price: $300 to $400
Seiko SSC017 Prospex
The 43mm SSC017 Prospex has a stainless steel case, band, and bezel, a unidirectional rotating bezel with large Arabic numeral minute markers, a Hardlex crystal, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
The three chronograph subdials feature 60-second, 60-minute, and 24-hour scales respectively.
Pros:
- Excellent lume brightness
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Solar-powered movement
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Bezel has play
- Chronograph hands are not aligned with the markers even after resetting
- Small date window
Price: $360
Seiko Prospex SSC015P1
The 43mm Prospex SSC015P1 has a stainless steel case, bezel, and band, a unidirectional rotating bezel with large Arabic numeral minute markers, a Hardlex crystal, a date window, luminescent hands and hour markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
It also has three chronograph subdials with 60-second, 60-minute, and 24-hour measurements.
Pros:
- It’s solar-powered
- Accurate timekeeping
- Durable build
- Time is easy to read
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Band is difficult to adjust
- Small date window
- It’s thick and bulky
Price: $375
Conclusion
You don’t have to spend loads of cash just to get your hands on a chronograph watch and its proven with Seiko’s vast collection of them.
It’s easy to get lost in the numerous models to choose from but we have done our best to list the best Seiko chronographs and we’re confident you’ll find one suited to your taste without spending a fortune.
