FAQ & Watch Care

To find your closest authorised Seiko retailer, please visit the store locator on our website, or use the following link: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/stores 

A chronograph is a type of watch that includes a stopwatch function in addition to the main time. A chronograph is activated by a set of pushers on the side of the case.

A tachymeter is used to measure distance or speed. For step-by-step instructions on how to use your tachymeter, refer to your instruction manual, or see the how to videos.

A mechanical watch which is automatically wound by the motion of the wearer’s wrist, rather than by manually twisting the crown. The motion of the wrist moves a counterweight (called a rotor) that then powers the mainspring, which turns the watch gears.

This refers to a mechanical watch that doesn’t automatically wind. Hand-wound watches are powered by manually turning the crown to wind up the mainspring.

Although it stands for Greenwich Mean Time, a watch referred to as a GMT has the ability to track two time zones at once. This is particularly useful for frequent travellers so you can tell the time in your current location and back at home.

Full instructions on how to set the time and date on your watch will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction 

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to set the GMT hand on your watch will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to use the compass function on your watch will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction 

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to use the diver’s bezel on your watch will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction 

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to use the tachymeter on your watch will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction 

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to use the chronograph on your watch will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to use your Astron 5X53 will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction 

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Full instructions on how to use your Astron 3X22 will be in your official Seiko instruction manual. If you do not have your instruction manual, you can search for it online here: https://www.seikowatches.com/uk-en/customerservice/instruction

You can also watch our instructional video here.

Metal bracelets should be washed carefully in water. If dirty, use a soft toothbrush with soap and water to brush away the dirt. Finally, rinse with water and dry carefully with a soft cloth.

If your watch is not water resistant, be careful not to get water on the case. Cases should be wiped gently with a slightly moistened soft cloth and then dried thoroughly.

Leather straps should be slightly loosened in the summer when they may absorb perspiration. A tight strap not only prevents the passage of air over the underside of the strap but can also cause a perspiration rash on the wrist. If the strap ever becomes wet with perspiration, wipe it dry with a soft cloth. When you take off your watch, leave it in a well-ventilated spot. Never put it in a sealed container when it is still damp with perspiration. Avoid leaving your strap watch in direct sunlight as the strap colour may fade.

How water resistant is my watch?

To find the water resistance of your watch, please refer to the official user manual. 

Non-water resistance: If  ”WATER RESISTANT” is not inscribed on the case back, your watch is not water resistant, and care should be taken not to get it wet as water may damage the movement. If the watch becomes wet, we suggest that you have it checked by the retailer from whom the watch was purchased or your local Service Centre.

Water resistance (3 bar) If ”WATER RESISTANT” is inscribed on the case back, your watch is designed and manufactured to withstand accidental contact with splashes of water or rain, but it is not designed for wearing while showering, bathing, swimming or diving.

Water resistance (5 bar)* If ”WATER RESISTANT 5 BAR” is inscribed on the case back, your watch is designed and manufactured to be suitable for wearing while swimming, yachting and taking a shower.

Water resistance (10 bar/15 bar/20 bar)* If ”WATER RESISTANT 10 BAR”, ”WATER RESISTANT 15 BAR” or ”WATER RESISTANT 20 BAR” is inscribed on the case back, your watch is designed and manufactured to be suitable for wearing while taking a bath or shallow diving, but not for scuba diving. We recommend that you wear a Seiko Diver’s watch while scuba diving.

Before using a water resistant 5, 10, 15 or 20 bar watch in water, make sure the crown is pushed in completely. Do not operate the crown or push buttons when the watch is wet or in water. If used in sea water, rinse the watch in fresh water and dry it completely.

When taking a shower while wearing a water resistant 5 bar watch, or taking a bath while wearing a water resistant 10, 15 or 20 bar watch, make sure to observe the following: 

• Do not operate the crown when the watch is wet with soapy water or shampoo
• If the watch is left in warm water, a slight time loss or gain may be caused. This condition, however, will be corrected when the watch returns to normal temperature

NOTE: Pressure in bar is a test pressure and should not be considered as corresponding to a diving depth, since swimming movements tend to increase the pressure at a given depth. Care should also be taken when wearing the watch when diving into water. 

Instructions on how to change the strap on your watch can be found here: can be found here

If you need assistance changing the strap or bracelet on your watch, you can visit your local retailer or Seiko Boutique. Alternatively, the Seiko Service Centre will be pleased to assist you.

Instructions on how to adjust the size of your bracelet can be found here: can be found here

If you need assistance adjusting the size of your bracelet, you can visit your local retailer or Seiko Boutique. Alternatively, the Seiko Service Centre will be pleased to assist you.

Instructions on how to use the diver’s watch micro-adjustment and wetsuit adjustment can be found here.
If you need assistance using the diver’s micro adjustment, you can visit your local retailer or Seiko Boutique. Alternatively, the Seiko Service Centre will be pleased to assist you.

Straps and bracelets can be purchased through our Customer Service team, or via our website. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit our website: https://www.seikoboutique.co.uk/product-category/seiko-straps/

Shocks: Your watch is a precision measuring instrument. Treat it carefully, and it will serve you well. Avoid undue shocks (such as dropping on hard surfaces).

Perspiration: You should aim to protect your watch from heavy perspiration. Please remember to wipe it dry as soon as conveniently possible.

Extreme Temperatures: Quartz watches are much less affected by extreme temperatures than mechanical watches, and are designed to keep good time if worn on the wrist for eight hours a day with ambient temperatures between -10°C and +35°C.

If removed completely from the wrist, your watch may lose time during the winter, but will return to normal accuracy as soon as you start wearing it again.

If your watch is stored at temperatures outside the normal range (as low as -10°C or as high as +60°C) the electronic components may cease to function normally.

The response time of liquid crystals used in the displays on digital watches at temperatures below freezing is slow, and they tend to look very dark at high temperatures, but standard performance returns at normal temperatures.

Battery life can be significantly reduced at high temperatures (above 40°C), and battery fluid may even leak out.

Chemicals: Chemical substances, gases, mercury, etc., may change the colour of cases, bracelets and straps. Mercury (for instance, from a broken thermometer) can cause particularly unsightly grey discoloration of gold plating.