The Best Pilot Watch under $100

Seiko Pilot Watch

The watch is all stainless steel including the bracelet. However, as usual with any pilot watch, it looks better in Hirsch leather strap.

The case diameter is 36mm, 13 mm thick, 40mm across lugs and weighs approximately 90 grams with the bracelet.

The case is finished in matted texture. The crown is set at 4 o'clock position and is not screw down. This arrangement offers some protection to the crown, being set away slightly.

The 21 jewel 7S26 movement performs exceptional well for the price. It is very robust -- some people reported having some Seiko running on this 7S26 movement for years without any service. 7S26 movement has 6 beats per second. In 24 hours it has gone about -2 second which certainly is very encouraging, but this is expected to change as the watch beds in. The watch does not hack and cannot be wound by the crown. The virtue of this movement is its performance in the price range. Externally, the watch is immaculate.

The sound of the bidirectional winding mechanism is quite evident. However if the watch is shaken gently along its spindles axis there is quite a lot of end play sound, probably from the winding weight.

The dial is not pure black, but is a dark satin finished gray which does not create any dial reflections. The dial printing is all in near white and the Seiko logo is a raised silver block. The Day/Date window is clear and well aligned.

The white hands have impressed lumibrite type material as do the dots at each hour position. The luminiscence performance in the dark is good, lasting up to several hours.

The mineral glass sits very slightly above the bezel. The dial is very easy to read.

The bracelet delivered with the watch is matted finished and of the usual deploy type clasp.  It is solid as opposed to folded link as in many other Seiko diver's range. The usual split pins are used to link it together and provide adjustment. The quality of the solid bracelet is excellent with the cost of the watch. 

This is an excellent value watch. At only $65, this Seiko SNX427 provides the best bang out of your dollar for a very good design pilot watch, without trying to be a cheap version of any other watch.