Side by side

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz WatchvsSeiko 5KX

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
CWCSBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
MSRP $666
5KX
Seiko5KX
MSRP $350
What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch

Owners widely praise the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch for its legible, uncluttered dial, excellent Super-LumiNova lume, and robust build quality, noting its comfortable 12mm thickness and durable PVD coating. The bezel action is described as having zero back play, and the fixed lugs are appreciated for easy strap changes. One owner reported the lume is readable throughout the night, while another flagged a faulty mechanism requiring replacement and poor retailer customer service. The £700 price is considered high by some compared to similar quartz divers, leading to questions about its value. Overall, owners rate the CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch highly for its bombproof, toolish design and practical aesthetics.

Seiko 5KX

Owners widely praise the Seiko 5 Sports SKX series for its strong lume and comfortable wearability, with many noting its compact feel due to a short lug-to-lug length. The NH36 movement's accuracy varies, with typical performance between +/-5 to 10 seconds per day, though some report better. A lack of screw-down crown and ISO certification are noted drawbacks for its water resistance. Some owners find the bracelet to be of cheaper construction with hollow links, and a few have reported quality control issues. The consensus is that the Seiko 5 Sports SKX series offers good value for its price, appealing to those who appreciate its tool-like nature and iconic lineage.

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40mm
5KX42.5mm
Power Reserve
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch40h
5KX41h
Water Resistance
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch300m
5KX100m
MSRP
SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch$666
5KX$350

Full specifications

Case

4 specs
Diameter
40mm
42.5mm
Thickness
12mm
13.4mm
Lug Width
20mm
22mm
Water Resistance
300m
100m

Crystal & Dial

4 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Hardlex
AR Coating
Yes
Inner
Dial Color
CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch
Black
Lume
None
LumiBrite on hands and index(es)

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
Ronda 517
4R36
Type
Quartz
Automatic
Power Reserve
40h
41h
Jewels
25
24

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$666
$350
Keep exploring

More watches worth a look

Matched to the watches above on size, movement, style and price — microbrands first. Open any one to dig in.

Follow this matchup

Get a note when CWC SBS Black Ice Quartz Watch vs Seiko 5KX gets more votes, a community discussion, or a price drop. No account needed.

Adjacent matchups

People also compared

Comparisons nearby in the catalog — alternatives to the watches above paired against the matchup.