Straton Speciale Automatic or QuartzvsSeiko Essentials Chronograph
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Measurements
Catalog photos are all shot at the same flattering size. These aren't: every case below shares one millimeter scale.

Speciale Automatic or Quartz

Essentials Chronograph
Diameter
42mm
40mm
Lug-to-Lug
n/a
45.8mm
Thickness
15.9mm
11.5mm
lowest
Water Resistance
100m
100m
MSRP
$599
$415
lowest
Movement
Valjoux 7750
Seiko 8T63
Case
5 specsCrystal & Dial
1 specsMovement
2 specsPricing
1 specsReviews
Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.
Owners widely praise the Straton Speciale Automatic or Quartz watch for its attractive retro design, TV-shaped case, and fun color options, with many noting its solid construction and wearability on smaller wrists due to its compact lug-to-lug measurement. Accuracy figures for the automatic variant are reported around +2 seconds per day. The meca-quartz version is considered reasonably priced and a good value, with one owner noting nice finishing for the price point. Some owners find the Straton Speciale to be a bit overpriced, and one reviewer mentioned smudging on the bezel. Overall, owners and reviewers rate the Straton Speciale Automatic or Quartz watch highly for its distinctive retro styling and good value, particularly for the meca-quartz models.
Owners widely praise the Seiko Essentials Chronograph for its beautiful and fun dial, with one noting the green dial and gold hands, and another finding the dark greenish dial less impressive than black. The watch is considered a great first watch, comfortable for active wear due to its lightweight nature, and enjoyable for its chronograph function. One owner reported the orange stripe on a stopwatch button expanded and fell off in heat, while another found the 40mm case wore smaller than expected. The Seiko Essentials Chronograph is considered beautiful for its price, especially on the grey market. On balance, owners rate the Seiko Essentials Chronograph highly for its attractive dial and comfortable wearability at its price point.
The watch is praised for its impressive execution and value at its price point. Its 50-meter water resistance is cited as a potential limitation.
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