Seiko Essentials ChronographvsZelos Vitesse

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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.

Seiko Essentials Chronograph at true scale

Essentials Chronograph

Zelos Vitesse at true scale

Vitesse

Diameter

40mm

40mm

Lug-to-Lug

45.8mm

n/a

Thickness

11.5mm

lowest

12.2mm

Water Resistance

100m

highest

50m

MSRP

$415

lowest

$1,499

Movement

Seiko 8T63

La Joux-Perret L100

Case

4 specs
Thickness
11.5mm
12.2mm
Lug-to-Lug
45.8mm
n/a
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
100m
50m

Crystal & Dial

1 specs
Dial Color
n/a
Gulf

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
Seiko 8T63
La Joux-Perret L100
Type
Quartz
Automatic

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$415
$1,499
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Reviews

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

Seiko Essentials Chronograph

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.

From video reviewers

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.

Zelos Vitesse

Owners widely praise the Zelos Vitesse for its vintage motorsport design and striking dial options, with particular appreciation for the salmon and panda configurations and their finishing. The bracelet, clasp, and overall value at $1200 are frequently highlighted as strong points. Some owners note the watch sits high on the wrist, and a few have observed minor cosmetic imperfections on subdials. The La Joux Perret L100 movement's accuracy varies, with one report of +5 seconds per day, and several owners find the winding action stiff and noisy, the pushers sticky, and the screw-down crown's feel underwhelming. On balance, owners rate the Zelos Vitesse highly for its captivating dial and strong value proposition, despite some reservations about the chronograph's operational feel and case height.