Why Seiko's SSC819 Chronograph Is Disappointing & The Flightmaster SNA411 Is Still King Under $500

TGV on Seikona vs Flightmaster: The Flighty!
TGV on Rolex Daytona vs Flightmaster: The Flighty! 🙂
TGV on Patek 5270 vs Flightmaster: The Flighty! 🙂 🙂
TGV on 1kg bar of 24kt gold vs Flightmaster: The Flighty! 🙂 🙂🙂
TGV on luxury beachfront villa in Tahiti vs Flightmaster: The Flighty! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
TGV on Michaelangelo's David vs Flightmaster: The Flighty!

Another great video - I have a Seiko speed timer and I'm over the moon with it - not too bothered with the steel bracelet as I replaced it with a NATO and it looks great. Its probably just me but I'm not a fan of steel bracelets on any watch, cheap or expensive, and never find the fit comfortable - believe me I've tried.
I actually like a 24 hr dial on my watch as I have worked in windowless environments in the past and an am/pm indication has always been very useful.

The SEIKO SELECTION SBTR021 Meca Quartz Chrono from Japan is another value sleeper like the Flightmaster in my opinion.

this is the first time i strongly disagree with all the negativses mentioned exept for the lack of loom markers.

great video keep it up

have you compare to SBDL095 that has bigger lum ? Also compare the Speedtimer automatic vs the quatz?

I have a few Flightmasters in my collection: The one shown in this video, the black and white "Pandas" (both versions) and the ever illusive white/navy one. I had to take one of them for service and it needed a new movement, rubber gasket and battery but anyway, love the Flightmasters!

Is there any chance of a link to the strap on your flightmaster please? Just picked one up after watching ALL of your videos! Would look wrong if I didn't put it on that strap!

the 24hrs marker sucks.

Hello. Thanks for the review.
I saw the Seiko SSC815P1 with the beautiful blue dial at a local dealer.

Positive:
I really like that design. It has curved glass. It's a good size for me. Seiko has made a power meter, which I have missed from Seiko solar.
Negative:
I'm not into bracelets, I'd like Seiko to come up with an alternative strap and thus a little cheaper.
I'm also not a fan of the 24 hour dial, just the aesthetic, I'd like it to be the date.
The price in Denmark is an average of DKK 5,000. That's about 734 dollars. It is somewhat more expensive than expected. Would love to see it in Titanium for that price. B.R. Steen B

I like this watch and want to love it but it wears much too small for my liking. With that said, it is amazing how large it looks in your video.

I recently bought this watch in the panda configuration for US$350. It's a brilliant watch on the wrist with excellent proportions and feel. I don't think any of the negatives raised here are a big deal at all. Sure, more lume would be great but I have a Seamaster for that. Just get the Seitona but make sure you look for a good deal.

I love my flighty but I might get this as well. They have different appeals as the flighty is iconic, multipurpose and quirky, the speedtimer is classy and solar. I agree the unfortunate thing is this is nicknamed Seitona, as tbf it's kinda generic yet handsome looking, and shouldn't be living in the shadow of a mega brand giga watch.

Hell no, 24h subdial is definitely useful. After all, a day has 24 hours in it, and that's why I set all my digital watches and clocks to 24h scale. It's not "military" time, it's homo sapiens time. Also, besides making the watch bunker-ready, such a subdial also allows you to take a quick glance at the rest of your day, e.g. to eyeball the time left until the end of your on-call shift.
And speaking of hidden gems from Seiko, I just got a SSB401P1, which is really affordable considering the huge markups our clueless watch dealers make where I live, making the price of SSC819 exceed $500. Alas, SSB401 isn't solar-powered nor does it have an auto-calendar, but it's very sleek and reliable.

I'd like to see a 40mm Arnie from Seiko and quartz versions of their popular divers, example being a quartz SPB143.

As always really enjoy your videos! I'm a big fan of pilot watches and my all time favorite is the Breitling Navitimer. Hope to buy one in a few years time. Right now trying to make up my mind if I should go for the Flightmaster or the Citizen Promaster CB5001-57E. The latter seems a bit larger but also a good looking one.

The Tactical Frog VS75 v2 panda does many things better at 1/3 the cost. A beautiful no date solar watch with sapphire crystal and cerameric bezel insert.

The flightmaster dial makes me dizzy it’s way to busy.

I have the orient panda and it’s about 1/3 the price and the same movement but mineral crystal and some what inferior bracelet. I think this one is overpriced for what it is.

I have to disagree completely here, (based on my own biases, of course). Simply put, based on side-by-side comparison of LOOKS, I would never buy a "flighty". It is cluttered and ugly in my book. On the other hand, the Panda version of the Speed Timer grabbed me, and wouldn't let me go until I bought one. I was late to the game, having purchased just last month, but I have to stop myself from ignoring the rest of my collection by wearing it everyday. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I think the flighty is too busy imo

The flight master is a big ugly watch…

I recently bought this with the champagne dial for <£400! I have about 50 watches, inc. expensive ones but this is one of my favourite ones!

I prefer the look of the seiko sbtr027. Looks more like a Daytona and sub $200. Same Mecha quartz functionality and did not cheap out on the lumn. Also 20mm lugs make for a frustration free strap swap.

Well pointed.good job ol'man

Great vid TGV! (I REALLY prefer the 39 mm) So, I have a question: What are the chances Seiko will put out a ProSpex level quality chronograph with a VK 67 with a 12 hour Totalizer and ditch the uber stupid “24 hour” dial……go look out the window….what a waste of dial space. Anyway, do you think there is a chance? Thanks TGV!
PS can you get a VK 67 with a Day/Date…or at least a date?

Even Seiko will have to jump through it to beat it’s own…..SNA 411! It RULES!!!!

If you don't mind double dipping, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the 41mm version as well. It has the same lug-to-lug, more lume, and roughly the same weight. The only thing "holding it back" is the 21mm lug width.

I just bought this watch with champagne dial for £395 at an AD new and for this price it is amazing value, I love it!

The 41mm version looks better imo

Lol I was totally going to buy it until I saw the lack of lume. What were they thinking???

Your love of the Flightmaster convinced me that that would be the chronograph I'd want, but about the time I began collecting watches, I had vision problems, so I've stayed away from small dial print and indices watches, but nonetheless enjoy seeing the joy that watches that stand the test of time bring to their owners. Thank you.

I do wish it was bigger. Just got it and was surprised how small it is

Great video as always. Im new to the channel but enjoying your videos and the commentary thoughtfully provide. I'd love to see a look a watches associated with motorsport. Perhaps a look at some of the classics with notable motorsport heritage. Just a thought. Thanks again for the videos!

Hi TGV, have you had a chance to take a look at the Seiko SBTR027. Would love to see you review this beautiful dialled watch

TGV, clearly everyone has their own preference and opinion and you do a pretty good job of presenting both sides, both the pro’s and con’s of each watch. I can appreciate your fondness for the Flightmaster. I never personally owned one, however I did own a Seiko SEH010 which I believe was the predecessor to the Flightmaster. It was a great watch. Since selling the SEH010 about 10 years ago, I haven’t owned a chrono. I’ve looked at the Flightmaster. Also...the Citizen Navihawk. To be candid, neither of them really excited me to the point of making a purchase. However, when the new Seiko Speedtimer came out I knew immediately I had to own one. So there you have it....there’s no accounting for personal taste. Everyone enjoys whatever it is that appeals to their own interests.

I would like Seiko to do thinner chronographs, 9-10mm instead of 13, like they already did. A 30 min register would be more readable too. I would like a reissue of 6139-8020 too. Thanks for the video.

I really don't mind the 24 hour dial personally.

The Seiko Speedtimer is so generic looking and that dial couldn't be anymore less interesting if you tried! I just bought a Bulova Luna on a bracelet and I think is a far better watch...

Im really trying buy the flighty but something always comes up when i go to buy it, and as prices become higher and stock becomes lower, im afraid my time will run out.

I don't really mind the 24h complication but the loom is what I personally find outragous while the bracelet is just adding insult to injury at that point. If 2 out of these 3 flaws we're fixed this would be my top recommendation for a non-mechanic chronograph, and i would personally choose it over a more expensive Hamilton or Tissot mechanical chrono just because of the clean and appealing design.

I hear you on the 24-hour subdial. Very occasionally I find it useful when setting the date, to know if the next 12 o'clock will be noon or midnight. Rest of the time, it's a distraction that makes me look at it only to find it's not the one I want to look at. <sigh>

i would like them to do something slimier to the flightmaster

do you know if they still make the Flightmaster?

If it said Rolex on the dial he would say it's perfect.

Just picked up a SSC819 for only 280 euro/usd !!

I've put my white (panda) style on a black navy strap, and it absolutely completes this watch!

Carrera is the goldstandart;)

After hearing you rave about the Flighty, I finally broke down and got one. I am not disappointed, its a new favorite!

so i go on Google to look at prices ...and you're not wrong ..i bought in at 200 uk beans plus 50 import duty ...and Second hand ones are selling for more ..new ones ...well some are being offered for around 330...lol

i have a fight master ..and it's too small for my tastes ..it looks cool close up ..i will give you that. And big love for the show.

For my having tried this watch in person I must say its a nice watch but the proportioning is a bit off for me with 39mm size it should be perfect for my 6.5in wrist but the thickness and slab style case makes it look pretty tubby and not thing I prefer. Compare to say something like Speedmaster Reduced, that one has such elegant case treatment and thickness that it is rather a perfect chrono size for me.

That being said I do think this watch is a great value for its price. For a daytona substitute I reckon the Black Bay Chrono is still the closest apart from other homages.