Learn a little more about kinetic watches and our guide to some of the best currently available.
Our world is constantly connected and always-on. When was the last time you turned your smartphone off? It’s probably been a while.
However, when it comes to an always-on smartwatch screen, do they always work for you when you need them? Do they work a little too well with the motion of your wrist and consequently turn on randomly? Sometimes they take some adjusting and getting used to. So we have to ask ourselves, what happened to simply looking at a watch to see the time?
Automatic, self-wound, or kinetic watches certainly offer precision from their minute inner parts. They’re not connected to anything, so you can enjoy freedom from batteries and chargers when wearing one. Something an Apple Watch user can only dream of!
The difference between automatic and kinetic watches
A swinging rotor powers both kinds; however, the significant difference is that automatic watches store power in a spring, whereas kinetic watches store it in a capacitor. Furthermore, Kinetic watches get their energy from the natural movement of your wrist, which generates electricity. Therefore, these are energy-saving timepieces that can store power for months at a time.
Seiko kinetic watches
In 1986, we saw the first Seiko kinetic prototype introduced to the market and marketed initially as an automatic watch (which isn’t untrue, but as we’ve mentioned above, there is a difference). Two years later, the first commercial kinetic watch was released and, in 1991, became known as Seiko Kinetic watches. Today, they still dominate the market for this particular kind of watch, so you’ll notice there are a lot of Seiko models on this list of the best kinetic watches. Now you know why!
Without further ado, let’s look at the 8 best kinetic watches in 2021.
Men’s Seiko 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
Now you know that a kinetic watch gets its power from the movement of your arm throughout the day. So you’d be right to expect it to be comfortable. You certainly don’t need to opt for a silicone band for this.
Take the SNK805, for example. It has a khaki green NATO strap that offers good breathability and takes to the shape of your wrist. Pure comfort. This is in addition to a 37mm stainless steel case.
Furthermore, it has a green dial to match the band. On the face, you’ll find a date window at the three position, a second, minute and hour hand, Arabic numerals and 5-minute markers.
Worth noting, this watch also offers 30m water-resistance.
You can buy this watch for around $90.
Invicta Unisex Pro Diver Stainless Steel Automatic Watch
If you’re into diving, this unisex offering from Invicta is the perfect companion. Whilst you will need to use a dive computer, it’s always good to have an infallible back-up.
The 40mm stainless steel case on the 8926OB has a rotating bezel and chronograph that will certainly come in handy. As well as luminous hands on a black face for ultimate readability. What’s more, it offers water-resistance up to 200m.
Again, this watch is around $90, which is a bargain for a dive watch. Read more about the Invicta brand here.
Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Novak Djokovic Special Edition
Back to Seiko for the SNP149P2. We put this special edition piece on here purely for the looks; above all, it’s absolutely breathtaking.
Each dial on the face reflects a condition Djokovic faces in his quest to become a tennis legend. These being two sub-dials; one for tracking the hour and the other for the month, a date window and
Inside it has, you guessed it, a kinetic movement with analogue display.
However, this special addition is on the more expensive side at around $600.
Raconteur Hemingway Automatic
This timepiece is a vintage-inspired piece from a Swedish brand, so naturally, it offers a minimalist beauty. Dark but clean. You can even choose from a range of deliciously dark leather straps, which you can change to suit your mood.
You get a 40mm stainless steel case with a polished finish and a sapphire crystal dome for ultimate protection.
Inside is a Japanese Miyota 821 self-winding movement, offering a 45-hour power reserve.
You can pick this up for $270.
MVMT Men’s Analog Watch Chronograph
If you like minimalism, you’ll love this. In fact, at a glance, it looks like the face offers nothing, but look again!
This watch has a 45mm brushed stainless steel case, sandstone leather wristband and hardened glass dome.
You’ll see three sub-dials on the matte black dial; a 60-second timer, 30-minute timer and a 24-hour clock, plus black hour and minute hands with blue accents from the second and dial hands. Look even closer, and you’ll see a small calendar window.
You can purchase this watch for around $150.
See our guide on MVMT watches, here.
Bulova Men’s Automatic
Another stunning design. The 98A179 from Bulova has a gunmetal case that lets you see the workings of the watch as it moves, which is pretty cool.
A larger 46mm stainless steel case with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protection and 100m water-resistance.
The black face offers luminous seconds, minutes and hours with a solitary Roman numeral for 12 and an open balance wheel.
This watch has it all; function, beauty and quality.
$270
Check out more Bulova watches for men, here.
Seiko Japanese Quartz Black Analog Watch
Back to Seiko for the final two on our list of the best kinetic watches. The SKA649 is a kinetic Japanese Quartz movement and will keep going for six months between charges.
It offers a minimalist design with unique style.
Offering a black ion-plated 45mm stainless steel case with a matching bezel. This watch has luminous skeleton hands and offers simple hour and minute markers. At the 3 position, you’ll find the date. This is all protected by a Hardlex crystal, which is scratch-resistant. As you might guess, the case back is transparent, offering a look into the inner workings of the piece.
$180.
Seiko Prospex
Finally, we get to the Seiko SUN023P1. This is a big 47mm dive watch developed to withstand professional-level activities underwater. As such, it offers 200m water-resistance.
This watch has a crowded face, but with that, it offers functionality. When you press the right button at the 2 position, it causes the second hand to move and tell you how much power reserve is left (luckily, in months). Interestingly, there’s a fourth, blue hand which shows the time in 24-hour format.
The bezel offers a lume in the form of a dot and generally has big bold blue and orange accents. All in all, probably not the one for the office, but certainly for those outdoor enthusiasts who like their watches to make a statement.
Around $500.
Kinetic Watches Conclusion
You’ve reached the end of our list of the 8 best kinetic watches for 2021. We’ve covered a range of budgets and styles, so hopefully, you’ve been inspired!
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Last Updated on March 1, 2021
Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.