SEIKO CHRONOGRAPH SSB383P1 QUARTZ MEN WATCH

How does the stopwatch work?

The upper pusher starts the timing and stops it, and you can press it repeatedly to add up several intervals. The lower pusher sends the chronograph hands back to zero. Seiko's instruction is to reset it and check the hands are sitting at zero before you start. Timing runs for up to twelve hours in fifth-of-a-second steps and then stops by itself. There is no split-time function on this calibre, so it gives you one running total rather than individual lap times.

Is there a time of night I should not change the date?

Yes — between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am. Seiko's instructions for the 8T67 set that window, warning that adjusting the date then can leave it failing to advance. Wind the hands outside that window, set the date, then set the time.

Can the strap be fitted to my wrist?

Yes. City Chain can fit the strap for you in store — bring your warranty book along for the service. Have it adjusted properly rather than forcing the fit, particularly if your wrist falls between sizes.

Can I swim with it?

The case can; the strap would rather you did not. Seiko rates the case at 10 bar, which would ordinarily cover swimming without a second thought — but leather is the weak point here, and repeated wetting stiffens it and marks it permanently. So treat this as a watch for rain, handwashing and the occasional splash rather than the pool. Dry the strap if it does get wet, keep the watch away from hot water and steam, and never turn or pull the crown out while it is wet.

What shortens the battery life?

Running the chronograph. Seiko's three-year figure assumes around an hour of timing a day, so leaving the stopwatch going for long stretches will cut it short — stop and reset once you have your reading. When the battery is nearly flat the small seconds hand begins moving in two-second steps instead of one, which is a useful warning. Bring the watch to any City Chain store for servicing, and it is worth having the case seals checked at the same time, since the gaskets are what hold the water resistance as the watch ages.

How does 41.5mm wear on leather?

76g in total, which is light for a chronograph of this size. The figure that decides fit is the 46.5mm lug-to-lug span, since that is what reaches across the wrist, and at 12.1mm deep the case has some presence without being tall. The strap takes a 22mm width, which is proportionate to the case.

What does the warranty cover?

Buying the SSB383P1 from City Chain Singapore, an authorised Seiko retailer, includes a 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects. It does not extend to accidental damage, ordinary wear or battery depletion, and the strap is treated as a wearing part rather than a covered component. Keep your warranty card and proof of purchase, as the watch cannot be submitted for warranty service without them.