SEIKO CHRONOGRAPH SSB385P1 QUARTZ MEN WATCH

How do I time something with it?

Press the upper pusher to start, press it again to stop — and you can keep pressing to accumulate several intervals into one total. The lower pusher clears everything back to zero. Seiko's advice is to reset first and check the chronograph hands are sitting at zero before you begin. Timing carries on for up to twelve hours in fifth-of-a-second steps and then stops on its own. This calibre has no split-time function, so what you get is one running total rather than separate lap times.

When is it unsafe to set the date?

Between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am, according to Seiko's instructions for the 8T67. Seiko's stated reason is that adjusting it then can leave the date failing to turn over. Move the hands clear of that window first, set the date, then set the time.

Will the strap be adjusted for me?

Yes — City Chain can fit the strap in store, and it is worth bringing your warranty book along for the service. If your wrist sits between two sizes, have it set properly rather than forcing it, since leather that is worn too tight creases and wears unevenly.

Is it all right to get it wet?

Rain and hand-washing, yes. Swimming, no — and the reason is the strap rather than the case. Seiko rates the case at 10 bar, which is generous, but leather does not recover from repeated soaking: it stiffens, darkens and eventually cracks. Dry the strap if it does get wet, keep the watch out of hot water and steam, and never pull the crown out while it is wet. The 100 metres the rating corresponds to is a pressure equivalent, not a depth you could take it to.

How will I know the battery is going?

The small seconds hand starts jumping in two-second steps instead of ticking in single seconds. That is Seiko's built-in warning, and it gives you time to come in before the watch stops. Seiko's three-year battery estimate assumes about an hour of chronograph use a day, so leaving the stopwatch running will shorten it — stop and reset once you have your reading. Bring the watch to any City Chain store for servicing, and it is worth having the case seals checked at the same time.

How does the watch sit on the wrist?

The measurement that matters is the 46.5mm lug-to-lug span, since that is what reaches across the wrist rather than the 41.5mm diameter. At 12.1mm deep the case has some substance, and the 22mm strap width is in proportion to it. Total weight is 76g, which is light for a chronograph.

What is and is not covered by the warranty?

Buying the SSB385P1 from City Chain Singapore, an authorised Seiko retailer, includes a 3-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. It does not cover accidental damage, ordinary wear or battery depletion, and the strap is regarded as a wearing part rather than a covered component. Keep your warranty card and proof of purchase — the watch cannot be submitted for warranty service without them.