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Product Description
Like the dashboard of a cockpit, the aptly named Flightmaster is packed with information that can be difficult to interpret at first glance. With practice, however, you’ll be able to use this Japanese quartz watch to summon all kinds of info: time, speed, and distance calculations; fuel consumption; climbing altitude, rate, and time; unit conversion; square root and rule-of-three calculations; and much more Read More
TL;DR: Choose the one which looks better for you.
I own both watches. Those are my personal impressions on differences between those watches:
Looks:
Both have very different design, Seiko is more traditional, much more busy / serious look, visually smaller, despite being actually slightly larger, domed crystal adds to the classic look. Citizen looks more modern, wears slightly larger due to larger dial covered with flat crystal.
I prefer Seiko looks.
Functionality:
Seiko provides chronograph with tachymeter scale and the alarm, which can be repurposed as the second time zone.
Citizen has a proper 24hr GMT/second timezone and independent hour arm, but adjustable only forward.
Seiko bezel has Compass indexes in addition to log scales. Other than that watches have the same bezel functionality, including log scales, mintues->hr conversion scale, units conversions (same set on both).
Citizen eco-drive should require less maintenance than Seiko.
Usability / legibility:
This goes mostly to Citizen:
Citizen has less busy dial and larger arms, makes it easier to read time, larger GMT indicator is also easier to read and uses 24hr scale
rotating bezel is more readable on Citizen due to being larger / less condensed. Citizen balances unit conversion indicators between inner and outer scales, while Seiko has them all on the outer scale. Citizen has '10' marked so it is easier to locate it when doing simple multiplication. Seiko has 60 marked out, which works well visually and could be used as poor man's timing indicator. Overall, the rotating bezel is much easier to use on Citizen, esp. in a low light.
Internal bezel in Citizen vs external in Seiko:
Seiko is easier to grab and rotate, but there is a lot of friction which makes it a bit fiddly to set precisely.
Citizen bezel has dedicated crown, which makes it easy to adjust precisely, but slower and the crown location is at 7 o'clock, which is not that easy to reach. New version of Nighthawk has the crown at 2 o'clock.
Lume:
Citizen lume looks better, with larger indexes and numeral lummed. Seiko lume last longer.
Conclusion:
If you care about style, choose the one which looks better to you.
If you care about chronograph or alarm, go for Seiko.
If you want to use log scales a lot go for Citizen.
If you care about proper GMT function, independent hr arm, go for Citizen.
I like both enough to keep them. If I have to choose one, I'd go with Seiko.
Yellow second hand timer doesn't line up after a couple months, but apparently is fixable. Prior to knowing it was fixable, I contacted massdrop and was told they only allow a 30 day window to report issues for items without a manufacturer's warranty. I'll be careful from now on purchasing from massdrop with no included manufacturer's warranty for any item in the case where a self repair is not within my skill.
i try to diagnose anything if something isn't working properly.
make it a habit to search on google if you dont know.
it was enjoyable moment when i changed my car timing belt ps belt ac belt with information i gathered on google few years ago.
Very nice watch with aviator look affirmed. Personally, I prefer leather strap watches. For my part, I took a brown Hirsch that goes very well with its slightly vintage side.
If you go with a true 21mm it should fit the lugs perfectly--worse case you might have to shave the edges a bit with with a razor blade.
The tricky part about these watches has to do with the position of the lug holes, they're drilled VERY close to the case, meaning its tough to slip any kind of strap between the OEM spring bars and the case. If you run into that issue, the solution is to replace the stock spring bars with Curved Spring Bars like these:
https://drop.com/buy/seiko-sna-flight-alarm-chronograph-watch/photos#photogallery
Good luck!
Got my flightmaster today and everything looks fine. This was my 2nd participation in a MD and again, there was no warranty card included with the watch. I learnt on this site that this is standard pratice on MD (only 30 days MD warranty). I had expected a more explicit disclaimer by MD for such an important part of the deal (could not find any hint neither on the SNA411 nor the SRPC6X drop).
First of all, the fact that this watch is being sold for $200 is astounding. A must-buy at that price for any watch enthusiast who enjoys the look of it. Forget whether it’s a mechanical or a quartz, this is a watch guy’s watch.
Like many other iconic references, the SNA411 is really one that has to be seen in person. The visual depth of the dial is something that cannot be expressed through an image. It makes quite an impression and tends to suck you into the dial whenever you check the time.
The quality of the example I received is superb. All of the hands strike the dial indices perfectly and the finishing is excellent. I highly recommend replacing the bracelet with an Erika’s Original MN strap. Yes, I know, the price. But this watch and that strap are a match made in heaven. It elevates a great $200 watch to a near-perfect $280 watch that I wouldn’t sell for any reasonable price.
(FYI it’s nearly impossible to get a shot of the dial that isn’t slightly blurry due to the slight magnification from the crystal. So it’s even sharper in person!)
The SARB033, The SKX013 and the Flightmaster are the holy trinity of my collection. I have it on a brown leather NATO strap, which I wear on occasions both informal and sporty.
I don't know if there are any left, but I'd encourage getting one if you can. It's a 41mm but wears more like a 38 because of its short lugs. Beautiful dome crystal and a very technical dial I still haven't taken the time to learn.
This is a great watch. I bought one right before this drop for myself. I bought one on MD for my son for his b-day at the end of the year. I really loved mine, so he will love his.
I do wish it were an auto, but one like this as an auto would cost thousands.
Even though it is quartz, I absolutely love the SNA411! I highly recommend this watch.
Internal bezel in Citizen vs external in Seiko:
Lume: Citizen lume looks better, with larger indexes and numeral lummed. Seiko lume last longer. Conclusion: If you care about style, choose the one which looks better to you. If you care about chronograph or alarm, go for Seiko. If you want to use log scales a lot go for Citizen. If you care about proper GMT function, independent hr arm, go for Citizen. I like both enough to keep them. If I have to choose one, I'd go with Seiko.