Seiko Arnie: The Best Iconic Dive Watch Under $500 & Why Schwarzenegger Choose It Over His Rolex 

I bought that watch right before I went to basic training and it lasted through my entire enlistment. As an Airborne infantry soldier, I beat the hell out of it and it never let me down. When I was a freshman in college, it died on me. I went to the mall to have the battery changed and was horrified to discover that the battery had ruptured and that the watch was destroyed. It felt like a part of me had died. I still have it in a box with all of my other Army stuff.

Another outstanding video TGV. You have successfully found a way to talk about one of the greatest action movies ever for 15 minutes on a watch channel. The watch is great and functional, and the only real downside is the size. It wears a little bit smaller than the dimensions suggest, but it’s undeniably a chunkster of a watch. About predator: In college my buddies and I watched this movie and when it was over we wanted to watch it again, so we watched it for a 2nd time. Then in the morning another friend came over who had never seen it so we watched it a 3rd time within a 24 hour period. It’s that good of a movie.

I do love the blend of interesting factual content and humour, TGV. Appreciate the effort that goes into these films. Chapeau, sir

I own the Pepsi reissue, and it has become one of my favorites. It is by far my biggest watch, but Seiko applied their usual sizing magic. Thus, it wears really comfortably, and doesn't look bulky at all on my 7" wrist. I don't see myself ever parting with this true gem.

It's got flaws like a plastic shroud, no backlight when in stopwatch mode and a short thin second hand to point the worst but this tool of a watch brings the best looking analog digi combo of any watch. I thank Seiko for bringing this one back.

Thank you for an excellent video. Taking everything into consideration, the Arnie is prably superior to the Rolexes in most aspects: more rugged, more accurate, more functional and now with solar power, probably longer lasting. And at about 5% of the price of the Rolex. With the Arnie and the Capt Willard, Seiko pretty much owned the action movie scene of the 70s and 80s.

Even though action films are meant to be over the top fun films to enjoy,it's always good to see some degree of 'realism' in the watches they wear.Arnie wearing his Seiko or Gerrard Butler wearing a G Shock in Olympus Has Fallen are better choices than Richard Mille in Expendables 3.

On a serious note, I had the re-issue Arnie with both the black and the Pepsi bezels. Great watches, and I enjoyed them thoroughly. Sold them off of course to fund other purchases...as I recall to fund something from my favorite micro brand (a brand I wish you'd give attention to), Zelos. But thanks for this great overview. Have a great weekend. Onwards.....Upwards.....

insightful analysis and commentary with incredible editing. this was a watch review masterpiece tgv! I dont have the words to encapsulate how awesome and appreciated it is to have this kind of content for years now. Thanks and Godspeed!

1987 Predator is lightning in a bottle and a Hollywood cornerstone for action horror. Interesting to see the history and how Seiko was locked into the marketing scene. 1986 Aliens with Sigourney Weaver's Seiko 7A28-7000 is another great example.

I have the 025 version, put on an Uncle Seiko waffle strap because I wasn’t thrilled with the thickness of the original. I have to admit that, in spite of my owning several G-Shocks, this has become my default watch for casual travel and physical activity. I like the fact that I can read the digital display without going through a button routine to move the hands, and I’ve used the stopwatch function for timing exercise activities (I also appreciate that Seiko didn’t opt for a negative LCD display in the interests of “military style fashion”).

As always an excellent intro. You know as much about film as you do about watches, knowing the best clips that will work best in different situations 👍🏻

Great video! You always do your research and include rich detail in your reviews, discussions, and advice/tips for collectors videos. I love the history and discussion of why Arnold wore the H558 in so many movies (he actually also wore it in Running Man, at the airport). I am a huge fan of Arnold's movies of the 80s and 90s, so I got an SNJ025 when they came out. It is one of my favorite watches in my collection. Every so often, I will put it on and have a Saturday Arnold marathon; Predator, Commando, Raw Deal, and Running Man.

Epic beginning!

I know this is an old review of yours and you never fail to deliver, but the way you write and describe the watch itself and its history shows your love for horology and its rich history for a simple seiko arnie. not much reviewers would go to such lengths but you sir go the extra mile and I appreciate it.

Enjoyed watching, Thanks!

Genius TGV. I can’t wait to see Hugo’s new movie 😁. I quite fancy adding an ‘Arnie’ to my growing Seiko collection after seeing your take on its history and importance. Stay safe.

Fandabidosy. All my favourites again in one video, 80s, Seiko, Japan, Movies. Quite literally just re-watched one of my favourite 80s movies (one of many many) Black Rain, wearing my Casio databank. Shame I'm not wearing an Adidas tracksuit and shelltoes and I'd be in heaven 🙏. Fantastic research, history and production sir. Have a great Easter my friend and as always thank you

TGV, that intro was exquisite. Got to watch the video with the whole family, and we all were very impressed with your editing skills. I don’t know what your day job pays you, but you probably deserve more. If your work outside of the Urban Gentry is half as good as what you do here, you, Sir, are a testament to excellence in your field! As for the Arnie, I learned more about “the Arnold” and his work in these 18 minutes than I have in the entirety of the rest of my life. The new version of the watch is quite compelling, but I am not sure I could pull it off. I like it and love that it is solar now, but it seems HUGE! I don’t quite have the arms of Arnold….so I might look a bit like Hugo wearing your Tudor sub! Anyway, learned a great deal from you as always, and your production and entertainment quality is off the charts. Thank you , my friend! Onwards and upwards. Be well!

Great job on another well executed video. Fantastic content. I own a H558 that remains in my “sacred collection” not often worn and a SJN025 that is my daily wearer that gets put through its paces. It’s a watch of not only character but horological importance. Your video covers it all, with a mix of facts, comedy and entertainment. Awesome job, from one Brit living stateside now to another. Thank you.

Great editing 👏😁

Such a great film analysis - thank you very much, even going further analytically this time than ever. What an interesting take on the watch culture in the eighties and the culture in general. Best regards!

Thank you for this my friend! It’s one of my favourite watches I own 100% when I wear the SNJ025 I feel empowered , tougher!!!!!;) it’s weird!;) very well made my friend! A little serious delivery!!!!! But cool!

Phenomenal Review and production enough said.... Thank you

Another terrific video TGV. I do love Urban Gentry videos that combine watches and cinema. Films are the reason I became interested in watches, so this combination of subjects fascinates me. I only recently started to look at the classic Schwarzenegger action films, and Predator was a really fun movie to watch. It certainly made me appreciate the Seiko 'Arnie' a lot more.

The depth of detail you go to in hand with the production quality is first rate. The moment these were launched I added one to my collection. Stunning piece for all the reasons you covered.

Love this episodes with watches and movies.

This takes watch reviews to a new level. Enjoyed it, well done.

OMG!! Not only was I super impressed with the trailer - But then the video afterwards turned out to be effing great as well!! I would love to see more videos from you focusing on watches in movies.and TV series. Thank you for this one. I was very entertained! 👍👍

As a kid of the 90s, i have a warm fuzzy feeling, when i see those action movies, just brings good childhood memories, brilliant TGV.

Great start to the weekend! 👍

Wow..Just wow. That intro !! Great job TGV. Heat is one of my favorite movie, that combined with Hugo. Just wow !!

Outstanding video.

I ought to get an Arnie one of these days. That and a Flightmaster. Both really interesting watches from Seiko, and I love you’re videos about the brand. Top quality.

Awesome video!

Hello! Sorry I've been off for a while but glad to see your still on here making great content :)

I love Hugo!!! It’s one of my favorite intro segments on RU-vid.

Another Nice one . Thank You (:

Heat is my favorite movie of all time, so this was my favorite intro of all time. Great work TGV.

Earned my sub. That intro was brilliant.

The coolest watch video I have ever seen! Thanks.

Thank you for another great video

Fantastic beginning... now we will never find this watch because of another wonderful vid... shameful

Awesome upload as usual 🤙🏻

Great video & looking forward to Heat 2. The editing & research that goes in to these videos are second to none! Also, my Bulova day date turned up today following a TGV recommendation (on the affordable Rolex day date alternatives video). Very happy with the purchase 👍

Looking at buying this watch one can’t help but truly marvel at the effort and quality involved in making this video. Thanks for making it so enjoyable

Excellent analysis!! Better than any movie critic 👏🏼👏🏼 I bougth the new version last year and I love the fact that is solar powered!!

Quality content sir. Enjoyed that . Predator is one of my all time favourite films . Really looking forward to heat 2 as well !

TGV, your video's intro is kick ass class by itself.

Your thesis is wonderful and you put a lot of work into your content, play on! The history or the pinky ring was incredible.

Great show.

Well done, Sir!

Just ordered this watch today! Love the movies and the history behind it. SNJ025 is such a cool piece.

LOL, GREAT intro 🙂 Bought mine on the rerelease and swapped out the plastic shroud for a quality metal one. Great video mate. Toodle pip.

Best intro yet!

Yay!! Now with trailers!! Love it!! 😀👍

Phenomenal video TGV. Predator was a favorite amongst my friends and I in high school. We watched it over and over again. I wish the new Arnie watch was smaller-like the original. I still bought one and enjoy it though.

What a delight of a review!!!! Thanks 😊. Really made me rethink the Arnie, and contemplate buying one ☝🏻

Great video 👍👍

Great job👍 intro was awesome 😎

love the intro to your show

Excellent work, TGV. I have always been torn between the Arnie and the Tuna.

Amizing video amizing You are an artist in production..

I remember going to buy this watch in 1985 after watching Commando. It lasted for over 20years before the rubber strap decayed and became brittle from the elements and all my adventures. Loved this watch! Looking forward to purchasing the reissue.

My favorite watch channel reviewing my daily d(r)iver? Good start to the weekend!

great video! Safarnie has been on my wrist all day long and watched its glorious history with me.

Awesome Seiko review on the modern arnie. Now I'm gonna have to wear mine tomorrow for Seiko Saturday.

I love this watch. I've used it everyday for 2 years now. The idea of having the legibility of a Seiko dive watch (with LumiBrite) combined with the functionality of a digital watch is just superb. I only wish the digital module were more advanced/feature rich. I want a countdown timer, a third button so that I can use the light with the stopwatch (and timer), and G-Shock style buttons that can be depressed underwater. Also, I personally would like it to be a few mm smaller, but the size doesn't really bother me. Honestly, it's fine compared with full size Tuna's.

Man...what's that music in your Intro? I love it!

Excellent watch ⌚ but my favorite action 🎬 movie watch ⌚ is the Chronosport UDT Sea quartz equipped with a Breitling movement worn by Sly Stallone in Rambo. Another stellar video pizan 🇮🇹

Well made vid. I have a Seiko Arnie in my collection and got it purely because growing up in the 80’s Arnold was the man. Plus it’s just big, chunky and cool. I love the the strap keeper with the ‘5’ dice style holes machine gun style.

What an interesting insight on an overlooked utility tool in a modern world of status and technology. The Arnie may just end up next to my skx in my watch box someday as a cool “affordable icon”. Keep up the great content!

Nice video! I love my Arnie, I bought it on a whim one day and wasn't sure if I would like it, but I instantly was over the moon with it.

Excellent

Thank you for this new and very 7th Art's thread. Has been excellent all the way!. I also got an "Arnie', but in this case a Casio's one with that same name. The Seiko's 'Arnie' instead, is a pure sport-tool watch as I believe it, with a though and vigorous aparience as well. Having a solar powered movement is a cool but interesting option for those who need it as a tool or a casual complement for his guise. Saludos!

Hey TGV, love this video because I love the Arnie and the history behind it. It bears mentioning that Arnold wore the H558 in Running Man as well as Twins and possibly while filming the original Terminator certainly T2. James Cameron was pictured with a Seiko H558 during the filming of Terminator and it's rumored that Arnold got Cameron into this Seiko watch. When the re-issues came out I jumped at the chance to have even the slightest piece of that horological and Hollywood history. Of the 5 re-issue colorways (that I know of) I picked the SNJ029P1 dubbed the Saf-Arnie. I purchased one for about $150 under MSRP and I absolutely love, love, love this watch. Unfortunately my fairytale doesn't end quite like I would have liked it. After a few months of wearing it and taking extreme care of it (none of my watches go in the shower or swimming in a pool or the ocean, etc...) I started noticing small spots of rust here and there. I took off the shroud carefully to remove any spots and lubricate. I did it again recently and noticed more rust and also after carefully removing the screws to remove the shroud, I noticed more rust, and after removing and lubricating again, the screws would no longer screw in and stay screwed. The screws are of awful quality and the continual rust showing up indicates poor coating on the case. Very disappointed in Seiko, especially for the price and such an iconic watch. I may have gotten a bum one but I suspect I am not the only one.

Quality content as usual.

Brilliant opening Hugo just keeps getting better😂 great review.

That was super enjoyable intro maybe the best of all time thank you!

the intro was 🔥 🔥 🔥

Props for that intro. Heat is one of my all time favorite movies hahah.. 🔥

Nice watch! :-) Great Video!

Thank you so much for bringing to life the iconic movies some of us grew up with. Alongside your own inimitable movie analysis. Reminds me of Mark Kermode in the depth of thought 👏👏👏

Brilliant - so love the Arnie !!!

Fantastic video, TGV. I really didn’t know that this was Arnie’s actual watch. I remember seeing this watch in the consumers distributing catalogue when I was coming up in the 80s and 90s here in western Canada and wanting it so bad. I wasn’t allowed to watch movies like predator or raw deal because if it’s violent content So I had no idea that the watch was linked to those movies. Nevertheless, as a grade school boy it was iconic then and as a grown man I see it as iconic now.

Epic intro! Just epic!

Nice watch and will definitely buy it.

Good Vid. Seiko has grown on me in the last years.. I do love the divers & the Alpinist

Thanks....a very enjoyable video. I can't think of any other watch channel presenting a pop culture-esque review quite like you do. And, while I don't own one, I quite agree they look like a lot of watch for the price.

Amazing intro :) super video and Nice watch

Could of done with one of these last week! Was on an army exercise at an undisclosed location, and forgot a beater - only had a 34mm Longines conquest I had brought for the Officer’s Mess!

That may be the best intro yet! 😆

Ty again. I own the computron blue led reissue and the lunar pilot reissue with the nato strap and no day function, closest to david Scott's watch.

Wow, great video! I like it a lot.

I bought the padi version 2 months ago and I love it. Got it for a really good price on eBay too.

Great video TGV ! That Seiko is sweet too. I'm off to LIW !

Great watch. Have the 'Arnie' Casio AMW along with this one. Love the rubber band. Setting time is more complicated than it should be. Otherwise, I find no fault. Love it.

Cracking video. I picked up an Arnie a month ago. Lucky I did, because this video will sell them out!

Amazing video and history lesson brother!

This is the only Seiko I own. Love it along with my Submariner. Thanks for sharing Tristano. Well done.