The Seiko NH35 caliber is arguably one of the most well-known and appreciated automatic movements worldwide, which is not surprising considering its low cost and reliability.
It is an economical and precise mechanism used by numerous brands of mechanical watches such as Vostok, Invicta, etc., including Seiko itself.
In fact, it can even be found in some inexpensive Chinese watch brands, such as Cadisen, which adds significant extra value to them.
Furthermore, the Seiko NH35 incorporates advanced operating features, such as the famous hacking seconds, which further increases its value for watch enthusiasts.
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of its specifications, considering all its functions and comparing it to other calibers in the same range.
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Movement | Japanese Automatic |
| Caliber | Seiko NH35 |
| Case Diameter | 44 mm |
| Case Thickness | 15 mm |
| Materials | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 20 ATM (200 meters) |
Índice de contenidos
✚ Seiko NH35 Technical Specifications
| Manufacturer | Seiko |
|---|---|
| Model | NH35 |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Jewels | 24 |
| Vibration Frequency | 21,600 vph |
| Power Reserve | +41 hours |
| Dimensions | 27.40 mm x 5.32 mm (Diameter x Depth) |
| Precision | -20 ～ +40 seconds / day |
| Functions | Hour, minute, and second hands, and calendar |
| Hacking (Stop Seconds) | Yes |
| Manual Winding | Yes |
✚ In-Depth Look at Seiko NH35
The NH35 is a bidirectional automatic caliber with the Magic Lever winding system, a patented system by Seiko that simplifies the mechanism and makes it more efficient.
![Seiko NH35A](http://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/S0b4e8d973b934909b5fb8e2542cb83c56.jpg_350x350.jpg")
Simply put, the Magic Lever shortens the winding time and provides a longer power reserve using fewer parts.
When combined with a rotor capable of generating energy in both directions, we have a caliber that can quickly start the watch with even the slightest movement.
The shock-resistant system that protects the mechanism from shocks and falls is Diashock, which is essentially Seiko’s equivalent of the Incabloc mechanism used in some Swiss calibers.
Additionally, it includes hacking or stop seconds, which means that the second hand can be stopped by pulling out the crown, allowing for more precise time adjustment.
➤ Precision
In terms of precision, the Seiko NH35 operates within a range of approximately -20 to +40 seconds per day, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. At first glance, this range may seem high, but it is quite far from reality.
When a manufacturer sets a precision range, it is more of a classification to categorize the movement, which in practice is usually more accurate.
In fact, according to the opinions of most owners of watches with this caliber, the precision falls within a range of 1 to 10 seconds.
However, it is worth noting that the lower values are probably due to measurements taken on new watches.
To truly determine the precision of a movement, the watch should have at least one year of operation, and in that case, NH35 users are closer to the ±20 seconds per day range.
➤ Power Reserve
Regarding power reserve, the Seiko NH35 can store over 41 hours of energy when fully charged.
The watch can be charged by the movement of the wrist or by manually winding the crown since it also has manual winding capability.
If you choose manual winding, you will need to rotate the crown approximately 55 times to reach the maximum energy level of the mechanism.
➤ Brands that use it
Given its affordability and easy availability, many mid-range brands use this movement in some of their most well-known models. Here are some of them:
- Invicta
- Geckota
- Orion
- Spinnaker
- Vostok
- AVI-8
- MWC
- Lum-Tec
- Cadisen
- Binger
- Burei
- Scurfa
- Benarus
- Helm
- Gigandet
- Sturmanskie
- Seiko
And here are some watches from these brands that include the mentioned movement:
✚ NH35 and NH35A: What’s the difference?
There is no difference as they are the same movement. The letter A in Seiko NH35A simply indicates that it is the first version of this popular caliber.
If future versions were to appear (NH35B, NH35C, etc.), there could be differences compared to the first version as they would be updates to the movement.
✚ Seiko NH35 vs 4R35
Considering that the NH35 caliber is essentially a Seiko 4R35 without branding, the differences between these two mechanisms are negligible or almost nonexistent.
It could be said that NH35 is the designation given to the 4R35 when Seiko manufactures it for other brands, hiding their logo for commercial reasons.
The NH35 is manufactured by the subsidiary Seiko Instruments Inc (SII), while the 4R35 is produced in the main factory of the brand.
However, if we compare their specifications, we can see that there are small differences, especially in the precision as indicated by the manufacturer:
| Model | NH35 | 4R35 |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic |
| Jewels | 24 | 23 |
| Vibration Frequency | 21,600 vph | 21,600 vph |
| Power Reserve | +41 hours | +40 hours |
| Dimensions | 27.40 x 5.32 mm | 27.40 x 5.32 mm |
| Precision | -20 ～ +40 sec/day | -35 ～ +45 sec/day |
| Hacking (Stop Seconds) | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Winding | Yes | Yes |
It is worth noting that the Seiko NH35 achieves a better precision rating than the 4R35, although there may not be a significant practical difference between the two.
Ultimately, the main difference lies in the fact that NH35 movements are more affordable and easier to obtain, even though they do not bear the Seiko logo.
✚ NH35 vs Miyota 9015
The Miyota 9015 is another commonly used automatic caliber in mid-range watches due to its good balance between price and specifications.
It is a Japanese movement manufactured by Citizen, which also includes stop seconds and manual winding, but it is noticeably smaller than the NH35.
Additionally, as seen in the comparison table, it has a higher vibration frequency and is slightly more accurate, which explains its success.
| Model | NH35 | Miyota 9015 |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic |
| Jewels | 24 | 24 |
| Vibration Frequency | 21,600 vph | 28,000 vph |
| Power Reserve | +41 hours | 42 hours |
| Dimensions | 27.40 x 5.32 mm | 26 x 3.9 mm |
| Precision | -20 ～ +40 sec/day | -10 ～ +30 sec/day |
| Hacking (Stop Seconds) | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Winding | Yes | Yes |
✚ NH35 vs 7S26
The 7S26 caliber is one of Seiko’s most affordable automatic movements, but it is also one of the oldest and somewhat outdated.
Compared to the NH35, the Seiko 7S26 is noticeably less precise and does not have the advanced features of manual winding and stop seconds.
Due to its reliability, Seiko has been using this caliber in its more affordable models for a long time, but the 4R35 or NH35 is a much more modern and logical evolution for these watches.
| Model | NH35 | 7S26 |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic |
| Jewels | 24 | 21 |
| Vibration Frequency | 21,600 vph | 21,600 vph |
| Power Reserve | +41 hours | +41 hours |
| Dimensions | 27.40 x 5.32 mm | 27.40 x 4.8 mm |
| Precision | -20 ～ +40 sec/day | -35 ~ +45 sec/day |
| Hacking (Stop Seconds) | Yes | No |
| Manual Winding | Yes | No |
✚ How to Set the Time and Date on an NH35?
Operating the crown in these calibers is quite simple and intuitive. Here are the movements for changing the time and date and using manual winding:
- Time: Pull the crown out to the second click, then rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise to position the hands at the desired time.
- Date: Pull the crown out to the first click, then rotate it counterclockwise to change the date digits.
- Manual Winding: Rotate the crown clockwise without pulling it out. Maximum winding is achieved in approximately 55 turns or until the mechanism starts to offer too much resistance.
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Last update of links and images on 2024-04-27.
