As a fan of the Seiko SKX007, your invitation awaits this overview and analysis of the eternal dive watch.
What really got you into luxury watch collecting?
Was it a Casio G-Shock? Maybe a Citizen Sports watch? Or was it the Seiko 007 watch? No one’s judging here! After all, these watches may sit in the budget category, but they’ve also influenced the industry in a big way.
It’s a natural progression to want to look at more expensive watches after getting a taste for watch collecting. Do you necessarily need to take that leap, though? The Seiko 007, in my opinion, is one reason why you might not.
If you’re looking for some perspective, go back to something like this watch and look at what it offers. You’ll see exactly what I mean. Maybe you own this watch, and it’s sitting at the bottom of a drawer somewhere? Go dig it out.
The crux of the matter is I don’t think we give watches like the SKX007 enough credit. For many, the Japanese brand’s affordable timepieces were the gateway drug into luxury watch collecting between the 1970s and 1990s. They were what made people fall in love with luxury watches in the first place!
So, why are models like the Seiko SKX007 still so popular? Why is yours still sitting in a drawer?
There’s a reason you didn’t let go of that watch many moons ago. Allow me to explain why as we delve a little deeper into the Seiko SKX007.
Seiko SKX007 Specs
Let’s get the features and specs of the Seiko SKX007 out of the way first. This is a pretty old model that Seiko discontinued back in 2020. The Japanese giant decided to replace it with the popular 5 Sport series.
You do, however, still hear a lot about the iconic diver’s watch. People still talk about and wear it, which must count for something, right?
Right! The model has a super cool, sporty, retro vibe thanks to its printed back dial and arrow handset. Both have great legibility. Aside from bold luminous markings, you get a clear white day-date feature at 3H.
Structure-wise, the case is made of stainless steel and has a 200-meter water resistance. To help uphold that capability, the crown is a screw-down type at 3 o’clock and nicely grooved for an easy grip.
The SKX007 diver also features a fully graduated 60-click black bezel with a 60-minute scale atop its glossy surface. It’s clear that everything about this watch focuses on usability. What’s even better is that all the features meet ISO diving standards!
The Seiko SKX007 watch also features the 4 o’clock crown that many will recognize from the Prospex line.
Seiko SKX007 Dimensions
Let’s look at the Seiko SKX007 Dimensions. The dive watch measures 42.5mm in diameter. This combines with a height of 13.25mm. It’s quite a thick case. Considering its comfortable lug-to-lug width (I’m covering that shortly), it wears well on most wrist sizes.
I had a quick look on a couple of forums to gauge what people thought of the size. Most people with a wrist size of 6.5 to 6.75 inches commenting on watchuseek.com said it wears really nice.
Some enthusiasts also mentioned other similar designs, like the Seiko SKX013. The 007 is bigger than the 013 (38mm). Both, however, are considerably comfortable and manageable options for those looking for a watch to fit a smaller wrist.
Seiko SKX007 Lug Width
If you want to know if the SKX007 works well with other straps, then the answer is yes — straight up! You can wear the watch on its original stainless steel bracelet, a black rubber strap, or a colored NATO band. Trust me, this dive watch looks good on just about anything!
To switch the strap of the Seiko dive watch over, just look for a 22mm lug width in a strap. The Seiko SKX007 lug width is a pretty versatile size. You’ll find lots of strap options in this size.
The Seiko SKX007’s lug-to-lug width is 46mm. Believe it or not, this is one of the most important measurements on a watch. It indicates whether a watch will fit nicely on your wrist. Don’t ask me why companies often don’t willingly supply this information on the watch’s specs. It baffles me!
Luckily, the 46mm lug-to-lug measurement of the Seiko SKX007 is a generally good size for most wrists.
About the Seiko Diver SKX007
The company released the Seiko Diver SKX007 in 1996. It became one of the most popular dive watches of all time. As a result, it’s still in huge demand in the pre-owned market today.
The whole history and evolution of the dive watch is enough to get you sucked into a Seiko. The Japanese brand’s first one arrived in 1965, named the 150M Diver, or the 62MAS as we fans like to call it. It proved its capability out in the water during Japan’s 1966-1969 Antarctic Research Expedition.
The purpose of that original dive watch from which the SKX series took its inspiration was the Japanese Olympics. Seiko was the official timing partner of the event. Following this watch were several firsts for the brand.
Proceeding the Seiko 600M watch was the Hybrid Diver’s 150M (the “Arnie”) with an alarm and chronograph function. Then, we had the Diver’s 1000M.
In the years that followed, Seiko built a solid reputation for itself in manufacturing tools for professional divers. While there are recreations of this first dive watch, the SKX007 came along and knocked sales off the charts.
The watch is part of a proud lineage of rugged water-ready tools, including the (almost equally popular) SKX009.
Above all, fans love its affordability, precision, legibility, and robustness, not to mention its dashing good looks.
Why the Seiko SKX007?
The truth is, there are only a few items of jewelry a man can wear. One of them is the luxury watch. Choosing one, however, can be quite a long and drawn-out process if you don’t know what you want.
Most of all, a watch needs to be robust, legible, and stylish. The SKX007 ticks all of those boxes. That fact alone may go some way to explaining why it’s such a collectible today.
Most men looking for a “nice watch” don’t have the disposable income to splash out on a Rolex Sub. This model is a suitable alternative. For a mechanical, ISO-certified dive watch, its affordable price is remarkable.
If a novice were to compare the basics of the SKX007 and the Rolex Sub, there would be some basic similarities. Both feature rotating bezels and black dials. While most of us don’t have the money to throw $7k at a Rolex dive watch, we can at least opt for a $250 Seiko.
Some guys have been wearing this very watch for nearly thirty years straight. That’s because it’s an evergreen diving watch with stacks of class and bucketloads of character.
You can wear the watch and get it all dinged up. It will only add to its charm even further!
Don’t take that part for granted, by the way! There are only a few watches that carry age and patina so well.
The Seiko SLX007K
When collectors begin exploring the SKX series they often come across slight variations of the model number. The Seiko SKX007 has a “K” reference and a “J” reference.
The difference is quite simple. The SKX007J features the “21 Jewels” and “Made in Japan” lettering at the foot of the dial, while the SKX007 watch doesn’t. Aside from this, all spec details remain the same for both watches.
FAQs
Some FAQs should help you decide whether you do or don’t need the SKX007 in your life.
How Long Will a Seiko SKX007 Last?
The Seiko SKX007 is still going strong despite its discontinuation in 2019. The price and quality of pre-owned models show that their robust design stands the test of time.
Is the Seiko SKX007 a Good watch?
Of course, there are better, more accurate mechanical watches out there. But for its affordability, the SKX007 is a fun, stylish, and ionic design to collect.
What Movement Is in the Seiko SKX007?
The caliber 7S26 is the automatic movement in the SKX007 mode. It performs at a rate of 21,600 oscillations per hour and delivers a 41-hour power reserve once full wound.
Where To Buy a Seiko SKX007?
You can purchase the Seiko SKX007 on the pre-owned market, and it is still readily available today.
The Takeaway
You know what? The Seiko SKX007 is not perfect. It may have a slightly misaligned chapter ring. It will, no doubt, lose 60 seconds a day. It may have a rattily Jubilee-esque bracelet fashioned loosely on Rolex’s metal band.
There are also a lot of modified SKX models out on the market (just to confuse things). But tell me, where will you find such an all-around quality dive watch at a similar price point?
This watch carries the unique retro nods of diver watches of the 1960s without the premium price tag.
If there is one, I’d love to know. Leave me a comment below, and we can talk.
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