In this review, we’ll take a look at the Seiko SKXG67. Keep reading to learn all the details of this Seiko 5 timepiece.
Watch companies discontinue watches due to various reasons—availability of materials, lack of interest or profit, or even because a style no longer fits with the brand. With Seiko’s popular Seiko 5 line, this culling of the catalog is expected.
That doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the watches that have gone before us.
In this SKXG67 in-depth review, we will be looking at a watch with a classic design that has been all the rage recently. With a reliable movement and a comfortable size, this could be your perfect everyday watch.
Table of Contents
Seiko: The Company
Whether you’re new to watches or have a 20 slot watch box tucked away in a safe, Seiko is a name that almost everyone has heard of. From their humble roots in 1881 Japan, Seiko has become one of the largest manufacturers of watches in the world.
Let’s dive into the history of Seiko.
Kintarō Hattori, the founder of Seiko, opened his watch and jewelry shop called K. Hattori in Tokyo, Japan. After several apprenticeships and partnerships with foreign trading firms—one being F. Perregaux & Co.—he moved his shop to the main street of Ginza, Tokyo.
In 1892, Hattori began making clocks under the name “Seikosha.”
In 1983, they were renamed Hattori Seiko Co., Ltd. and became Seiko Corporation in 1990. After some restructuring and following the creation of its subsidiaries, the company finally became Seiko Holding Corporation.
In 1969, Seiko developed the first production quartz watch, the Astron.
Not resting on their laurels, they then went on to develop the first quartz analog chronograph.
Currently, the Seiko Group has 7 watch brands under their name: Seiko, Grand Seiko, Credor, Pulsar, Alba, Lorus, and Orient.
SKXG67 Overview
Let’s now get into the watch itself, the SKXG67.
As part of the Seiko 5 line of watches, this watch and its design is just one of the many developed and manufactured by Seiko in the early 2000s.
This particular piece was manufactured in February 2003.
The Seiko 5 line of watches was first introduced in 1963 and was Japan’s first-ever automatic day-date watch.
The line follows five key attributes required for each watch: 1. Automatic movement; 2. Day-date display at the three o’clock position; 3. Water-resistance; 4. Recessed crown at the four o’clock position; and 5. Case and bracelet built for durability.
7S26A Movement
One of the reasons for the popularity of the Seiko 5 line is its movement.
With the SKXG67, we have the reliable 7S26 movement.
The first iteration of the 7S26 series of movements is the 7S26A, first introduced in 1996. This was then followed by the 7S26B in 2006 and then the 7S26C in 2011.
Seiko has then moved away from the 7S26 as current Seiko 5s employ the 4R35 movement.
SKXG67 Dimensions
The SKXG67 is an admirably wearable piece with a classic design.
The watch measures 37.5 millimeters across with no extra width from the recessed crown. This is considered small by modern watch standards. The watch doesn’t reach past my wrist with its short lug-to-lug of 42.5 millimeters.
The lug width is measured at a disappointing 19 millimeters, making it a hassle find straps for this watch, unless one is okay with a smaller 18 millimeter strap.
SKXG67 Design
Here are some of the finer details about the design of the SKXG67.
Case
Following the design philosophy of the Seiko 5 line, the SKXG67 case is all stainless steel with different finishings. We have a high polished surface on both the fixed bezel and the sides of the case. On the flat surfaces of the case, we have a brushed finish that could be easy to miss.
The see-through case back of the watch gives the wearer a view of the 7S26A movement. Although the 7S26A movement is not that much of a looker, this is still a welcome addition.
The case has a height of 12 millimeters and does provide some presence on the wrist due to the watch sitting a bit high, partly because of the see-through case back.
Dial
The dial of the SKXG67 is pretty minimal save for the day-date function at the 3 o’clock position.
The simple black dial has applied steel batons, half-painted white, on the hour positions. There is a small lume pip above each hour baton providing a view of the time in dark situations. White painted minute markings adorn the spaces between each hour baton.
The Seiko and 5 are both applied at the top half of the dial to denote the line the watch is part of. The word automatic is printed at the bottom half.
Both the hour and minute hands are in a sword-style design, with the ticking seconds hand designed as a needle. Both the hour and minute hands have substantial lume painted on the body.
Strap
Seiko isn’t known for having the best straps or bracelets in the game, but this one is an exception.
SKXG67 comes with a 4-link stainless steel bracelet that hugs the wrist well. The multi-faceted design of the links helps the bracelet wrap around the contours of the wrist. It comes with 5 micro-adjustments and is locked by pressure.
The bracelet helps bolster the presence of this watch on your wrist. Due to the slight height of the lugs from the wrist, the bracelet almost seems like an extension of the watch case itself. The bracelet starts from the case at 22 millimeters and tapers down to 16 millimeters.
This bracelet beats any low expectations people have for Seiko bracelets.
Movement
The SKXG67 sports the 7S26A movement.
The movement does not feature hand winding or hacking; one would have to go for either the newer or higher models in Seiko’s range to get such features.
True to the Seiko 5 philosophy, however, the movement features a day-date function at 3 o’clock. The date function starts to move at around 11 pm while the day function changes at 2 am.
Overall Pros and Cons
With all the details mentioned, let’s condense the points to help you decide if this watch should be on your radar or not.
Pros
- Modest case size
- Minimal aesthetics
- Case design
There is a lot to like about the SKXG67, but it’s the case design that draws a lot of people in.
With a sub-40 millimeter case and a lug-to-lug of only 42.5 millimeters, the watch will wear amazingly on a small wrist. For those who want a bit more presence, keep this watch on the bracelet due to the extra dimensions the bracelet gives.
Another pull for the SKXG67 is the minimal look of the watch. With the simple black dial and applied hour batons, the watch does not scream its presence.
There are no large markers or numbers on the dial to make it look loud. All you are given are the time, day, and date. What more can you ask for?
Lastly, we’ve seen the popularity of the Tissot PRX. But with a case diameter of 40 millimeters, plus the length given by the integrated bracelet, the watch may be too big for some folks.
The SKXG67 is the perfect alternative. Both watches share the same tonneau case design, and the SKXG67 boasts its automatic movement compared to the quartz movement of the Tissot.
Cons
- Odd lug width
- Availability
This watch has a lot of good things going for it, but no watch is perfect.
An odd lug width makes it a hassle to find fitting and matching straps. Although one could try fitting an 18 millimeter strap, it wouldn’t be perfect. This is a big con for the watch.
The dimensions make it the perfect modestly-sized watch, and exchanging the bracelet with a leather strap would make it fit a smaller wrist even better.
Seiko may be given half a pass for this since they supplied an above-average comfortable steel bracelet with the watch.
The last con for the watch is a big one:
This watch has been discontinued. By being in the Seiko 5 line of watches, but not in the hall of fame of Seiko watches like the SKX013 or SKX007, the culling of this watch was inevitable.
But there’s no need to fret. Seiko reintroduced the watch as the SNXG67. It boasts the same aesthetics as the SKXG67, albeit with the upgraded 7S26C instead of the 7S26A. Currently, the watch sells for about $210 on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
The SKXG67 is a great watch. With its minimal aesthetic and substantial bracelet, the watch has a lot to offer, especially as an everyday piece.
So who is this watch for? If you’re one who just wants to slap on a watch and walk around without worrying about anything else, then this could be for you. With its 41-hour power reserve and barebones dial, this could be the perfect watch for the workspace.
Fitting the watch with a leather strap would make this watch look even smaller. Although the steel bracelet is already a killer strap from Seiko.
Overall, the SKXG67 is a great everyday piece for work or day-to-day life. Guys with smaller wrists should not shy away from this amazing watch.
