Seiko is one of those brands that represents history, toughness, and value. One of their watches that has stood that test of time is their Diver’s 200m. With the innumerable amount of dive watches out there from every brand under the sun, the one I’ve personally seen on the wrists of the most military personnel, snorkelers, divers, and boat crews is Seiko. Two versions of their classic 200m dive watches are the SKX007 with all black bezel, and the SKX009 with blue and red bezel.
Looking at it, it takes very little time to see the history behind the design. The SKX007/009 is timeless and can be traced back directly to the Seiko divers of the 1960’s, as well as the venerable 6105 and 6309. It looks great on rubber, a bracelet, a NATO, or any other strap you want to throw on it. One of its best aspects is its proportions: 42mm wide, with a 22mm lug width. This, along with slight cushion-style case and the offset crown makes one great combination. If you want a little more color in your life, the SKX009 with “Pepsi” bezel, for lack of a better term, is a great option.
SKX007, courtesy flickr member stormblast2008
The automatic winding 21 jewel 7s26 movement is truly a workhorse. Although some may not like the fact that is is not hand-wound, and is without hacking seconds, the simplicity and durability is where the beauty lies — and in our opinion, a dive watch shouldn’t be hand-wound anyway. The dial is extremely legible and the Seiko lume is bright as always. Even with a day and date function, the dial is uncluttered with hour markers that are inherently Seiko and reminiscent of their vintage divers. The mineral crystal is Hardlex, and although slightly more scratch prone, it is far more shock resistant than sapphire. It’s made to take the bumps and bruises of everyday life for years and years. Surrounding the crystal is a 120 click unidirectional bezel with solid lock up, a dive watch standard. The SKX007/009 has everything needed in a dive watch while still focusing on the aesthetic details.
Seiko 7s26 movement
Whenever someone tells me they want a “nice” watch and give me a budget of several hundred dollars, my immediate answer is always Seiko. In my opinion, they offer the best bang for your buck, almost without competition. My next piece of advice is typically the SXK007/009. The Seiko Diver’s 200m is a humble but classic watch. I don’t think I’ve encountered anyone who’s just stumbled across it, liked how it looked, and decided to buy it. Sure, there are certainly more accurate and more refined watches out there, but this watch is bought by those who know what they’re going to get. It is a “beater” that will endure. When factoring in the style, history, reliability, and price, it’s hard to beat a Seiko Diver’s 200m watch. That is why it has a firm place in the Wound For Life Hall of Fame.
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Chris
Great call on the Seiko diver as a hall of fame watch. It’s a good looking, well-made serious watch that can’t be beaten on value. Given that the watch world has seen a lot of tool watch makers drift into ever higher price brackets, it’s amazing to still have these remain such an amazing value.
RSDA
Yes!
Also check out the SKX173. Very similar watch, but different second hand and hour markers. May only be available in US market.
The Murphy bezel is a great coin-edge replacement for the standard bezel.
Brian J. McClure
The SKX007 is worth every penny you pay for it, an ISO 6425 – certified dive watch which costs you less than $200. Moreover, Seiko’s craftmanship is No.1 in affordable price ranges
Sohm G.
The SKX007 was my first “real” watch purchase. I bought it my senior year of high school after saving up for the rubber strap version and for the separate jubilee bracelet (it was cheaper that way). I have the watch on my wrist for a very long time and it still holds the charm that I fell in love with long ago. For everyday wear, work and fun, this is the watch that I would recommend to collectors both young and old.