Seiko SKX007 Review
Introduction
I’ve owned my Sekio SKX007 for a little over 3 years now. The watch has traveled with me to all sorts of places and it has seen seen all kinds of conditions. I bought the watch as something to wear daily for work and play.
Superior Durability
This watch has held up very well. I have managed to avoid any major scratches on the crystal. The SKX007 comes with a hardlex crystal. I would have preferred to see a sapphire crystal, but at this price, it would be a difficult feat considering all of the other features of the watch. After 3 years this watch crystal is still free of scratches. I’ve used this watch daily – I haven’t babied it. The crystal still looks as good as ever.
The stainless steel case has also worn very well. It has picked up a couple dings, but that is to be expected with a daily “beater” type of watch. The bracelet has shown the most signs of wear and within days I noticed small “desk diver” scratches on the clasp of the bracelet. Again, this is totally unavoidable unless you are extremely careful with the way you wear your watch. That said, I currently wear the watch on a Seiko rubber strap so I am unconcerned about bracelet wear. The bezel still rotates crisply (counterclockwise) and the screw down crown does an excellent job of keeping water out of the case.
Automatic Movement
The SKX007 features a 7S26 automatic movement. This is a robust Japanese movement that requires no winding or batteries. The 7S26 runs at 21,000 beats per hour and I have found the watch to run about 9 seconds fast a day. This is perfectly acceptable to me, especially considering that this a sub $200 automatic watch.
Day/Date Functionality
One feature on the SKX007 that I can’t live without is the day/date function. My previous watch did not have a day/date function and I’m not sure how I survived without it. This is something that you take for granted until it’s gone and you are left fumbling for your phone for the date. Adjusting the date is very easy with this watch.
Ultra Bright Lume
The luminescent paint (or “lume”) is often a critical feature for those interested in dive watches. The Seiko SKX007 has excellent lume. Seiko has applied luminescent paint to the indexes, hands, and to the bezel. The lume is super bright and it lasts all night. Seiko is legendary for their lume and they did an excellent job with the SKX007.
Rotating Bezel
Like most dive watches, the SKX007 has a rotating bezel. This bezel has 120 clicks. It feels very solid, even after years of use. Now, I myself am not a diver, so I haven’t had to use the bezel in it’s original fashion, but I have found the rotating bezel to be handy when I am grilling steaks or need to put a few minutes on the clock. It’s nice to have a timer feature with a non-digital watch.
Stainless Steel Bracelet
The SKX007 bracelet comes an attractive stainless steel bracelet. This bracelet is fully adjustable and comes with extra links soyou can size it to fit your wrist perfectly. This is an attractive “Oyster” style bracelet with a nice brushed finish. I found the bracelet help up well. My only grip is that this bracelet comes with hollow end-links. I much prefer a watch with solid end-links and I would really like to see Seiko include this in the future. Now, solid end links are readily available on the secondary market, but I would have preferred to see them in the box. That is probably my biggest gripe with this watch.
That said, there are TONS of aftermarket bracelets, straps, and bands out there. Half the fun of owning a watch like this is swapping out the straps as there are a lot of
options to choose from. Ultimately, I chose an authentic original Seiko rubber strap that is both extremely comfortable and gives the watch a nice sporty look. The watch will accept any 22mm band.
Seiko SKX007 – Final Thoughts
All in all I am very happy with the SKX007. It is a great looking watch designed to take a beating. I like that I can take anywhere and know that I can rely on it no matter what I am getting into. It’s definitely a sportsman’s watch and it rarely leaves my wrist. For a three year old watch that has been to hell and back, it still gets a lot of compliments. When you consider that it can be had for well under $200 new, it’s an excellent value. If I could change one thing about the watch I would swap out the stock steel bracelet for a beefier bracelet, a rubber strap or a NATO style strap.
Seiko SKX007 Specifications at a Glance:
Movement: Japanese-automatic 7S26
Dial window material type: Hardlex
Display Type: Analog
Clasp: Fold-over-clasp
Case material: Stainless-steel
Case diameter: 40 millimeters
Case Thickness: 12 millimeters
Band material: Choice of Stainless-steel or Rubber
Band length: Mens (adjustable)
Band width: 22 millimeters
Dial color: Black
Bezel material: Stainless-steel
Bezel Function: Unidirectional
Calendar: Day-and-Date>
Special Features: Luminous
Water resistant depth: 200m/660 Feet
http://skx007.com/
