Watches under microscope vol. 11 Seiko SKX007
Welcome to the eleventh part of the photo series of watches under the microscope. This time we'll focus on a true legend among the (once) affordable dive watches. Seiko SKX007.
This watch is known for its very free-spirited build quality - everything doesn't always line up nicely, the case is a different shape for each piece, the bezel has a lousy action, the crown screws up badly, and even the lume is quite weak. One other small note: I've worn this watch a lot, and even had a nasty fall on my bike, where it was left hanging on one springbar after sliding on the tarmac - hence the patina. However, it has never been opened.
So how do the watch looks under the microscope? Where to start? I wasn't personally expecting anything particularly great, but against their spiritual successor, the Turtle, for example, the details are absolutely pitiful. They're Seiko, so there's obvious dust everywhere on the dial. The hands are very scratched and have a lot of different blemishes on them (knocks, lume layer residue, etc). The printing is also really bad - the paint is spilt in places and in places absolutely doesn't cover as it should.
A complete surprise to me was the presence of hairs or threads on almost every other index. You can see it well in the photos. You can't see them with the eye, but under a microscope they are clearly visible.
To summarize. In this photo series, this is truly the worst watch in terms of workmanship. However, our hobby is not rational and I love them, despite all the flaws and hairs 😊 As always, please excuse the quality of the photos, which were taken with a child's microscope, which also needs a lot of light to function, so it can show what is hidden not only to the eye, but also to the macro lens of the camera.
If you are interested, you can see the previous parts of this photo series here:
Buler Astromaster
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-10-buler-astromaster-31818
Laco Rostock
Casio GA-2100
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-8-casio-ga-2100-casioak-31186
Seiko SNXS79
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-7-seiko-snxs79-30976
San Martin SN007 V4
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-6-san-martin-sn007-v4-30628
Seiko SRP777 Turtle
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-5-seiko-srp777-turtle-30392
RZE Endeavour
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-4-rze-endeavour-30022
Seiko SARX035
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-3-seiko-sarx035-29698
Citizen Promaster BN0151
Longines Conquest
https://www.watchcrunch.com/nooski/posts/watches-under-microscope-vol-1-longines-conquest-29323
Watch collector and hobby watch photographer. I enjoy all types of affordable watches. I really like beauty in detail and my favorite watches must be well-made.
wow, I didn't see that much hair in the indexes coming...
Seems odd, I would have thought the paint is applied by machines who don't have hair and don't wear clothes 🙄
Some of those lume pips look like they were applied in a hair salon with the AC on full blast. Great post as always!
Wowsers. Do a Citizen NY004x series for comparison. What I have long claimed is THE best affordable diver and what the SKX series only hoped to be
Wowsers. Do a Citizen NY004x series for comparison. What I have long claimed is THE best affordable diver and what the SKX series only hoped to be
I had NY0085 which is a newer coke version with hacking and hand-winding movement. It has framed indices, a much better lume and dial quality than SKX. However I have already sold it as I can not stand crown on the left side. Also crown action was much worse than on SKX and I don't like 60 click bezel. Hands finishing was also absolute mess. But it definitely is better than SKX.