Seiko Diver - help

GG21057

Hey,
I have decided to buy my first diver and am settled on Seiko as a brand. I am drawn to the SKX007 below as it ticks my boxes from a size, layout and movement perspective.

However, before I buy (probably through creation) any advice considering the following?
The SKX007 has an automatic movement. I will wear the watch c3 days per week. I don't have a watchwinder and would prefer not to buy one. Therefore, should I consider a mechanical hand wind watch or an auto with a hand wind option. If so, and within the Seiko brand and my price (c€200), the only option I can see is the SRP311 (Monster) which has the auto / hand wind combination I am looking for but I am not as keen on the design (I want simple, non chronograph).

Are there others in the €200 / €250 Seiko range I should consider?
What others should I look at? Orient, Hamilton etc...
What's the reserve like on the SKX007 - would it live with being worn every other day?
Any other comments?
Cheers,
G

Eoin

I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but if you're not wearing it every day and don't want to have to set the time when you put it on, then would the choice not be more along the lines of quartz vs mechanical, rather than automatic vs hand-wound?

GG21057

You're correct that a quartz would solve the issues I outlined, but unfortunately doesn't when personal taste is involved. I prefer mechanical watches and enjoy the sweeping movement of the second hand rather than the 'tick-tick' movement of a quartz analogue watch. I have a quartz g-shock digital watch that I am happy with, but don't want another.

Eoin

I know how you feel - I prefer autos too and despite having a watchwinder, I've just come to accept that I'll have to set the time if it's not been in use for a while.

Hamilton are a nice brand, but I don't think you'd get an auto in budget, and I'm not sure if they tend to do many divers.

Of the 2 above, I much prefer the first one. I think the reserve is supposed to be around 2 days, but I imagine that'll depend on how active you are on the days you wear it?

peasant

I have two automatic watches (Seiko & Orient) that don't handwind at all and I know where you're coming from

I always feel like an eejit, sitting there, shaking the watch to get it going, setting it, shaking it some more etc ...winding by hand is so much easier.

Plus the other thing is that while the watch does get going after a few shakes it only has very low power to start with which means for a while the balance doesn't reach its full amplitude and it runs fast ...bit of a bummer when you're just after setting it.

My Orient has a power reserve display and according to that I need to shake it for a good 10 mins to build up half the power reserve.


The power reserve of the Seiko 7S26 movement is about 36 - 40 hours ...in theory wearing it every other day should work. Problem is though (as my trusty power reserve indicator tells me) if you only shake the watch a bit to get it going and then spend your day at a desk and lounging about in the evening you'll never build up the full power ...more like half only ...so it wouldn't last until the day after tomorrow


Other than looking for a Seiko WITH handwinding capabilities you could also consider Citizen ...their base line 82XX movement also handwinds. The same goes for anything powered by a Miyota 8215 ...which is the same as the Citizen movement

emo72

if you wear the 007 every second day it will keep running. mine has still been running after 2 days of being left off.

GG21057

emo72 wrote: »

if you wear the 007 every second day it will keep running. mine has still been running after 2 days of being left off.

Good stuff Emo, that's good to know. I wear my watch on my right (most active) hand and will wear on the data I go swimming so it should get a good shaking in the wear day's.
2 questions - what strap are you using? I'm thinking of the silicon one as I've heard bad reports of the standard rubber.
Also, does it wear big? Could I wear under a shirt with cuff links?

GG21057

peasant wrote: »

I have two automatic watches (Seiko & Orient) that don't handwind at all and I know where you're coming from

I always feel like an eejit, sitting there, shaking the watch to get it going, setting it, shaking it some more etc ...winding by hand is so much easier.

Plus the other thing is that while the watch does get going after a few shakes it only has very low power to start with which means for a while the balance doesn't reach its full amplitude and it runs fast ...bit of a bummer when you're just after setting it.

My Orient has a power reserve display and according to that I need to shake it for a good 10 mins to build up half the power reserve.


The power reserve of the Seiko 7S26 movement is about 36 - 40 hours ...in theory wearing it every other day should work. Problem is though (as my trusty power reserve indicator tells me) if you only shake the watch a bit to get it going and then spend your day at a desk and lounging about in the evening you'll never build up the full power ...more like half only ...so it wouldn't last until the day after tomorrow


Other than looking for a Seiko WITH handwinding capabilities you could also consider Citizen ...their base line 82XX movement also handwinds. The same goes for anything powered by a Miyota 8215 ...which is the same as the Citizen movement

Thanks Peasent - for some reason, though they're quite similar, I don't want a citizen. What Orient do you have? How does it compare quality wise against your Seiko?
In searching lastnight I landed somehow on the deep blue website. They have some lovely pieces with a range of movement and good mysterious depth (and serious divers undoubtedly). Unfortunately out of my range right now !- have you any experience of them? It can be my upgrade maybe...

GG21057

They have some lovely pieces with a range of movement and good mysterious depth (and serious divers undoubtedly).

Not sure how predictive text made 'mysterious' from 'serious' but it did:$

emo72

The stock rubber is very hard. I didn't like it. I use a mesh. Much more comfortable. It would fit under a shirt easy. It's one of my smaller watches.

GG21057

They have some lovely pieces with a range of movement and good mysterious depth (and serious divers undoubtedly).

Not sure how predictive text made 'mysterious' from 'serious' but it did:$

GG21057

emo72 wrote: »

The stock rubber is very hard. I didn't like it. I use a mesh. Much more comfortable. It would fit under a shirt easy. It's one of my smaller watches.

Cool, thanks for that Emo. Think I'll go for silicone as it will be getting wet and I imagine mesh would hold moisture a bit.

GG21057

emo72 wrote: »

The stock rubber is very hard. I didn't like it. I use a mesh. Much more comfortable. It would fit under a shirt easy. It's one of my smaller watches.

Cool, thanks for that Emo. Think I'll go for silicone as it will be getting wet and I imagine mesh would hold moisture a bit.

Orlaw3136

If its the handwind feature you are prioritising, within your budget, you should check out anything which has the 4r36 movement (a number of Seiko 5 divers have it, so does SRP324, SRP227, so do a few Seiko 'Premier' divers.

For a little more wedge, you can get something with the 6r15 movement (a Sumo for instance...but that is quite a bit above your budget).

GG21057

Orlaw3136 wrote: »

If its the handwind feature you are prioritising, within your budget, you should check out anything which has the 4r36 movement (a number of Seiko 5 divers have it, so does SRP324, SRP227, so do a few Seiko 'Premier' divers.

For a little more wedge, you can get something with the 6r15 movement (a Sumo for instance...but that is quite a bit above your budget).

I am looking for nirvana -

GG21057

I am looking for nirvana - an Skx with the 4r36 movement. Priority is a diver rather than 'sport' with a simple face, good lume and hand wind option. And has to be cheap. And be accurate. And rugged. And look good. Simples :-D

peasant

While you're tearing your hair rooting through Seiko's offerings, may I suggest something completely different?

Sapphire glass
200 m water resistant
very good lume
Hand wind and second stop movement (Seagull)
Very accurate (mine runs within 3 seconds per day or less)
Price ca 225 Euro

http://sklep.gerlach.org.pl/index.php?route=product/category&path=59

The design ...you either love it or hate it

93Cab

10% discount code on WUS for Gerlach in October!

GG21057

Really like that Gerlach, and it ticks all my boxes! Unfortunately / fortunately an Skx007k came up on Adverts lastnight and I bought. Am collecting Mon / Tue - looking forward to getting my hands on it now. If it doesn't pan out, will definitely be looking at the Gerlach in earnest!

GG21057

Really like that Gerlach, and it ticks all my boxes! Unfortunately / fortunately an Skx007k came up on Adverts lastnight and I bought. Am collecting Mon / Tue - looking forward to getting my hands on it now. If it doesn't pan out, will definitely be looking at the Gerlach in earnest!

GG21057

Got my Skx007k lastnight and am very happy with it. Was boxed and unworn and started with a few shakes. It seems to have kept good time overnight but will keep an eye on it and plan to wear it constantly for a few weeks.
Quick question - is good/bad/makes no difference to wear an automatic to bed?

Anjobe

GG21057 wrote: »

Got my Skx007k lastnight and am very happy with it. Was boxed and unworn and started with a few shakes. It seems to have kept good time overnight but will keep an eye on it and plan to wear it constantly for a few weeks.
Quick question - is good/bad/makes no difference to wear an automatic to bed?

For a big tough diver's watch it makes no difference, whatever you're most comfortable with.

For a less robust, dress type watch I would be a bit concerned about rolling over on it and damaging it.

GG21057

Anjobe wrote: »

For a big tough diver's watch it makes no difference, whatever you're most comfortable with.

For a less robust, dress type watch I would be a bit concerned about rolling over on it and damaging it.

Cheers, I thought as much. I can't see my nocturnal activities damaging something as tough as the Seiko!

GG21057

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