That is the picture coming into my mind when you talk about scuba diving. Love the words in the lyrics of the song "Under the Sea" of the Little Mermaid....
"Just look at the world around you
Right here on the ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is you lookin' for?"
Errerrrrr but mermaid doesn't wear any watch... this is a watch that better suit Sindbad, sailor of the seven seas. Imaging a tough macho man sailing a boat and battling the gusty wind and the rough sea.... classic.... This is what this watch meant to be doing; withstanding extreme condition and still telling accurate time.
(Photo taken from: watchuseek forum by iam7head)
This Seiko Diver is an all time blockbuster since its debut in 1996. Seiko Scuba Diver 7S26 is replacing the older Seiko diver model 7002. Seiko 7S26 comes in many variations using different cases, different dials and different bracelets. However all 200m divers have unidirectional locking bezels with 120-click graduations. For SKX007 there is also a lumed indicator on the black coloured bezel.
Being a diver watch, the case need to provide a water tightness environment for its movement and can withstand severe abuse for a watch of this nature. Seiko SKX007 is sized at 40mm width and with a thickness of 13mm. The case is made from stainless steel and is brushed on the top with polished sides. This watch utilizes a flat Hardlex mineral crystal.
The oversized screw down crown and crown guard at 4 o'clock position gives this watch a significant identity. This watch has a screw on caseback. Apart from all the details about the watch, at the center of the caseback is the famous Seiko wave or Tsunami logo.
The dial is simple and clean with black matte colour contrasted with big white lumed round hour markers. The watch hands are also oversized and heavy lumed. All these make it easier to read time even underwater and in darkness. At the dial there is also a red proclamation of this watch being a Diver watch and can withstand water to a 200m depth.
Seiko SKX007K usually comes in two type of bracelets; the Stainless Steel jubilee or rubber strap. My watch is supplied with the jubilee bracelet which is built with solid link and has a folded endlinks. The watch is 22mm at lugs and tapers down to 20mm at clasp. What I felt is that, this is a heavy watch, the jubilee bracelet can't really support its weight. Water resistant of 200m can easily satisfied all casual divers and some commercial divers.
Inside the massive steel case is the 21 jewels automatic Seiko's in-house 7s26 movement, which offers a day-date complication. 7S26 is Seiko's entry level mechanical movement mainly seen in SKX-series divers and Seiko 5 series. The non-hacking and non-handwinding 7S26 has a heart rate of 21,600 bph and a power reserve of approximately 40 hours. This movement is undecorated and unadjusted. The cost effective 7s26 movement is a very reliable workhorse, and capable of very good performance. Their ruggedness and reliability is well-documented. My Seiko diver SKX007 is the K series, therefore the movement is made in Singapore, and contains a total 64 parts.
The SKX007 is an easy watch to fall in love with. It is a watch that is created for maximum performance and robustness at minimal cost. I would strongly recommend this diver to anyone interested in a mechanical watch that will perform well under any circumstances while requiring minimum care. Despite being an entry level watch, due to its popularity there are many replicas. So beware if you are eyeing for one. Always buy from a trusted Seiko's Authorized dealer.
No comments:
Post a Comment