I'm thinking about buying my first 'nice' watch - something a step up from my WalMart Timex. The watches I'm considering are a Seiko SKX007 and a Citizen EcoDrive ProMaster Dive watch. My question is about the Seiko. How much activity does the watch need in order to wind itself? I have a pretty sedentary lifestyle, working most of the day on computers. Would I run into problems with this watch running out of power in the middle of the night?

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
I'm thinking about buying my first 'nice' watch - something a step up from my WalMart Timex. The watches I'm considering are a Seiko SKX007 and a Citizen EcoDrive ProMaster Dive watch. My question is about the Seiko. How much activity does the watch need in order to wind itself? I have a pretty sedentary lifestyle, working most of the day on computers. Would I run into problems with this watch running out of power in the middle of the night?

Autos typically have about a 40hr power reserve, so you shouldn't have too much trouble. The EcoDrive is maintenance free, as long as the cell holds up, and it's power reserve is 6-months. Citizen's warranty is pretty long 5-years, and if you register it, you get another year free.

The ProMaster you're looking at is 2mm larger than the Seiko. Also, the Citizen has quite a bit more polished surfaces, giving it more of the "dressy" diver look than the Seiko. The Citizen dial is more metallic than the matte Seiko as well.

I have autos, battery, and eco drives, and the peace of mind from the eco drive is difficult to beat.

I’ve got a 007. Never had it go dead while wearing it, even on lazy days.

I've always thought Seiko makes a damn good watch. Their styling can be a bit boring and conservative but I've had an Orange Monster for 14 years and still love it. Enjoy.

The 007/009 watches are auto wind only and do not hack. You cannot wind them manually. However the self-winding system is efficient and will work fine in your office environment. Shake gently a few times and strap it on and go.

RMD

007/009 is a great entry level beater automatic. Some guys have had them for many years without issue. And if it does crap out (unlikely) buy a new one. And it’s a legit 200m diver. Just wear it and it’s good to go

I have huge suggestion, the SKX007 is a great watch and keeps wound without cross-fit. But please consider getting a SKX171 and swapping out the bezel for one of the SKX007 bezels. The SKX007 has a very bland printed face and the SKX171 has the same face but with raised hour markers like most watches. I could not stand mine and for about an extra $150 located the SKX171 face and had them switched. I did it backwards and the expensive way.

I have the 007, and it sits in a drawer nowadays. Never could get it to keep good time, sent back to Seiko and paid to have it fixed, still did the same thing. Into the drawer of mediocrity for you!!

I have a Seiko 007 redone my Bill Yao from MKII watches, its a great watch, I wear it when I am working outside, shooting, etc. I choose to hide the date so I would not have to worry about keeping up with it because I knew this watch would not get worn a whole lot. Between this watch and my Omega Seamaster I feel like the Seiko will outlast the Seamaster if sitting idle.

Slightly OT, but back in 1978 I bought a Seiko Diver 150 from the Dutch PX in Rheindahlen - in fact, I'm looking at it now. Since I don't wear it that often, I never change the date or adjust for Summer time, so it goes on from year to year until the battery needs changed.

I set it at midnight every New Year's Eve, on the first 'Bonnnnnggggg' of Big Ben, and let 'er run.

By the end of the year - EVERY year - it has lost just TWO minutes.

Seiko is Japanese for 'jewel' and while it may not have the panache of any of my other spiffier watches, it has them all beaten for accuracy.

tac

I bought a 007J a month or so ago. Decent lume. Loses about 1 minute a week. I'm pleased with it.

checkout this forum http://forums.watchuseek.com/ all kinds of good info

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
I'm thinking about buying my first 'nice' watch - something a step up from my WalMart Timex. The watches I'm considering are a Seiko SKX007 and a Citizen EcoDrive ProMaster Dive watch. My question is about the Seiko. How much activity does the watch need in order to wind itself? I have a pretty sedentary lifestyle, working most of the day on computers. Would I run into problems with this watch running out of power in the middle of the night?

I literally have both of these watches. IMO the Promaster is better in almost every way. I like look of the jubilee bracelet on the Seiko but its very flimsy. The Citizen has a nicer polished bracelet with a more secure lock. The Citizen keeps better time and never needs a battery. And while the Citizen is a bigger watch the Seiko sits much taller on my wrist which makes it look kind of awkward and it catches on more things. Lume on both are excellent. I like the Seiko but if given the choice to choose one it would no doubt be the Promaster.

4X5 : Look at the watches offered by www.seiyajapan.com
They have Seiko and Citizen watches that are manufactured in Japan for the domestic Japanese market. I am told that the quality of the in-country Japanese manufactured watches is supposed to be superior to the Malayasian made Seikos that are available in the USA.

Shouldn't be a problem. Seiko makes a very nice watch. The lume is terrific. Mine will still be lit up in the middle of the night. I'm wearing a limited edition 'ninja' Samurai at the moment.

I've got two Seiko autos and love them.

I want one of these so bad:

Even a sedentary lifestyle will have enough movement to keep an automatic watch wound. I am an office worker, and all of autos get a good full "charge" after a day's wearing. Most autos have a power reserve of around 36 to 40 hours. Some will go 50, and give you a whole weekend without having to wind the watch. That is model specific.

quote:

Originally posted by sidss1:
4X5 : Look at the watches offered by www.seiyajapan.com
They have Seiko and Citizen watches that are manufactured in Japan for the domestic Japanese market. I am told that the quality of the in-country Japanese manufactured watches is supposed to be superior to the Malayasian made Seikos that are available in the USA.

The quality difference between Japanese made Seikos and others is a favorite topic of debate among Seiko fans. Having heard the argument, I have come down on the side that there can't be much if any difference. I understand that they are all made out of the same parts, and that assembly techniques aren't a big factor, since they use the same techniques. My own experience is that I can't see any difference between the Japanese Seikos I have and the one not made in Japan. That is a small sample, but is all I can report on directly.

Now, there are some cool Japanese market only watches that you will not be able to find elsewhere. Seiya-san is a reliable seller, and you can buy from him with confidence.

quote:

Some will go 50, and give you a whole weekend without having to wind the watch. That is model specific.

Some will go 192-240, but now we're into real money!

OP - you'll get plenty of movement in a normal desk jockey's day to keep it wound.

Since the Japanese only models have been brought up, check out the Casio Oceanus models range from $400 up to $2000 with GPS. I don’t have one but I am interested. Amazon has a few of them. Not sure about Seiya.

Beware of import duties on a $2k watch.