quote:

Originally posted by Jimineer:
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.

Seiya-san tells me that the customs people don't usually try to collect any duty, but there are no guaranties. I bought one watch from him and customs did not involve itself.

I have the Sea Urchin, the SKX007's close cousin...I tend to like its styling a bit better, has more of a Submariner vibe, I think. I've been happy with mine (including the power reserve issue you mention, and I assume (though perhaps incorrectly that the SKX007 and this one have the same movement), though have been giving thought to selling it to free up space in my watch case (especially with a Bulova Lunar Pilot chrono incoming and no place now to put it).

quote:

Originally posted by David W:
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.

Nice watch! Similar mod using a Dagaz dial / chapter ring / hands and a domed sapphire crystal:

You cannot kill these watches. I've tried.

The Seiko 6309 (another Kinetic and precursor to the SKX007) is my daily wear watch and has been for years.

The SKX007 is a great watch. Just having it on your body and wearing it daily is enough to keep it wound.

I've had an SKX011J (orange dial version of the SKX007) since 2001. Never has been serviced and the 7S26 movement still keeps great time. Great "beater" watch!

You didn't mention accuracy so disregard if you already know this or don't care.

The SK007 accuracy is -20 to +40 seconds per day while the eco Drive is +/- 15 seconds per month.

The 007 was my first real watch i splurged on when I started working back in the late 90's. It still runs today, and hasn't been serviced yet 20 years later. Granted I only wear it once a month nowadays as I have other watches, but it used to get daily wear for several years. It started losing about 1 1/2 minutes/day last year but I simply regulated it myself and now it's running +/- 15 sec/day. I got another SKX007 recently brand new during an ebay sitewide sale for $138. It is to be modded, but haven't done anything to it yet. I have another 007 that I modded at least a decade ago with a Yao dial and hands, and a dagaz bezel insert in a seikostain coin edge bezel. This watch gets a lot of wrist time, and recently I replaced the crystal to a domed sapphire.
You can't go wrong with any Seiko really.

My original 007J:


The same watch with a new Strapcode jubilee bracelet and ceramic lumed Pelagos-style bezel:


My first mod:


New 007K on the factory jubilee I got recently to be modded soon:

I've had my 007 for about 14 years. It goes on and off my wrist depending on where I'm going and what I'm doing, my other watch being a mid-range G-Shock. The Seiko keeps solid time--good enough I only adjust it if it's been sitting and dies. It will stay wound with just the slightlest movement as has been said. Something you notice with it on your wrist is how solid they are.

I have a Seiko 007 I purchased when I retired from one job in 2003. I still have it today on a Nato strap, the Lume is still very bright, and it's never been serviced or needed service.

I am not sure about the time accuracy, but not really worried about it. I wear it about ince a week along with my other Automatic Seiko watches to keep them wound. Most of the time the 007 is still running when its turn to be worn comes up the next time in watch rotation.

I have no use for battery powerd watches, solar powered watches are okay.

The SKX Seikos are workhorses.

Where do you guys get all this custom work done on your Seiko watches? Here in UK all you get is a blank look from a dealer.

tac

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:
Where do you guys get all this custom work done on your Seiko watches? Here in UK all you get is a blank look from a dealer.

tac

Welcome to the soft, seamy underbelly of the watch world.

I've used this guy for one (actually, for the one above. Bead-blasted the case & bracelet, switched out dial, chapter ring, and hands.)

Sourcing the aftermarket parts used to be a problem, but much less in the last year or two.

quote:

Originally posted by DennisM:

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:
Where do you guys get all this custom work done on your Seiko watches? Here in UK all you get is a blank look from a dealer.

tac

Welcome to the soft, seamy underbelly of the watch world.

I've used this guy for one (actually, for the one above. Bead-blasted the case & bracelet, switched out dial, chapter ring, and hands.)

Sourcing the aftermarket parts used to be a problem, but much less in the last year or two.

Dank u wel, Mijneer.

tac

Yobokies (Seikoboy backwards) has a good reputation in the Seiko mod world. There are photos all over the net (Google), and here is his email. Just email him, he responds quickly. He is in Hong Kong.

yobokies@yahoo.com.hk

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:
Where do you guys get all this custom work done on your Seiko watches? Here in UK all you get is a blank look from a dealer.

tac

Quite a few of us just do it ourselves. It isn't that difficult and requires only a few specialized tools. It is the watch equivalent of kitchen table gunsmithing. You will screw a few of them up until you get the hang of it.

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Yobokies (Seikoboy backwards) has a good reputation in the Seiko mod world. There are photos all over the net (Google), and here is his email. Just email him, he responds quickly. He is in Hong Kong.

yobokies@yahoo.com.hk

Dagazwatch.com is another one I hear about that has watch parts and ready to wear customs. They are also in HK I believe.

Another option is microbrands - small shops that build customs in batches of a thousand or so. I’ve been looking at Borealiswatch.com. You prepay half the cost and the balance when it ships. Borealis can be had for $200 - $400 with a Miyota 9015 movement (from Citizen). There are many others. It’s kind of fun to keep up with.