Reddit reviews Seiko Men's SKX173 Stainless Steel and Black Polyurethane Automatic Dive Watch

TL;DR I think I do like the design differences of the SKX173 more (i.e. the square hours, second hand, etc.), but the build quality is noticeably inferior to my SKX007K1, which itself isn’t exactly stellar.



I was intrigued by this WUS thread. I have not seen the SKX173 discussed much here on /r/watches, so I think a comparison against one of the forum’s favorites was in order. While I have my camera out, I figure I should say a few things about the StrapCode Super Oyster as well.



I already have a SKX007K that I have been wearing for a few months. While I have a growing collection of leather straps and NATOs that fit its 22mm lugs, I finally gave in to temptation a few weeks ago to try out the Strap Code Super Oyster bracelet that many people recommend. I think it is certainly well-built and designed. It has a nice heft to it that is on par with the Orange Monster’s bracelet. The respective brushing and polishing on the various sides are all very well done. The unsigned clasp is nothing to write home about, but it is perfectly serviceable. The end pieces are easy enough to get on, but a real pain to take off. Unfortunately, the solid end pieces are not 100% perfectly matched to the case on the 007. You can see here and here that the machining just doesn’t match the crazy amounts of beveling and tapering that Seiko manages to pull on the lugs. (The fit was worse on the 173, but it definitely still “works” on the 173 in case you were wondering.) Overall, it’s definitely a nice addition to the 007’s accoutrements, and I think the $55 I paid was fair. However, I’m very hesitant to spend much more than that for Strap Code’s other offerings (like the Super Engineers and such) which go for much more than $55 and likely use the exact same machining for the 007-compatible solid ends.



On to the 007/173 comparison. For your reference, I’ve tried to include pictures of the watches on a variety of colorful versus more muted NATOs (with obligatory wrist-shots), in addition to the Super Oyster bracelet on each watch.



First, the face of the 173 is really neat. I prefer the rectangular hour marks over the 007’s circles and blobs. As pointed out to no end in that WUS thread, the 173’s second hand is lumed at the tip, so that the lume meatball indicates the current second. On the 007, the meatball is on the other end of the second hand, so it’s lumed at 30s off from the current second. (Honestly, I never noticed this until I read that thread, but now it’s driving me nuts.)



I also prefer the 12 o’clock index marker of the 173, with that nice split line. (N.b. the QC problems described below.) This split index recalls the classic Seiko 7002 and 6309 divers. For me, the 7002’s face is just perfect, and perhaps I should just go get one of those. (The pro-007 argument, which I realize I’m not doing a very good job of giving, especially considering that I’m likely favoring it over the 173, is that the round indices channel the even more classic and older Seikos and divers generally, like, you know, that one submarine one or whatever.)



Around the same time that I was discovering the 173, I was also working my way through a rewatch of the TV show True Detective. For those unfamiliar with the show, Matthew McCaughey plays a homicide detective named Rust Cohle who spouts existentialist or pessimistic lines every chance he gets (which is frequent and delightful). More relevant to this sub, I noticed that Rust wears the same watch throughout the series (spanning a time frame over a decade). My immediate thought was that it was a vintage Seiko diver, but the sleuths at WUS have confirmed that it was “a mid 90's Lorus.” Not being about that Lorus life, I ordered a 173 to see if it could sufficiently channel Rust Cohle for my purposes. In person and on the included rubber strap, I think it comes close. Certainly closer than the 007.



To give you a sense of the lume, I’ve included several shots at different exposures, and I also included two “reference” watches that many other people may already have or be familiar with: the second generation Seiko Orange Monster SRP309 and the Seiko 5 SNK807. Overall, the lume is great on all three. The 173 has a ever-so-slightly bluer shade to it, and is maybe slightly brighter because of that. It could also appear brighter because it is brand new versus the few months old 007. Both the 007 and 173 get trounced by the Orange Monster though. The OM is unambiguously brighter not only for having more total lumed area, but on a “per unit of area” basis as well. (Any astronomer-watch enthusiasts are welcome to help me out here with the correct term. Something magnitude?)



Now as for the cons, the 173 has several. As I said before, I’m not sure how widespread these issues are or if I just got bad examples of each watch. The bezel on my 007 is not properly aligned with the chapter marks of the watch, meaning that it can never rest a full or half minute directly at 12. The best I can do is slightly to the left of 12. I never noticed it until I read about unaligned bezels on another brand of watch and haven’t been able to un-see ever since. This slight misalignment pales in comparison to the 173, however. The 173’s bezel, chapter marks, and 12 o’clock index are all misaligned from each other. As you can see in my pic, I think the best case for what is “properly aligned” is the chapter ring, as it seems to go nicely through to the center. The bezel and 12 hour index are slightly to the left and very to right of the chapter ring, respectively. At the top of the comparison picture is the perfectly aligned Orange Monster, with bezel, chapter ring, 12 hour index, and center all in perfect harmony.



Not to keep harping on the superiority of the Orange Monster, but I definitely notice and prefer the hour markers’ black outline on the Monster. The 007 and 173 both have been criticized as having “blobs of lume just sitting on the face,” and I can definitely see what people meant now. In daylight, each watches’ hour markers are off-white, with the 007’s being creamy and the 173’s being slightly green. The hour and minute hands also appear to be different from the hour markers on the face of each watch. The OM meanwhile has perfectly white hands and hour markers in daylight.



I’m very curious to see what others’ experiences have been. I debated getting the Japan variants of both the 007 and OM back when I got them, but was told specifically that the finish and build quality was the same on the Js and Ks for each. I am perfectly happy with my K-variant OM, but can’t help but wonder if the 007J would have the same misaligned bezel and off-white hands as my 007K. Considering that I bought the 007K for ~$150 (grey market from Singapore on eBay), and that I could get the 007J from an AD for the same price as I paid for this 173 off Amazon (~$210), I’m definitely disappointed in the quality of the 173.



What do you think? Should I keep the 173 or the 007, or both, or neither? Return the 173 and buy another for a possibly higher quality build? Try a 007J? Get rid of both and get a vintage 7002? Do nothing in the realization that all of humanity’s actions, let alone that of a single individual, are comically meaningless in the face of eventual annihilation in a vast and uncaring cosmos? /rust

You're kinda of blending two separate looks here by wanting a casual and rubber strap, but neat dress style. To me, rubber strap + casual = diving watch.


What about these Seiko divers:

SKX173

SKX007

You're very unlikely to find a mechanical chrono for anywhere near $400, but you can get a very solid diver for significantly less. The Ray would be a solid choice, or a Seiko SKX007 or SKX173.

The SKX173 would be the modern equivalent with the squared indices.

I've also got a like new Seiko SKX173 that I could sell too if you like the dive watch style better. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068TJ76/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_IyzXzbB4YE8GN

Pretty darn sure it is a SKX173 as everything on it seems to match up. The indices have similar markings, the second hand is short unlike the SKX399K i originally thought it was, and the markings on the face and back match yours. Just for a little more info, have a look at the Seiko page. Hope that helps! :)

I recommend using camelcamelcamel or something similar to track prices on amazon:

http://camelcamelcamel.com/Seiko-SKX173-Stainless-Polyurethane-Automatic/product/B00068TJ76

I believe that would be the 173 -- Amazon link

The hands and dial look like [this Marathon right here] (https://www.marathonwatch.com/product/divers-quartz-medium).

The case looks like a [Seiko SKX173] (http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKX173-Stainless-Polyurethane-Automatic/dp/B00068TJ76) with the offset crown, however, the hands and dial are very Marathon-ey at least.

Maybe someone had both, and mashed them together?

Funny. I've been doing swagbucks, amazon turk and paidveiwpoint for a few weeks and planned on getting either an Orient Mako or a Seiko Diver soon. I haven't cashed out in either but I figure I have roughly $120 from doing both with little effort.

That is a very nice watch, hope you enjoy it.

Edit: Here's a look at my earnings so far from mTurk and SwagBucks(Still gotta spend them bucks)

Here's a ref to Swagbucks, nonref

and to PaidViewPoint, nonref

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKX173-Stainless-Polyurethane-Automatic/dp/B00068TJ76/ref=sr_1_2?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1450905230&sr=1-2&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=seiko+divers+watch

HDS Rotary

SAK alox Minichamp

Saddleback sleeve wallet

Ian Schon pen

Seiko SKX 173

Spyperco Techno with carbon fiber back spacer

Worked excellently and quickly I believe.

I replaced my rubber band on my Seiko SKX173 with a nato band.

As a physically active SKX007 and SKX173 owner, I'm wondering about how many of these watches will live to see 40 years.

Personally, I'd go one of the following over that one. Not a bad starting point, though!

Seiko SKX007J1


Seiko SKX173

Seiko SKX009