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which watch should I get?

I'd have to say the SKX007K4, because it has the most classic appearance, and lends itself to nifty mods by Bill Yao. I am actually wearing an SKX007 with Yao MoD date dial, sword hands, and domed sapphire crystal, on this bracelet. I don't really like jubilee bracelets, like the one on the 007K1, and the J-series watches (which are made in Japan as opposed to Singapore) have not demonstrated any enhanced accuracy or build quality that would justify the extra $30.

I also have, and really like, an SKX779, but I paid $150 for it in fall 2002. I guess they have crept up in price, but it is still a whale of a watch for the money. The bracelet is one of the nicest out there, and IMO it is probably the best value in a rugged diver's watch (the lume is stunning, and the overall design and craftsmanship are amazing for the cash).
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Don_Vito - Is Chronograph.com a good / the best place to buy from?
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Yeah, they're the best IMO. I bought my SKX779 there. They ship quickly and everything is as promised and packed with obvious care. If you check out the Seiko/Citizen forums, they have a sterling reputation. The only real competitors are much less user-friendly, have sites with little or no English, and have prices that are similar or worse. I would buy again from chronograph.com with complete confidence, even if I were buying a much more expensive watch.
 
I am really impressed.
My Seiko diver's watch was $265 when I bought it in 1980.
Heck, they're less expensive today.

I've only had 2 battery changes since I got it and wear ir virtually every day.

Good watches.
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
what is the difference between sapphlex and hardlex?
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Hardlex is mineral crystal, which is not one of the world's great crystal materials IMO. It is tough, but can be scratched, and is nonrepairable. Seiko actually uses it on their VERY expensive Marine Master diver because it is less prone to shattering than the more scratch-resistant (and IMO clearly superior) sapphire. Most other premier dive watch makers, including Rolex, IWC, Omega, etc. use sapphire. Sapphire is essentially unscratchable, but can be chipped or shattered under truly extreme abuse. I still think it is the best crystal material, with acrylic (basically plastic) my second favorite. Acrylic is quite tough and glare-resistant. It scratches easily, but scratches can easily be buffed out.

On the bright side, Hardlex is fairly scratch-resistant with a little care, and cheap to replace.

Sapphlex is a Seiko creation. It is basically a Hardlex crystal with a sapphire layer bonded to the top for scratch resistance. I have not actually handled a watch with a Sapphlex crystal, but it seems like a reasonable compromise. I find it a little surprising that it is cheaper to make Sapphlex than just using an all-sapphire crystal, but Seiko definitely know their own costs/profits model better than I ever will.

As I said before, Yao makes a nice domed sapphire crystal for the SKX007, when and if the original crystal gets toasted. It's really nice.
 
Originally posted by: Don_Vito
Originally posted by: Mwilding
what is the difference between sapphlex and hardlex?
Click to expand...

Hardlex is mineral crystal, which is not one of the world's great crystal materials IMO. It is tough, but can be scratched, and is nonrepairable. Seiko actually uses it on their VERY expensive Marine Master diver because it is less prone to shattering than the more scratch-resistant (and IMO clearly superior) sapphire. Most other premier dive watch makers, including Rolex, IWC, Omega, etc. use sapphire. Sapphire is essentially unscratchable, but can be chipped or shattered under truly extreme abuse. I still think it is the best crystal material, with acrylic (basically plastic) my second favorite. Acrylic is quite tough and glare-resistant. It scratches easily, but scratches can easily be buffed out.

On the bright side, Hardlex is fairly scratch-resistant with a little care, and cheap to replace.

Sapphlex is a Seiko creation. It is basically a Hardlex crystal with a sapphire layer bonded to the top for scratch resistance.

As I said before, Yao makes a nice domed sapphire crystal for the SKX007, when and if the original crystal gets toasted.
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I don't know if Sapphlex has the same problem but my Sapphire Crystal Seiko Sportura gets finger prints on it very easily.

What do you use to buff out scratches on acrylic? I have an older Rolex that is acrylic....
 
Originally posted by: fyleow

I don't know if Sapphlex has the same problem but my Sapphire Crystal Seiko Sportura gets finger prints on it very easily.

What do you use to buff out scratches on acrylic? I have an older Rolex that is acrylic....
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I imagine the reason your crystal appears to attract a lot of fingerprints is that it has an antireflective coating on one or both sides. My Yao sapphire crystal does not attract fingerprints, but I do notice a lot of them on my Sinn 656, which has an antireflective coating on the inside of the crystal. I think it makes the light hit the fingerprints in such a way as to make them more evident.

You can fix an acrylic crystal with Polywatch, or you can just send the watch to me, since it is obviously ruined. Come to think of it, forget the Polywatch! PM me for my address and I will dispose of your spoiled Rolex in an environmentally-sensitive manner.
 
This thread (and the fact that I have a scuba class tonight that goes all weekend) prompted me to put on my SKX779, and it reminded me of how amazing this watch is for the money. It is a real brute, and practically punches you in the jaw with its build quality and ruggedness. The lume is really extraordinary as well. Definitely factor it into your equation.

I think the SKX007 has a timeless appeal, and great moddability, but the SKX779 is more impressive out of the box. It really makes an impression, and every jeweler who handles it (for sizing, for example) is bowled over by its quality.

IMO the SKX171 is neither fish nor fowl, and not ultimately appealing to me (though YMMV).

As I said in one of the earlier posts, I don't really like jubilee bracelets, though you might. None of the watches you have listed (and I have owned and/or handled all of them) will come with a bracelet that approaches the quality of the SKX007's.

The SKX007 is also known as the "Black Monster," if you are interested in finding more info on Google or the Seiko/Citizen forum I listed above. Here is a good review of the BM's brother, the Orange Monster, that does a good job of describing the ownership experience.
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
gonna have to rethink the whole Seiko decision...
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I think the Invictas offer a lot of value, but ultimately they leave me cold, because they are pretty much complete ripoffs of the Rolex Submariner, whereas the Seikos are at least proprietary designs. Invicta's bracelets are a little too bling for my taste too.

Also, Seiko uses in house movements (that is, they make their own), something you can't say for any other watches that are not MUCH costlier. Off the top of my head I can't think of a single non-Seiko watch under $1K with an in-house movement.

If I were going to buy an Invicta, I would spend a bit more and get one of the "Elite" models with an ETA (Swiss) movement and sapphire crystal.
 
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