I enjoyed your review of this particular watch. I have never owned an SKX before but when I saw the release of this new range of watches I really liked the look of them and in December 2020 finally pulled the trigger and purchased one after seeing it in a watch sale online from a reputable dealer here in the UK for £195. I opted for the 'Hulk' green version on the stainless steel bracelet similar to the watch you have reviewed except mine has the gold accents on the Seiko logo and hands. I really love the watch I must admit and have worn it daily since I purchased it. In the shops here the price has varied between £260 to £320 for the watch I purchased so I cannot complain at the price I got mine for. I only have a small wrist size but this watch fits perfectly. The SKX is still available on Amazon UK priced at £280. Many thanks for your excellent review.

Just bought one - same model you reviewed - waiting for delivery but your review was helpful.

To be honest I don't understand the cult following of SKX. You really don't get a lot for this kind of money. A mediocre movement (at best), misaligned chapter rings, misaligned bezels, mineral crystal. The only thing that is good about it: it's comfy, it's got excellent lume, it's got ISO certification. When I asked my brother-in-law, who is a diver, if he or anyone else he knows use this type of watch for diving he looked at me like I was crazy. They all use dive computers these days. Does anyone use it for diving these days? I mean scuba diving, not a quick dip in the pool? Might as well get this Seiko 5, or an Orient Kamasu, or any other water resistant watch for that matter and it will be fine for 99.9% of activities we throw at it.

Good review. I swim but i'm not a diver, and I prefer lighter watches for swim mostly made of plastic like the mighty Garmin Instinct Solar that I love. So this beautiful lineup of Seiko is great value for the money. I started with the 61 and now i have the 81 and the 51. I liked so much the SPRD81 that is now my main everyday watch. I'm getting a couple more on the next months, totally recommended.

Got one of these not long after they came out, I went for the green sunburst dial, I don’t swim in watches so wasn’t an issue for me, I’m really happy with it as a daily and like it also has a display back.

While I don’t think it’s murder, really, it’s sort of an evolution of where the watch was headed anyway. Let’s face it, “dive watches” for diving is an anachronism all by itself. Automatics for dive watches are also anachronistic. What they saw was that the modding world had taken off, and rather than keep selling the platform for modding, they figured that they could sell a hack-and-handwind version that is pre-modded. When you figure that the cost of an SKX plus the mod parts was already creeping past $300 anyway, it’s a very compelling evolution. I think it’s fine.

If you need a low cost diver just for swimming and fooling around (ie how watch enthusiasts used their SKXs), I’d recommend the Citizen Promaster Diver EcoDrive. I’d rather take it in the pool or ocean than my more expensive watches. It is aligned (Citizen quality almost always trumps Seiko for these prices), it’s eco certified to 200m with a screw in crown, and the ecodrive movement keeps super accurate time / wont ever need repair (which you don’t want at this price point). A bargain.

Thanks for the review Ivan, was wondering when you'd cover this one. Although I did own an SKX, I never really loved it and sold it within a year of purchasing it. I just found that I rarely wore it and always found myself reaching for one of my other black dial divers more often than not. It will be interesting to see how well these sell. My prediction is that the SPRD price will drop quite a bit over the next couple of years, at which point it could become a much better value proposition.

Loved it! i was just waiting for a price drop because was really expensive. Now @175 180 price range, is more accurate for what are you paying.

Love the video my man. You just earned yourself a new video subscriber!

Merry Xmas and look forward to the channel in the new year

Honestly I think a screw down crown probably wears in time and probably gets metal into the movement. Also how many of us are really diving with this watch? Easier winding and hacking I really like that but I don't really like the drilled lugs, not as clean looking to me but the dial looks amazing to me better than the skx. Over all I think this watch is a winner over the skx007.

The most common argument I hear regarding this new 5 series and the SKX is that you're getting less for more. However, as a strict cost consideration, the SKX wasn't a very good value regardless, so I find those complaints to ring a bit hollow. For example, the SKX runs around $280 USD, and for that you get no AR coating, no sapphire, no hacking. For $80 less, you can get the Orient Mako II USA which comes with all those things, along with everything the SKX has. So, strictly from a cost perspective, I find the complaints puzzling. And really, if I was going to buy an entry level diver, it wouldn't be an SKX anyway, it'd be an Orient Triton, which is superior to the SKX in my opinion, and only runs around $120 more. As for the new 5 series, I have no problem with them. There are watches in my collection that tick all the boxes of a dive watch (even though I don't dive and never will), but my favorite Seiko is the SNZG15 and it has none of the features the SKX has. So looking at it from my perspective, I'm getting my SNZG's features in a nice SKX-inspired case for $180 or so (these watches have been on sale pretty much the last three months), which I find to be a price more than fair.

I wasn't initially sold on the new Seiko 5 line but after seeing them in person they look a lot better to me. The SRPD73 is probably my favourite, but I would change the bracelet to a metal one. There is also a lot of modding potential with these watches since they take most of the parts that would fit on the SKX line. The screw down crown and water resistance is not an issue for me and probably for the other 99.99% of people that never go diving.

200m and out dated movement required for desk diving at all times!

Perth watch I actually ordered two new Seiko fives 1 identical to what you're holding my other one has the 4r36 movement also it's the SRP599 I belive and it is running at + 3 seconds a day extremely accurate I'm very surprised I'm waiting for the other one to show up and see how it does. My old 5 sea urchin they call it I retired from its abuse from work and it had been in the ocean and hot tubs and pools no screw down crown never a drop got in it's still a great watch but unfortunately it built up sentiment value over the years so I needed a new work watch. great video

I just pick up the SKX013 in nearly new condition for $280 and I love it. This new version is nice but I prefer the classic vintage of the SKX models.

I'd still pick a skx over those new 5 Sports they recently launched. SKX has a soul into it.

I have this exact watch and I’m really happy with it. I don’t see it as a dive watch but as a tool watch with the added bonus of a timing bezel.

I've had one for a while now and like it very much. I don't dive so 100m water resistance is fine for what I do, and the non screw down crown makes it easy to do a quick wind without having to unscrew first. Sapphire would've been nice but I can get one from Crystaltimes if I want since they take the same one as the SKX.

Great Review budd .... Iam waiting that the price will drop to 200$ then its a good time to review the SKX'5 :)

this is the crux of my issues with Seiko, alignment problems, the bracelets are not what they should be for the price you pay, hollow end links, and no sapphire crystal..... as we all have seen, there are watches at less than half this price with sapphire, nicer bracelets. and no alignment issues... why would I buy a Seiko? great review!!

Just purchased this watch and here are the reasons it's great for me. 1) This is my first automatic (enthusiast) watch. I also wanted a watch from a reputable brand, instead of a micro brand for my first automatic. 2) This watch is under $300. Although I bought it for $190 from a jeweler. 3) I'm not a diver. I can't even swim 😂. So I could care less about divers rating.

Great review found it very helpful😊 Ps do u think this watch will be ok to surf with?

On “face” value when I first saw this model, immediately I assumed it was the NEW SKX, of which I have 2. I was excited until I read the fine print. So it’s a no from me, but am happy to see there are still plenty of SKX out there!👍🏼😎

So glad I bought 3 of the skx007 because I've yet to see a watch that brings such an awesome tool look and performance without compromise😍 (maybe Marathon gsar $1,200) I'm worried that this new Seiko 5 available in any color you'd like will kinda cheapen the ownership experience with the skx007 original😐.

all things considering this is still a perfect mod base, example the screw down crown feature can still be avialable for moding..

Isn't it the case that the Prospex line is the direct replacement for the skx line? Water resistance isn't an issue for me in buying a watch , although I would expect the 100m would be fine for pool and a quick dip in the ocean

They could have hit a home run, but they didn’t. Main gripe is the water resistance. They should have kept the 200M with screw down crown. Don’t care much about ISO personally. Other disappointment is that Seiko is unable to do what microbrands can i.e. sapphire, ceramic, Q.C. Etc... I ordered the black one myself but returned it for a refund. Will keep my 009 on Strapcode forever.

The new SEIKO 5 adopted the look & feel from SKX, but people can't seem to keep it in their little heads that they are not and never have been intended to be 'replacements' to the SKX! It's never endorsed as a diver's watch, hence 'DIVER'S 200m' is no longer on display. How hard is that to understand?

Great review

Love the 5KX's 😏 Got 12 ,1 or more each style including 140th anniversary All around upgraded timepiece Fantastic to own!!!!

Great review. Thank you for sharing. They did kill the SKX007 but we are hard to satisfy, that's why seiko fan mod them. And the always do so...

Which one of the new Seiko 5, corresponds to the SKX013 model? I am looking or a smaller watch.

Very good & informative review as per normal. Thanks man. I have an old SKX which I thought was value for money. This one, I like the up-graded bracelet & the window to show the movement; which I am a big fan of on any watch. It looks like a logical evolution rather than a revolution, some guys might find the decrease in ATM/screw down crown an issue if you are into scuba diving. I like to know that my diver watches are capable of that sort of thing but I am to scared of actually try scuba diving because of the massive beasts in the oceans, not that I kook tasty but you never know who fancies a nibble ;) Can you show how to remove links out of the old SKX please, I just bought a new tools kid but I never had any instructions manual that came with the watch and I am not sure how to tackle it.

How many professionals need to reiterate this; Screw Down crowns DO NOT enhance water resistance. It's the design of the internal gasket system. Which is why you can dive with these type of watches without the crown even being flush to the base. It's internal. -PADI SCUBA Instructor

To be honest, the water-resistant isn't an issue, and I'm not worried about the crown either? Non alignment of the chapter ring still present and it's been said this watch lacks soul? Well I think the only thing I would have liked was the lume pip on the miss aligned bezel! The movement has got to be an upgrade over the 7s26 ? After all an automatic that doesn't hack was a real pain for me with the skx! I would bet skx lovers will buy this one regardless of the issues raised? I did ! I went for the blue on bracelet and being able to wind it without pulling the crown is great. I for one like it just as much as an skx!

A lot of ppl knocking the SKX here, and not understanding why it has a cult following. Well it just has, and that should say something about the watch, not many watches attain that. It's not something you can pre determine, it just happens to certain items. The iso rating is part of that. It doesn't matter if 99% of ppl won't go diving with their watch, it's just knowing it can if needed. Also in has heritage which obviously takes time. Comes from a family of entry level divers. 6105, 6309, 7002, SKX. If you don't get it, then fine, but a lot of ppl do, and these Seiko 5's are not SKX replacements, they're nice watches but they don't follow the entry level diver family.

I bought the mini turtle, very happy with it, really good looking little dive watch that's not that little.

The SKX has definitely had its day. No hacking, no manual winding option. There's better out there. The 5kx are upgraded without the 200m resistance. I'm a diver, for a long long time I've used a dive computer. I don't know anyone who dives with a dive watch. Many clubs insist on dive computers only. How many people who complained about only 100m, ever dived to 200m or 100m or even 20m......or more likely never scuba dived in their lives?.

6:53 i have noticed mine says on the botom "movt Japan - 4R36 O7E4 R5 2". Any reason is different?

Definitely gonna buy this one.

Just buy an Orient watch before they start raising prices on those as well

I know the reasons Seiko didn't, but I just wish they upgraded the skx with the the 4r36 movement with hacking, with the screwdown crown to keep the iso rating and maybe thrown the classic jubilee strap with solid end links and applied indices. Sod it, just include it in amongst the prospex range. It would've been a sellout. The seiko 5 skx is just not either there or here. It somehow feels lost..Nice video. Agreed, definitely a husk. Subscribed

It is still a decent watch but not for the price tag of almost 300$. It would be perfect at about 150 to 180 range for what you get. I own a ny 0040 and i like that watch better than the skx anyway.

The non screw down crown is the main reason why I bought the 5KX over the SKX. I can quickly and easily set the time while it's on my wrist, not that I have to do that very often as the one I have is just -2sec/day. I have other screw down crown watches including a Rolex Datejust, which is also only rated 100m. I also have a Swatch Irony Scuba 200 Aluminum rated 200m without a screw down crown. As a retired oceanographer I will say this: a properly designed and made O-ring seal is all that's needed for subsea as the greater the pressure the better the seal. The screw down crown is just good security so the crown does not get hooked in something and pulled out while under water. So, the long and the short of it is screw down crowns are highly over emphasized for 200m or even deeper water resistance.

What defines ‘shallow water’ 6 feet or possibly 7 feet ? Has anyone tested a ten bar in deeper waters?

I love my SKX 009 but I wanted one I could hand wind so I ordered one of these with the black dial. Hopefully I like it. I never took my watch diving so that's not really a concern. Perpetrating the style of a dive watch when it's not is kind of lame, but I do like the style. It's kind of like putting a fake badge on your car to perpetrate. It's naughty but I don't care hand winding is kewl. I have to reset my SKX every time I wear it as I don't wear it daily, so perpetual motion becomes annoying.

Do different world markets get different boxes? The box in this vid is different to every other new 5KX box I've seen from other reviewers.

I just don't see the point of improving the movement but downgrading it to a 100m watch. No screwdown crown kills this for me and no doubt many others. And I'm definitely not a fan of the "look at me" crystal caseback. I have an idea for Seiko - keep the SKX like and come out with new SKX super models with the 4r36 movement, sapphire crystals and ceramic bezels. Then just sit back and watch them fly off the shelves.

Lets just say I recently ordered a new SKX009J1 that they still had in stock. I could have bought a Seiko 5 Sports for cheaper, but no no no, they ruined it. You would think the success of the Grand Seiko has taught the company to always move forward, not backwards, on specs. For goodness sake, it was ISO certified and now it's not. If you think about it, dropping the ISO must have to do with price and profitability forcing real watch enthusiasts into more expensive models. Problem is they are going to find out that the new Seiko 5 now has competition in the $150 range for what you get, where as the SKX competition was closer to $250. I think Seiko is still waiting to see if they are going to get the consumer purchasing results they expect.

I will be getting 1 or 2.maybe 3 but not on those bracelets NATO and mesh I like them all the reviews seems pretty good.

i bought 1 with my first paycheck. and i love it so much

I have one on the way... if Australia Post is still working. Is it simple to change straps on these? I've ordered a few different ones

They changed it from a diver’s watch to a modern day diver-style sports watch. The applied indices give the watch a more cosmopolitan style whereas the printed indices on the SKX make it more a tool watch. But they put in an arguably better movement and improved the bracelet. One can own both watches as they are still affordable. It’s not a case of one or the other. I own multiples of these in my collection. The SKX is nostalgic while the 5KX is more dressy.

Thanks for your take on this, would you review Marks Islander homage alternative for around same price but better specs?

Can i use it without servicing for atleast 20 years ? Will the watch work & show accurate time if not serviced for around 20 years ? That's the main reason i confused to buy between Citizen Eco Drive & 5 Sport, because i don't want a watch that needs of maintenance say servicing every 4-5 years. A reply will be helpful Thank you

I picked one up for about $170 about a month and a half ago. I don't get the hate these things get. Hacks, handwinds, upgraded movement, looks good, wears well. I like the variety of colors, and may pick another one up if I can find it for the same price. None of my watches will ever get anywhere near the ocean, so the 200m and screw crown aren't really a must have feature for me. I've a bunch of different watches in the box, and find myself reaching for this one a lot.

I´m not going to take one of those new 5´s swimming thats for sure (well I´m not going to own one either - THATs for sure). Yes they have absolutely murdered the old SKX and have dressed up the corpse to give us what is essentially a fashion watch, without the divers specs and for a higher price tag, but with the misalignment issues remaining. The old SKX was far from perfect - no hacking and winding, rattly braclet, misaligned etc. etc. ......... BUT it was rugged and could take a beating, and you could take it swimming and diving without worrying !! All Seiko had to do was to upgrade the movement, give us applied markers and brand on the dial and sort out the quality control at the assembly line to get rid of the misalignment issues ! Hell, they could even pop on a sapphire crystal and a better bracelet and then get away with upping the price $100 + whithout anybody complaining. The SKX has been the entry point into the world of dive watches for so many through time ............. for a very modest amount of money you would get a simple yet true ISO certified dive watch to start out with ! I very much doubt that the new fashion watch iteration will have the same effect ! Shame on Seiko !!

There's no murder to talk about. In the first place, the SKX was never a quality watch despite its 200 m water resistance rating. It doesn't even feature a hacking and hand-winding ability. Accuracy is non-existent. Bracelet quality is sub par with rubber-like flexing. While the new 5KX does not have a 200 m water resistance rating, at least it is modernised with a better 4R movement with hacking and hand-winding which are far more practical. I used to own an SKZ diver's model. Getting it to wind sufficiently to keep it moving without wearing was a nightmare without hand-winding capability. Accuracy is not heard off as well. Though the watch looks good aesthetically, the hassle was unbearable. I flipped it while retaining all my other Seikos with 4R, 6R and 8L movements. In this modern day, 7S26 / 7S36 movements are seriously outdated and unacceptable.

i want one!! fantastic review!

The only thing they did is the movement upgrade if they upgrade the skx movement it will be much better

How long your wrist? Is it suitable for 6 inch/15 cm wrist?

Noob here.. Just curious, +2 sec a day is excellent?? So every 5 months will the watch will be 5 mins fast?? Great videos!!

Well, I bought one just because. The thing I actually miss most is the nasty jubilee bracelet, which has very little quality, but acres of charm. Easily fixed though.

Will the original skx rubber band fit this series? Thanks

Why doesn't anybody talk about the huge visual differences? The bezel is different, the jubilee is gone, the dial looks different, the orange text is missing, etc.... This makes the watch look vastly different to my eyes and I very much prefer the old SKX007 style.

They're a nice looking watch, but I have the SKX and a couple of Duros, so I probably won't be getting the SRPD. If I was, I'd also have to seriously consider Orient's Ray II and Mako II...

This is a great watch, remember its NOT an SKX replacement, it's a good size has a lovely dial with applied indices and a really nice feature with the display case back. The best thing about the watch is the movement, equivalent to high end watches it is an accurate, windable automatic with hacking ability. Yes it has a push crown but with 100m wr it is plenty, I have been in the sea with it as well as the hot tub with no issues. If your a serious diver get a proper dive watch such as a Prospex, if not, this is a great dive style watch.

Almost everyone knows that Seiko is upping their games and pricing, specially pricing on most of their lower end watches with some modifications and changes. I have been hearing the complains from many youtubers about this. IMO, that was and is inevitable because of resurgence of so many Chinese brands. As I heard from few sources, some of Chinese & Taiwanese are planning to take the lower end watches into world marketing very soon, like Seiko and Casio has done many decades ago. If and when that happens, we will be getting NH35 or good Seagull, solid bezel (at least better than this new Seiko you just have reviewed), solid end link, milled and proper clasp and with sapphire glass...all for between $100 to $200 range. But with local distribution and repair/customer service centers all around the world. That is not just lower end Automatic watches, but also digital watches (plastic watches). When this happen, there is no way that any lower-end Japanese companies can compete with the pricing of mainland China companies. I believe that is one of the biggest reasons that they are changing their marketing and model line ups, mostly from $250 to $1000 range, specially Seiko. Thanks Ivan and Merry "Almost" Christmas!

Im fine with they discon the SKX as long as they kept the 200M WR. The new one lost the diver watch soul to me. Anyhow Seiko would probably release Skx “re-issue” with 4000$+ in the future like the MAS and the Turtle reissue.

I love this watch. Mine usually loses a second or two a week, at most. Pretty crazy for the price point. The end links are a little funky, but I luckily have no alignment issues and the water resistance is fine. Nice upgrade with the applied indices and movement. Maybe one day I’ll get the jubilee from the SSK GMT for it, but the feeling that I settled on something lesser than the SKX has faded.

What’s the extra price tag for tho? Colors, and better movement? I’m up on the air about this one.

I've had a look at one of these & my first thoughts were a bit ugh! What have they done but on reflection I think these things are great value & perfect for newcomers to the world of watches, if you want an ISO rated dive watch buy a prospex simple! But for someone looking for an affordable proper daily wearable watch that's Not an overpriced "bling master 3000" fashion thing then I think these are great & a really good way into the world of watch collecting. 😊

To me, the real murder was the Seiko 5 line. What was always a solid line of watches that has great affordable quality, is now going to be out of reach for some of us poor folk. I had no problems with the pricing of the older line of SKX. I just picked up the SKX011j and I would have paid much more for it if need be. I guess I’ll just keep collecting as many of the previous Seiko 5 lines as I can.

Drilled lugs, hacks & winds, are good improvements but 100m not good. I’m sure the 4R36 meets or exceeds the robustness of the 7S26. There’s no pip on the 5’s bezel and it looks cheaper to me. I own the 009 & I’ll never part with it. The Seiko Prospex SRPA21J1 PADI Turtle “Special Edition” Air Diver (Pepsi) Made in Japan, would be a good upgrade!

Nice review. I would get skx still

Agreed. It’s degree felony murder. I had a job change and a 60% paycut in mid-2018. I said to myself as I browsed the cases at Bic Camera in Japan that I’ll grab an SKX007 in 2020 when my pay got closer to being restored. Nope. Guess I’m going to have to learn the mod hobby and find some donor movements and build my own. RIP

What is diameter of this watch? I couldnt catch if you mentioned.

They've turned the SKX into a fashion watch.

I bought a Seiko SPRD51k from Amazon India. For regular use with hacking and manual winding it is a good option. SKX on the other hand don't have hacking and winding option. Seiko wants a fashion Icon more than a Diver.

Hi sorry but what is the newer model of this. Is it the new SEIKO 5 gmt watches?

What is the size of the strap incase i need to replace?

The skx 7s26 movement non hacking no hand winding and a stated accuracy of -20 to + 40. I guess the only thing you could say about the movement is it's bulletproof. The one thing the movement has to do is keep time and it can't even do that. To be quite honest would you trust a company to do ISO standard testing on a dive watch when they can't even line up a chapter ring? I never understood the interest in the skx. Maybe it's just as well it has passed. Cheers

One reason that seiko killed the SKX007 or other SKX is I think people used that watch as a casual watch rather than being use in a real purpose which is for scuba DIVING. Well that new replacement is no longer a dive watch. If you want to have your OLD SKX upgraded then buy a new NH36 movt. and load it in your case.

Most owners of the skx didn’t dive , only desk or sofa , they made the things for 20 yrs ,, they will still be easy to get hold of for yrs , and yrs , I easily bought a 7002 ,, the model before the skx,, also seiko still make and supply at least two other proper iso certified divers ,, I love the new 5 sports and bought one before Christmas, great to hand wind and hack , and all the colour and strap combos there should be one that everyone likes , on the negative side people like me don’t help with the out of alignment issues and seiko poor Qc, cos mine is badly out of alignment on the chapter ring and really should have returned it and asked for a replacement,, if everyone did that I guess seiko would correct the problem cheers Shane 🇬🇧 uk

I wonder, do divers still use this kind of watch, or do they just throw on a gshock?

Lume that last through the night? Think you must be over stated it a little mate

I don't care if most people who owned an SKX didn't dive with it, the fact that it was solid and fit for purpose was a big part of the appeal and gave it value for money. .What next, a 'diver style' replacement for the SRP line?

These reviews makes me really confused.what to chose between Seiko or CERTINA. Thanks anyways..

I don’t see this as an SKX replacement, it’s a watch for Seiko to cash in on all the desk divers... The only water resistance they need is protection from splashes at the water dispenser. The SKX is properly rated for diving and a very popular watch, they will either come out with another budget certified diver or not at all and the turtles can cover it. But to me this watch isn’t an skx replacement it’s an skx lookalike for a certain market.

Great review! I want a get it, did you buy it from the lino you have in the description!

The bezel looks quite thin in person.

Greetings! Maybe I was unlucky but have only had one Seiko auto (a 5) and it was a lottery with keeping time and never auto wound very well meaning it kept stopping anyway? In fact it swung me straight back to quartz again and there I remain ? Good review as per.Cheers,Len.

Missing lume in bezel

Not Bad at all. The finish and the rounded sides gives it a nice look.

At what price point should I expect to buy an skx007 at if I wanted to get one?

Love how their rated accuracy is just about that of the Vostok Komandirskie, a watch selling for $27.50.

I recently bought a Black n Gold Orient Mako III. It's a true divers watch with screw-down crown for 200m water resist. Sapphire crystal, good lumibrite (probably _is_ lumibrite as Seiko own Orient) hack 2nd hand, manual windable, accurate 120-click bezel and 100% chapter alignment, day/date in individual bordered windows, hands and indices bordered in gold as is the bezel with matt black finish. Very decent silicon-rubber strap but I swapped it out for an IVP black bracelet. All this for the £170 price range. The SKX wasn't even on my "possibles" list as its now below the radar. Seiko had a killer watch with the SKX and the fools went and took a dump on it...lol...😮💨😖💨💩😔

I think ppl got it wrong, this is not a replacement. Wait for the skx in coming years to be promoted to prospex line.