I've been a fan of divers watches since college days. I first ran across a Seiko 150m model about 1988 and I've since come to regard this SKX173 200m as THE classic dive watch. Not only is it great for water activities and sports, but it's also great for dry land functions such as telling time and looking cool.

The automatic mechanical power isn't just some outmoded watch technology from the past. It's fascinating to have this intricate and accurate time-machine on your wrist. And the auto-winding mechanism is a real plus. If, like me, you find yourself the owner of muliple watches in these days of expensive batteries for quartz models, replacing power cells can become a high-priced hassle. All you have to do is wear this watch and move around normally and it runs without a thought. The only downer for me is that I want to give my other watch models some wrist time too, so then things tend to run down. But then, just pick it up, set it, strap it on, and off you go. I have always found it quite accurate enough for my ordinary time-keeping purposes.

One of the classic and attractive feature of diver watches is the rotator elapsed time bezel. If you like the countdown timer feature on your digital watch, this rotator simply does the same thing in an analog way. Just turn the 0 indicator to the presetnt postion of the minute or second hand and WATCH (yes, pun intended) how much time goes by. There is also a a version of this elapsed time ring in red (from 0 to 20 secs.) and blue (from 20 to 60 secs.). If you want a slightly different dive-watch look, I've found that these replacement rotators are readily available on the net.

The jet-black face makes for a bold, easy-to-see-at-a-glance contrast with the square-cut hour markers and attention-grabbing hour and minute indicators. Another plus here is long lasting glow in the dark visibility. Some other brand's marine model I've got has markers that fade to invisibility after an hour or so in the dark. You can tell time on this watch all night long and even, I suppose, in murky water. There's even a luminous dot at 0 secs. on the elapsed time rotator.

The 22 cm. black rubber waterproof strap, held in place by heavy duty, industrial strength spring pins, makes a great looking match with this steel and black watch. And apparently Seiko diver straps are indestructable. Other rubber straps seem to be programmed to serve their brief time and then self-destruct. But even the band I've used on my Seiko 150m for 16 or 17 years shows no sign of cracking or breaking. After wearing this watch for a while the heavy strap seemed to mold itself to the size and shape of my wrist. It just sort of makes itself at home on your arm.

The steel case has a great look of solidity and a pleasant heftiness. It's big (42 cm across) but not geeky big, just the right size and weight to project a certain masculine handsomeness. A nice design touch is the position of the crown at 4:00 instead of the usual 3:00, not only a nice and noticeable difference, but it doesn't cut into the back of your hand in case of hard work or heavy lifting (one of my favorite watches to wear to the gym). BTW, the crown is only for stetting the time and date, as it's not needed as a winder.

In case you can't tell, I really like this watch. So much so that I also got the more recent model SKXA35 with the bright yellow dial (See it on Amazon. Really cool too!)as well as an earlier model with a rounder shaped case and lugs, a style from the early 1970's.

With the quality and durability of this SKX173, you're in for some long-term watch fun and interested comments like. "Great watch! Where'd you get it, on the net?"

Good price and good deal too. Hey, man, go for it. Get this watch!

First, I love this watch. It has become my everyday wearer, and I suppose that is the highest praise from a watch nut. If you think you would like a diver's watch, consider the SKX173.
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br /Looking through the other reviews, there seems little new ground that I can cover, so I'll just gush for a while.
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br /The nighttime luminosity is excellent, the watch uses Seiko's Lumibrite, which is an organic luminous material. It is not radioactive and works very well. In any ambient light, the matte black dial with clear, tasteful luminous markers and dissimilar hands ensure that you always have the time at a glance. The absence of shiny metal surrounds for the hour markers keeps the dial look clean. The large arrow shaped minute hand is effectively differentiated from the hour hand so that I never confuse the two. Luminosity of dial and hands are roughly equal. If anything, the hands appear brighter. The luminous dot and bold triangle on the bezel also assures that you are able to track elapsed time in any lighting condition. The 120 click unidirectional bezel moves smoothly and with just the right tension to assure that accidental turns are minimized. I use that feature every day. I find a watch without a rotating bezel to be less useful unless it is a chronograph. Exposure to sunlight or light high in UV (fluorescent, for example) charges the luminous material. I have no trouble seeing the time at night. The flat crystal sits slightly below the bezel, which should help prevent scratches. Though, you can catch a reflection from it if the light hits it just right. I like a day and date function on a watch. Most diver's watches don't display the day. I love the blue Saturday and red Sunday. I like that there is not a ring around the date window, again a very clean design. The absence of a date magnifier keeps the look classic and businesslike.
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br /I swapped out the as delivered rubber strap with a Seiko jubilee style bracelet with flip lock clasp. I found that dresses the watch up nicely and is very comfortable. The strap is great, and conforms to the shape of your wrist after a while, I just prefer a metal bracelet. The crown at 4:00 is large, with fine grooving affording a good grip and is not irritating at all. Thanks to the domed back of the watch, it sits high enough on the wrist so that the crown doesn't form that annoying little callous on the back of one's hand. For a watch this large, it is surprisingly comfortable. My wrist measures 6 1/2" around, so I have relatively small wrists. My Omega Seamaster GMT was as large, yet the back so flat that this was a constant issue. My Rolex GMT had a sharper, smaller crown with coarser serrations, but sits high enough so that is not a problem. The SKX173 crown guard is a visually delightful and wonderfully functional design that I have not seen work as well in any other watch. A terrific feature that is underreported, IMHO. I remember thinking, on taking the watch out of the box, "Now this is a crown guard..." It has never snagged on anything. Even if you don't scuba dive, a diver's watch has a tougher, thicker case /crystal and excellent sealing system, affording maximum protection for the movement within. It just makes sense if you want trouble free operation.
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br /A lot of concern has been expressed about timekeeping, so I should address that. Due to the Seiko Magic Lever winding system and despite the low mass rotor of the 7S26 movement, winding for me is efficient. I find it will maintain a full wind on a winder at 650 turns per day, bidirectional- same as a Rolex. The Omega GMT wouldn't maintain it's level of wind at 650 TPD. If the watch is fully wound, I find it runs a little slow (-3 to 4 seconds per day). Catching up those few seconds is easily accomplished by resting the watch crown down. I have not set the watch in two weeks, and it is currently indicating within a few seconds of the correct time as checked against an atomic clock using just these two simple tricks. In essence, fully wound, a little slow; not fully wound, a little fast. Your mileage may vary. Some combination of rest position and activity level will dictate your actions if you want the watch to be spot on. This is excellent performance for an unadjusted mass produced watch and says a lot about Seiko's design talents and quality control. The 21,600 BPH (6 ticks per second) movement ensures lower stress than a high beat movement, increasing longevity. The lack of a hack feature can be overcome by applying slight backward pressure on the crown during setting. Care should be used to not have the watch run backward at this point, because that is bad for the escapement. This works best if the watch is not fully wound. I do not often use this approach, since I can speed the watch up or slow it down in use to achieve a good synchronization within a few days.
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br /All in all, an excellent watch and an exceptional value. I would highly recommend this watch to anyone desiring a classic diver's which will be a faithful companion in your daily life. Great looks, functionality and an outstanding value.

When I'm wanting to dress down but want a quality time piece...I take off my Omega and put this watch on...Japanese movement rivals that of swiss...I've owned this watch for ten years and It still looks new...If you are starting a collection and want some japanese pieces in it then this is a great place to start....it is a collectors Item.....buy with confidence!......

***UPDATE*** (7/9)

Now that I've worn the watch for a week and a half or so, I can say that I stand by my original assessment below. I wear the watch over 12 hours a day comfortably. I've exercised in it, swam with it, and basically did all the things life throws at you with this watch on my wrist and it never presented a problem but there are two caveats. First, it doesn't fit well with a suit and tie...I've worn it but it does catch a bit on dress shirt cuffs due to its sizable face. Second, given my smaller wrists (see below) I wear it on one hole for normal wear and then have to tighten it up one hole if I'm doing any kind of physical activity. In the end, these are two minor issues that really don't bother me.

The watch, thus far, has kept perfect time...let me repeat that...perfect time...my guess is that others who've reviewed this watch probably don't wear it long enough to keep this automatic properly wound...again, I wear it at least 12+ hours a day...when I get up and then when I go to bed.

Last, I want to repeat that this watch is a great looking watch. The pic on my computer gives it an almost dark-brownish look...it's not...the bezel, face, and band are dark black.

Read what I wrote below for my first assessment but, once again, this is a serious watch for a GREAT price...enjoy!

*******

While I've just received this watch I wanted to comment on my first impressions for those of similar physical type and for those wanting to use the watch as I will. I will update my review after a period of time.

Right out of the box I immediately took note of the heft of the watch, the fact that the watch is sizable (right on the edge of being too large but doesn't cross the line!), and that the band is a bit long for MY wrist...but, for me, that's fine as I will explain later. I'm around 5 foot 10 and 185 pounds but my wrists are more skinny than the average man so this watch would look fantastic on larger men or on anyone with average to larger size wrists. It is a flat out GREAT looking watch on the wrist...the picture does not do this watch justice. The simplicity of this watch is its strength...I don't want bling...I want my watch to reflect down to earth, attractive, functionality...and this watch does that in spades.

Now, I am a certified diver and I will use this watch as an every day watch as well as a dive watch so the longer band is great for my purposes when I use a wet suit. The bezel moves so smoothly and the size of the face as well as the visibility of the hands and dial are terrific even in the dark.

In the short time that I've worn this watch it has met all my expectations but I'll put it through its paces over time and I'll revise my review at a later date...

Thus far...this is a no-brainer buy...

I have had this watch for 15 years and it still keeps time as well as it did on day one. This is a timeless design. My father has had his for 20+ years and my brother and I both have had ours for over 15 years. This watch is hassle free with no battery to replace. It is a great looking watch and can stand up to the elements. I know because I have put mine to the test many times and it is still ticking. If you are looking for a great watch, look no further.

I've had this watch for around 18 months now. It's tough, looks good and doesn't have a mark on it yet. It loses out in two places though. Firstly, it has remarkably short "standby" time. Take it off early on a Friday night and then sleep late on Saturday and it's more than likely to have stopped. Take it off for a day to alternate with a dress watch and there's no chance it'll still be going. Secondly - I've been spoiled by electronic watches and not having to adjust the date at month end on 28 and 30 day months so that's a pain. On the other hand, the ripoff prices I have to pay to have the battery in my Citizen changed (along with the mandatory water seal testing) make it well worth the hassle.

I have had an early version of this watch for 17 years, and when it malfunctioned, I decided it was time to get a new one. The previous watch had been repaired 2 times earlier, and unfortunately every time I got it back from COSERV, it would be less and less accurate, thus I decide to get a new one. The new one was made in Maylasia vs Japan (I have read on this site that one needs to be concerned about that), and was lighter in weight, but kept time well for about one week. I bumped the watch on a table (nothing severe, the previous watch endured much more) and it immediately started gaining more than 10 minutes per hour. I had high hopes that this watch would at least meet, and hopely exceed the durability of the previous watch, but it did not make it passed one week of casual wear. I returned it in disappointment.

Reading through some of the reviews posted here it sounds like some people purchased this AUTOMATIC watch without realizing that you have to keep wearing it to keep it running. It's a little bit absurd to give a watch 1 star for doing what it was designed to do-stop running if nobody wears it. Just for reference, I own the orange face version of this watch with a metal strap (same exact watch other than color and strap selection).

Anyways, the power reserve on this watch is approximately 2 days (this may vary a little). This is a fairly good (but not quite excellent) power reserve for a mechanical automatic watch.

Annoyingly though, this watch has a tendency to run fast when it is not constantly being worn, so as it runs out of power it begins running faster and faster.

If I neglect to wear it for a day or a day and a half it will pick up a few minutes-after many weekends I end up having to slow it back down 5 minutes. It is much more accurate when worn every single day.

The only other criticism I have of this watch other than its tendency to run a little fast, is that it is a little bit difficult to pull the crown out to the middle position (for adjusting the day/date)-it's fairly easy to overshoot it. But this is more a minor annoyance than a serious issue.

These minor annoyances aside, this watch looks fantastic and feels wonderful. On top of all this, it's a genuine diver that'll go to 200M without problem-with a movement that's stood the test of time. No, the movement is not the most accurate or up to date-but if accuracy is what you really want automatic watches are never going to be quite as good as quartz watches anyway.

I've actually had this watch since 1984; I bought it while in the military. All of the Special Forces were wearing this watch and I liked to scuba dive so I tried it and have had it ever since. It's just now getting to the point where it loses time and needs to be rebuilt every other year (for around a $100 each time) so I'm going to purchase a new one. But, it's been a great watch and I look forward to wearing the next one for another 20+ years.

I've read every review on this watch that was bought through Amazon. First, to all the people that don't understand they're buying a mechanical, self winding watch, research what you're buying first. Secondly, for all those people complaining about the lousy time keeping, it's a mechanical watch. For what they are, they keep amazing time. If you want an accurate time keeping watch, buy a quartz or kinetic watch. Don't complain about this watch keeping lousy time. Go research how mechanical watches work before you start complaining about lousy time keeping. There's no way this watch should receive a 1 star rating because people are ignorant about how mechanical watches work.
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br /Now, on to the watch. It is a beautiful watch to wear. It's well constructed and very heavy duty feeling. I would recommend this to anybody looking for a high quality, excellently priced, mechanical watch. Amazon has to have the best deal going anywhere. To get 55% off of this watch is amazing. It is absolutely the best bang for the buck. Highly recommended to anybody looking for a replacement mechanical dive watch.

I bought this one after a good experience with my Seiko Kinetic 200m watch. Returned it b/c it ran 3 minutes fast after 2 weeks of use (it was either on my wrist or on a winder the entire time). IMHO, this makes it a cute toy for the wrist, not an accurate timepiece. Kinetic is such a better movement - why doesn't Seiko make a Kinetic Diver's that looks like this ?
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br /Pros -
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br /Rugged Look and Feel
br /Bright markers
br /Classic styling
br /Comfortable band
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br /Cons -
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br /Accuracy.
br /Made in Malaysia/Malaysia movement (listed on both face and back) :(
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I can attest to M. Roddy's earlier review, "20 years and still ticking." I'm one of those Special Forces (Ret.) soldiers he referred to in his review. When I attended the U.S. Army Special Forces training (Pre-phase and Q-course class 6-81) at Ft. Bragg, NC back in early 1981 it seemed that the most popular watch that many SF soldiers were wearing (and still are...) was this particular model #SKX173 Seiko automatic dive watch, and for obvious reasons. At the time it cost me only $110.00 at the Ft. Bragg Post Exchange (PX). It is extremely durable and has withstood over 16 years of tough SF service with 1-10th Special Forces Group in Europe. So far, it hasn't required any repairs at all (knock on wood) and keeps on tickin'!

This is gonna be short and sweet and not all flowery, but I bought this watch and love it. I wasnt sure whether or not to get something without seeing it in person, but I'm glad I did. Its sorta big, but not massive or anything. The silver and black looks so cool too. I was initially worried about the watchband being rubber and looking cheap, but it doesnt at all. It looks good believe it or not. I've also got some condition where if I have metal against my skin thats not surgical stainless steel or some other pure metal I'll break out into ugly green blisters. I'm happy to report nothing so far. It must be the royalty in my blood that keeps me from wearing cheap jewelry... Uh anyways, this watch is even better looking in person and its a great price. I highly recommend it.
scott.

This is the first automatic I've ever purchased and I'm pleased with it. Good looking watch and it manages to keep acceptable time (the watch loses about 5 seconds every 24 hours on average). I just set it about a minute ahead every ten days or so. Only thing that's missing is the ability to hack the movement. I gather that the Seiko quartz divers can be hacked, but then again, they keep much more accurate time. So, that's probably a wash either way (little trick I did learn...you can sort of "hack" the watch by exerting a small amount of pressure on the crown when setting the time - that stops the second hand, in effect allowing you to hack the movement). I replaced the rubber band with a nylon Zulu band...I find it to be a little more comfortable. It's a good, reliable everyday watch and I wear it often (I'm not a diver, but I do go snorkeling and I've worn this watch while doing so with no problems at all). I still have my Casio G-Shock for a beater. I'd recommend this watch if you're looking at purchasing an automatic for a reasonable price...much of the same functionality and dependability you're going to get from any of the much more expensive Swiss manufactured watches.

An edit two months down the road (first review written in September)...my watch now runs maybe about a second or so fast every 48 hours or so. That's more accurate than many quartz watches out there on the market. I'm delighted with this watch...I'd rate it 5 stars easily now. I wear it consistently and believe that it's hands down one of the best watches on the market today. Period.

This is the exact same as the Seiko SKXA35, but that one has a yellow face, not black, and sells for $10-$12 more.

Like virtually all automatic Seiko watches with the common "7S26" components, the watch keeps very acceptable time, perhaps drifting by a few seconds +/- per day.

The watch will run down if not worn for 40+ hours. Not wearing the watch an average of 8 hours/day or not storing it flat on its back can also cause more drift in accuracy than usual.

It's also not possible to stop the second hand when setting the running watch to ensure time is perfectly accurate down to the second -- this can be done with battery-operated Seiko diver watches.

Check out the battery-operated, quartz-movement Seiko divers if virtually perfect timekeeping is needed and a watch won't be regularly worn. Battery replacement / 200m waterproofing can run pricey on those when needed, however. (It should be noted that Seiko recommends standard checks/maintenance on the automatics every 2 years or so, and similar pricey waterproofing concerns could be encountered there, too.)

If a watch is worn regularly/daily and timekeeping within a minute is generally acceptable (and someone wants to test their luck with being one of those who can reportedly go into the decades with a watch being just fine without battery replacement / new waterproofing), the classic automatic Seiko divers like this do the job just fine.

Hopefully someday Seiko explores their own solar line of watches once again. For the time being, those seem to have become their Pulsar line of diver watches, which supposedly can last 180 days on a single charge....

What can I say, I am very impressed with this watch! It's durable, dependable and great for everyday use, and the fact that it dosen't need batteries is just the icing on the cake. If you don't have one, you should get one. No joke I love this watch!

Pictures don't do justice to this watch. It has a sixties and seventies technology retro look that isn't at all out of date. The numbers, the hour hand, the minute hand, the second sweep and the rotating bezel all match up precisely. There's a sort of "brute force elegance" to it.
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br /You know it means business because the winding crown is protected and offset. It won't receive karate chop blows as it would if set at the normal 3 o'clock position, it will deflect glancing blows instead. The rectangles marking the hours make a nice contrast to the sweep second hand with its marking circle. The non-radioactive paint used to light the face at night uses no electricity, poses no hazard, and is bright.
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br /The synthetic rubber band is of industrial quality in strength. I prefer it to the 007 model's metal band, which will shake itself into disrepair after a couple of years. The SKX173 band is hypoallergenic.
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br /The watch can be worn 24 hours a day unless you wear a dress shirt with cufflinks or a heavy coat that can't be pulled back at the wrist to check the time. The purpose of this watch is scuba diving. I use it because I swim a mile non-stop every day. A battery-powered sport watch, even the Seiko Sport 50, isn't good enough if you have an aquatics regimen of this intensity. Whenever you change the batteries, you should spend the money to change the seals for the back of the watch, also. Even with that pre aution, eventually, it's going to leak.
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br /The SKX173 is an automatic watch, meaning it is self-winding through an internal mechanism. That's why the watch is significantly thicker than a battery-powered watch. But this self-winding means that there is no reason to take the back off the watch unless there is a very serious maintenance problem. So the seals stay where they were when assembled at the factory.
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br /As noted by others, the SKX173 runs slightly fast. It's actually less fast when worn all the time, which keeps its automatic winding tension at a maximum. I simply set the watch for a minute slow, let it catch up and become a minute fast, then reset it at mid-month and at end-month (when you want to correct the date feature, anyway, since most months don't have 31 days). So my schedule allows me to open the winding stem and reset it about 24 times a year. That's it! That's the maintenance and expense for running this watch.
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br /This is the best watch for its purpose -- anything cheaper is going to shake itself loose or leak eventually from battery changes. Anything more expensive is a vanity. You can spend twenty or even thirty times as much for a watch hand-made in Switzerland, but every accidental bump or motion will upset you and lower its value. The SKX173 is machine-made to industrial standards in Malaysia to the specifications of Japanese engineers.
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br /And it has a quiet, honest, masculine handsomeness to it. Get one for yourself and see.

The important thing to remember is that this is an Automatic watch, as stated by other reviewers: It won't keep time as precisely as a quartz watch, and you need to wear it every other day to keep it running. If you can live with that, this watch is about the best diving, sport, rugged use non-digital watch I have owned. I have also owned Seiko's quartz dive watch, which is also a fine timepiece. I like the larger size and heft of this watch and it feels perfect on my wrist. It can really take a beating and look like-new for years. I wear it to work with a suit, and get compliments on it frequently, although there are better dress watches out there. My opinion is that every may should own at least one automatic watch, and Seiko's automatic movement watches are very affordable and make a good starting point to explore more expensive Swiss automatics if you feel so inclined. I have had plenty of Swiss watches too, and have never found them to be more durable, reliable, or accurate than my Seikos, if this is worth anything to you. I enjoy fine Swiss timepieces, but more than that I admire good value, and I cannot honestly see a better value in a tough and durable, worry-free automatic, than this model Seiko. Amazon's price, of course, is the best around and their service is top-knotch. If I have a choice, I buy watches directly from Amazon rather than Marketplace sellers, as I feel that Amazon's return policy is more generous, but this is my opinion.

The good:
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br /The watch is good looking and keeps time well. Amazon also has the best price in town ($150 less than local department stores). The watch has seen about 10 hours of bottom time since purchased and is still running great. The hands are bright enough at night to see but not so bright that you light up the whole room (I like it dark when sleeping). The bezel has nice positive clicks with 30 second metering (not to tight or too loose).
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br /The not so good:
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br /The watch tends to work (rotate) itself around my wrist in the direction of my pinkie finger. This makes it difficult to tell time without grabbing the watch and rotating it back to a position centered on the top of my wrist. I believe this may be "personal issue" for me since my wrist diameter is larger than most (most watches with steel bands fit right out of the box for me with no links removed). What seems to happen is the hasp on the band tends to center itself on the bottom of my wrist leaving the watch off center on the top. It's thick with a thick band. The wife complains that the band pinches her if she rolls on to my arm in bed.
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br /Overall
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br /This is a good rugged mechanical watch. It has taken some hits on land and underwater and still looks new out of the box. I have been wearing it everyday (and night) and it appears to have gained about 1 minute in one month. All in all a great watch at any price, the band could use some tweaking.
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br /Update Feb 2008
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br /Now that I have had this watch for 5 months it suddenly started running very fast (gaining 7 seconds per minute or 2.8 hours a day). Now I know why I seemed so tired in the morning getting up at 7 AM when it was really 4 AM (and why it was so dark). Looks like I'm going to need to send it in for Warranty Repair. It appears that the warranty period is 3 years for watches sold in the US and it can be sent into one of the two following facilities:
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br /Coserv - Los Angeles
br /840 Apollo Street
br /El Segundo, CA 90245-4701
br /310-640-3333 phone
br /310-640-8866 fax
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br /Coserv - Mahwah
br /1111 Macarthur Blvd
br /Mahwah, NJ 07430-2124
br /201-529-3316 phone
br /201-529-4525 fax
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br /I'm back to wearing my 16 year old reliable Seiko (quartz movement) dive watch for now. Will update the review once I get the watch back from repair.

I have been buying Seiko's for 30 years, because they keep on ticking. My first automatic watch (with a gold tone bracelet) is fantastic. I wasn't aware that automatics could loose time. With my first Seiko automatic, I found out at the end of the first week that the watch lost about 5 minutes. Not a problem. I just set my watch for 5 minutes ahead. It takes me less than 10 seconds to do this. This is something I have done in the past just to make sure I arrive early....not that I've ever had a problem with that. With other Seikos, you need only to do this once. Anyway, this Seiko automatic watch is just fantastic! At first, it lost about 7 minutes a week. However, I have had this watch for about 2 months now, and for the past month, it seems to be keeping perfect time. Something I really wasn't expecting, because automatics are known for loosing a bit of time. Others have mentioned the band, and I wasn't sure I would like it either. I don't believe, I am going to have any problem(s) with this band. It is very sturdy, and it appears it will 'hold up' very well. The watch itself is very attractive, EASY to read, easy to set, the hands and hour designations GLOW all night long and it is BLACK. They dim a bit throughout the night; however, you still can easily read the time on the watch. This watch is thicker and heavier than most, but I had no problem getting accustom to the watch. I wear watches and bracelets that measure between 6.75 and 7.50 inches in length. The band is perfect for my wrist, and the keeper is very helpful for securing the long band. I found a real bargain when I purchased this watch for less than $200.00 off the original price. I even checked the Seiko site, and they were selling the watch for the original price.
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br /January 20, 2008 UPDATE:
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br /I have not had any problems with this watch; e.g., reading it (day or night), keeping time, strap (no problems at all...no problems developing), NO scratches on the crystal and the buckle is fine, as well.
br /By the way, you are NOT suppose to get automatics wet; however, I accidently put my hand in the pool while trying to secure a hose, and when I realized what I had done, I almost died. I took the watch off and immediately dried it off. Well, there's a happy ending. THIS WATCH KEEPS ON TICKING! I submerged this watch last summer!
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br /APRIL 6, 2008 - UPDATE
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br /This watch looks great, and it's still ticking nicely. I just tried to see if the crystal has any scratches on it (there probably are, at least, a few), but, truly, I can't see any! The band is holding up nicely...no cracks, splits, or drying out(?). The buckle and the keeper are in excellent condition.
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br /ON JULY 12, 2008,
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br /I MADE A 'COMMENT' ABOUT THIS WATCH; HOWEVER, I MEANT TO POST A REVIEW. CHECK COMMENTS FOR MY LASTEST REVIEW. STILL A GREAT WATCH.
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br /DECEMBER 21, 2008,
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br /It is still going strong. My watch now has two small scratches (hardly noticeable) on the face. Everything else about it is perfect, and I do get it wet.

The watch is phenominal. The service was also excellent. I would recommend it to anyone. I have been purchasing Seiko watches since 1971 (I presently own 9,) and have never had a problem with any of them. I also own a Tag Heuer; a Hamilton; a Bulova; and a Pulsar, but I wear my Seiko's the most.

Works as good or better than my Rolex and Omega watches. I am now certain that Swiss watchmakers are ripping us off by charging thousands for just stamping their name on automatic watches that are marginally superior in fit and finish to this Seiko. For the few weeks that I have been wearing it, it has performed flawlessly. Bravo Seiko.

The review below by "Owen Wilson" is pretty funny. He never took it out of the box, and it stopped running, so he returned it. LOL! It's an automatic watch, dude! You have to wear it to wind it, or it stops.

ANYways, I've had mine for about 4 months now and barely ever take it off. It keeps excellent time, gaining only a second or two a day. I really like having this wonderful piece of classic technology on my wrist, I like the size and substantial weight of it, and it's very comfortable to wear.

I took a star off the rating because the original strap developed an unpleasant odor after a couple of weeks, which no amount of scrubbing would remove. I replaced it with an after-market Italian rubber strap. 3 months later the new strap still smells pleasantly of vanilla, which I guess is a common additive in real rubber straps. Who knew? The original strap looked a bit beefier and more diver-like, but the new strap has a deployment clasp which is handy.

Occasionally I wish I had bought the SKX007 instead, as I like the look of the round markers, but it hasn't bothered me much that these are square, and I prefer the second hand on this watch. I really like the way SAT is blue and SUN is red - reminds me it's the weekend.

This is my first modern automatic and overall I'm very happy with my purchase.

I really love the appearance of the watch and was looking forward to owning it. I have found I need a rugged watch. I wore the watch all the time (more than 8 hours a day) and am very active (I work in a big building and am always walking as part of my job).

Unfortunately, the watch continued to gain too much time. I read the instructions thoroughly and all of the reviews prior to the purchase and after receiving the watch. I ended up returning it.

I did not try a watch winder for this, but perhaps that might help. I was personally hoping for a watch that would function with my own arm movement. I'd recommend anyone considering this watch to also consider buying a watch winder - (Amazon.com has a wide variety of watch winders at very good prices).

I own another Seiko, a Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay that keeps great time, yet I need a watch that's easier to read than my current watch with a black face.

I ended up purchasing Citizen's quartz dive watch that looks similar to this one.

I purchsed this for my husband, who is a Diver & Surfer, he wanted a Seiko as he loved the one that he had for years that finally died!
He was VERY disappointed with this watch, as the Bezel was very loose, which means it would NOT have been of any use when he was in the water!!
I actually exchanged the 1st watch, hoping that it was just a lemon, the 2nd watch had the SAME exact problem!!! so, the 2nd watch I returned for refund!!
We looked at the same watch in a Dept Store, & it was fine!! HOWEVER, it seems this watch in the Stores has a DIFFERENT "Makers Mark" than the watches we ordered!!

This large, extremely sturdy, self winding watch was purchased for rugged sailing. The strap is rugged and comfortable and stays on when doing vigorous things on large and small sailboats.
The real reason I purchased this watch was that the large white hands are extremely visible on the simple black face. No extraneous dials and timers etc. It does provide day and date which must be reset most months that don't have 31 days but it is not a chore. This is a serious machine not an imitation.

This is the ultimate "classic" dive watch. I have three of these Seiko Dive watches and I love them all. I bought the first one 25 years ago when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. All "real" divers at that time wore this watch because they never had to take the back off to replace the batteries. I bought mine to use when diving, but mostly because I liked the way it looked. The second one I bought has the blue and red "Pepsi" basel on it, and the last one is the current model Seiko sells. The watches are as tough as nails, and have never given me a bit of trouble. They may run a few minutes off every couple of weeks, but if that bothers you, you are just too darn busy and should probably buy one of those new "yuppie" atomic watches. These watches suit me and my lifestyle just fine and I expect to get many more good years of service out of them. I've got two Tags and I wear my Seiko dive watches 99% of the time.

I have had this watch for over 20 years. I don't wear it all the time (dives, when my regular watch breaks, and weekends). I've had it down to 150ft with no problem. The large timing ring is easy to rotate even with gloves. It keeps perfect time and still has the original strap! It's one of those rare time pieces that seems to improve with age. The case is so massive that it feels like it could be used to drive nails (though I wouldn't recommend it, as rugged as it is).

Where else can you get an automatic diver's watch at this price? The watch is fantastic, it is yet another in my Seiko collection. Someone commented his ran 7 seconds fast in a day, no sweat, have it regulated. Mine runs spot on.

The matte black dial is very nice and extremely easy to read. Spend the money and get one. It is a good sized watch, fits comfortably, looks fantastic, and is an amazing piece of watchmaking art at a pittance.

Great watch at a great price. $300 at the mall for the same exact watch.

I've owned this type of Seiko Divers watch for over 16 years. It's held up quite well. However, it has NEVER kept accurate time. Within a week it will be 5 to 7 minutes fast. And after several letters and emails to Seiko, they have NEVER replied. No doubt the majority are quality watches, but I got the lemon and no customer service.

Superb. This is my first watch with a rubber strap and I find it very comfortable. If I had to give up all of my watches except one, this is the one I would keep :) Gains about 2 minutes a week, but I don't mind setting the time occasionally.

I bought this watch in 1982. That was my rookie year as a Kansas City Ks firefighter. I have fought many fires with this watch on, and it has taken abuse from extreme heat to cold.
br /I also have been diving in this watch to depths of well over 100 feet.
br /I have had to replace the band several times. I had it serviced 8 years ago and replaced the rotating bezel. Now I have lost that bezel in a house fire and broken the watch band. I called Seiko North America and the bezel is no longer made. (Surely on would fit from the sx173). Well to no avail I;m breaking down and buy a new one. I'm also ordering a replacement band for my old one and will continue to wear it at the firehouse. The only thing wrong with the old watch is it lost it's nighttime display.

Nice watch, waterproof, never need to mess with a battery like some of my others ie. 2 Tag Heuer's that currently have dead batteries and sitting in my safe. Then after you change the battery for $50+ a year later it's dead again. No more batteries for me! I got a couple Rolex's but they're not appropriate to wear in some of the circles I travel in, unless I want to ask for trouble. Plus, I bought the wife a Rolex she hardly wore because she was afraid of messing it up ($4k), then it broke and cost $580 to fix! I got a Suunto that's not bad, plus solar powered Citizen that's good, and some others. I've taken this watch on some abusive situations like land clearing, chain-sawing wood, lighting 2 acres on fire (controlled burn), construction, and playing lots of piano, stride piano too, so lots of movement, AND not a single SCRATCH, zero. It will run a couple minutes fast after a while but no big deal. Lights up great after being exposed to sun, way better that a Rolex or Tag, the only watch to light up better one handed is one I own with Tritium, the radioactive stuff on the dial hands, but then again the battery is dead, and after changing it a couple time, it's no longer water-proof, it leaked water while diving and now is junk? Waste of $200. This Seiko is still on my wrist and haven't had the urge to buy anymore watches, which is a good thing! No regrets! It's a keeper!

This is one of those items that harkens back to a simpler time. It's honest, straightforward,rugged and has a design that is timeless. It doesn't have a stopwatch or an alarm or any of those other fancy things, it just tells time, and does it very well. It's big, easy to read and is just a joy to own. I equipped mine with a Zulu NATO watchband which really gives it a purposeful, military look. No, it doesn't keep perfect time like the quartz models but there is something quite satisfying about seeing the second hand glide smoothly around the dial instead of jumping from second to second. This is a classic watch that you will truly enjoy. I highly recommend it!

I've owned this model since I started diving in 1987. It tends to run +30 seconds per day now, at nearly twenty years old. Of course I've had to change the band a few times. Unlike many who buy dive watches, this was not only a daily wear watch, but also my only dive watch. My deepest dive with this watch was 110 feet, and it's never given me a problem. I just sent it in to Seiko for adjustment and a new crystal. I'm tempted to buy the yellow one as a back-up, and just because they're so cool. This is really the quintessential dive watch. Most divers can't afford a Rolex or Omega, and if they could, wouldn't risk banging it around on a real dive.

I have over $10k in expensive swiss watches and I enjoy this $150 watch a lot. It is a great deal for the money, solidly build and classically styled. It's just the right size, not rediculously large nor too small. It wears just slightly larger than my Rolex Submariner on my wrist. Still able to fit under the cuff of a dress shirt. The rubber strap is very long to allow wearing over a wetsuit, it will be too long for a thin-framed person.

There is no room in this world for digital and/or quartz watches when you can buy such a solid little mechanical for so little.

I liked the look of this watch for years and finally broke down and bought one a year ago. Looks great but keeps TERRIBLE time. I just could not depend on it--10 minutes late to meetings, etc. I may have gotten a bad one but I would not buy another Seiko mechanical watch. I'm back to wearing my cheap quartz watch--at least I don't look at my watch and then immediately try to find another time source to compare it to.

The other reviewers were right; this is a very good quality watch, but a tad fast. Being a bit fast is OK as it makes me more on-time! For diving, I don't think the difference in time matters as I'm down long enough. And being fast makes the dive time allowed more conservative. Anyway, it the quality is good considering the price. I looked at the Omega Seamasters and they are considerably more money. And Amazon had a great price - almost half of what some jewelry stores are charging. One thing that surprised me was that Malaysia is written at the bottom of the face; I thought it would read Japan. Oh well, can't expect that considering the price I guess.

I love this watch. The glow in the dark indicators stay luminated all throught the night and it keeps very accurate time. The rotating bezel is smooth and easy to opperate. It's very comfortable to wear,a great watch. Very Attractive.

I purchased my Seiko Automatic Dive watch in 1985. I still wear it everyday. I have went diving with it,I wear it to work,I wear it everywhere. It is a wonderful watch. I am considering buying another except there is nothing wrong with the one I have. I have went through several different bands but the watch is original. I purchased mine for $80.00 when I was aboard the U.S.S Orion in Sardinia Italy. I think I got my monies worth.

I recently purchased this watch at a jewelry store because I was able to bargain the salesperson down since I knew how much I could get it for at Amazon.com.
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br /This watch is absolutely beautiful! It has some nice touches to it without being gaudy. I wear it around the house to keep the time accurate and I wear it to any casual outing such as shopping, etc. I will also wear it to work at my sales job.
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br /I haven't had any problems with the watch being inaccurate. I guess I wear it enough so that it is just as accurate as any of my quartz watches. I mean, come on, a cheaper, popular, sold at Walmart watch might be more accurate without having to wear it often, but I'd rather have a Seiko any day.
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br /This watch is also the heaviest watch I have ever owned. If you do a lot of typing at work, you may want to wear some other watch. The added weight could give you unnecessary pain. Other than that, I have no problem with the weight of it.
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br /This watch is well worth the price.

The only issue that I have with this watch is that it is automatic, which means that it does not have an internal battery. This prevents the need to open the watch, which protects it's integrity, but it also means that it can run down if not worn for 24 hours, or so. Other than that, it is a beautiful time piece.

I purchased this watch from watchzone.The shipping was great UPS actually contacted me sunday night to tell me it was coming on monday.I've been a casio g shock wearer for years but wanted something a little nicer.After reading the reviews about automatics I was a little leery about buying one.So far mine has been keeping great time.I wear mine approx 10 hours a day so maybe that makes a difference.Watch is even better looking in person.

After reading the reviews and knowing some of my friends that had some version of this watch I decided to purchase one for myself. Great quality and definently takes a licking and keeps going. Easy to read face and very bright at night (for the case if you are telling time in the dark) and the automatic aspect is great. I usualy wear the watch for 12+ hours on shift, and I can leave it alone for even a day (so far that is how long I have gone without wearing it) and it keeps going. I would totally recommend this watch to anyone who wants to be awesome!

I've had this model before and knew I would love it. Great price and works well too.

Awesome watch! I never write reviews but this product is worthy of the time. I purchased this watch about 5 months ago and think it is great. I wear it for business casual and sport. I have had numerous compliments and a number of friends have purchased this watch, all very pleased. It is accurate, I set it to the atomic site and it has been flawless. For the price you really can't beat it!

I have owned several Seiko watches in the past. I have loved every one of them. This Dive Watch is of high quality stainless steel and rubber watch band. It keeps perfect time and has a very bright luminous display for telling time at night, or in the dark. This is a great outdoor watch for the beach, lake or pool.

Had the watch for over a year now. Great design and durable as hell. A little big with dress shirts and runs a little fast. I guess this is normal for automatic watches. This watch is my go to choice for daily wear. Loads of compliments. Basic design, tough, classy. What more could you want out of affordable quality watch. Will buy others in other colors.

What I wanted, when I wanted it, on time, right price

I would like to let you know I had the same watch about (5) years ago it was stolin so when I saw the same watch for the low price you had it for I could not pass it up. I am very happy with the speed in the time I recived it and it seems likr this watch is nicer then the one that was stolin. keep up the good work and I will look forward to buy more from you in the future, Thanks again Big Mike palm Beach florida.

Everything that was described, it is. A great price for an awsome watch! Best price I could find anywhere and great service on the purchase.

The quality is excellent for the price, and Amazon had the best price. Stores typically charge in excess of $100 more for the same watch. This model is very rugged, and will withstand rough treatment very well.

I've had this watch just over 4 years and loved it dearly for the first 3 and a half. It's perfect for diving as well as everday wear. I'm in the military and my job kills watches! This watch has taken every kind of beating imaginable, is on it's third tour in Iraq, and has suffered only the tiniest of scratches on the crystal! I've never had to replace the band or get anything fixed. I'm truly impressed with this watch! Unfortunately, during the last 6 months the timing is off and the watch adds random minutes daily. I reset it at night and sometimes wake to discover an extra 15 minutes on it!! I'm sure I can send it in to Seiko and have them work some magic on it, but that just isn't an option where I am right now. I bought the first watch I could find at the post exchange, but hated it and have been dealing with the timing issue instead. I'm in the market for a new watch and leery of automatics because I don't ever want to have to replace it. This is a great watch, I just wish it had lasted longer.

This is one of the best watches i have purchased. It looks just like the ones you would find in the stores for 2x or more than i paid for it.

This is my third Seiko dive watch, going back forty years (I only had my second one a few years because my dad liked it so much that I gave it to him-- he's still wearing it).
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br /This model has long set the standard for reasonably priced divers watches, and I am happy to report that the current model seems, incrementally, even better than earlier versions.
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br /The watch is quite accurate for a self-wind mechanism, gaining about a minute a week. My understanding is that they are initially set fast on purpose, because self-wind models tend to run a bit slower over time. I reset it once a month. I don't understand why some of the reviews here seem so hysterical about this-- it only takes three seconds of your life once a month to do, and it is just one of the unavoidable conditions of having a mechanical watch.
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br /The self-wind mechanism is one of the main reasons that I have stayed with this model of Seiko for so long. At one point, I had a much more expensive, battery-driven watch, but it stopped during a camping trip when the weather got so cold that the battery died, leaving us watchless for the rest of our trip. I was astonished to be left in the lurch like that, and I immediately went back to a kinetic watch.
br /
br /A self-wind mechanism won't let you down in those situations, although, to be fair, the self-wind mechanism is not immortal and will need to be cleaned or replaced every decade or two.
br /
br /At any rate, this is an accurate, trustworthy watch that will not let you down in harsh conditions.
br /
br /The offset stem is a nice little improvement over my previous Seikos.
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br /The one-way rotating bezel is an improvement over earlier bezels, which rotated (too easily) both ways.
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br /Perhaps the nicest improvement is the luminous paint, which is much brighter than any of my earlier Seikos. It glows so brightly that it can softly illuminate nearby objects for the first hour, and stays bright enough to be seen easily all night long.
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br /In short, a great watch: accurate, reliable, rugged, waterproof, and bright.

This is my second Seiko Dive Watch, replacing one I purchased 31 years ago (in 1977)when I was living on Guam and was actively scuba diving in places like Truk, Ponape and Palau. I have worn it daily, because it's functionality as a dive watch is complemented by its handsome appearance. Its dependability, accuracy and the ease with I can read the face in all conditions - underwater, dim or poor lighting, etc. - have made it indispensible and a joy to own.

I purchased this watch Jan 06. It was first returned for repair in Jun 07. Second time Nov 08. Third time Dec 08. It stops, and then when it does run, it runs at an accelerated pace. I have a similar watch purchased approximately thirty year ago that has been repaired once, the reason I bought a new one, and once repaired runs fine. Buy this watch only if you think a watch should last less than three years, and can tolerate sending it in repeatedly to Conserv for repair during those three years. After three years you are out of luck. The warranty does not start again for any length of time after each repair. One star is the lowest I can enter, it deserves none.

Great looking watch, very sporty. Date is easily readable. The LumiBright Hands and markings are amazing in low light and in the dark, I have had this watch for 4 weeks now. I love the bulky rotating bezel, sturdy strap. I just love the feel of the watch, it definately has some weight, but it adds to perceived build quality. Everything seems sturdy. But none of this matters as the watch runs 10 min faster than usual. At first setting nothing is noticeable after a few days the watch will run 1-2 min fast, no big deal, but after a few more days the watch seems to run 10 min fast. This is because of the constant change in tempreature where I live. Right now in Toronto tempreature is about 0 to 5 degrees C, but in the morning the tempreature is colder and warmer by mid-day so this affects the mechanical movement and this watch tends to run fast.
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br /Cant keep accurate time, in my situation, but it is superbly made, the weighty feel, illustrates quality workmanship. So my review for this watch is neutral.

I just received this watch so can't say anything about accuracy yet, but it looks nice with it's very sporty and cool looks. The case is solid and the rotating bezel is refreshingly easy to turn and the luminosity is very good. I like the strap but it could probably be of higher quality, but all in all the watch is good value for the $165 I paid for it.
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br /Will write some more on accuracy after a couple of months.

I ordered this watch to replace my old Seiko Diver which gave over twenty years of great service. I was somewhat concerned when I noted "Malaysia" stamped on the back but decided to keep it based on my experience with Seiko products. The watch that I received is a dog. It loses or gains ten to fifteen minutes a day...one day it gained six hours. I have never returned an item from Amazon before but this one is shipping back Monday.

I bought this watch because of the waterproof aspect. I go swimming in the ocean, play in the sand, go cycling, and never take it off. The face is just the right size for my wrist, not too big or too small. and the black on black look is great.
br /I would rate this watch a 5 out of 5 but my watch gains 5 to 7 minutes a month. So every month, I have to adjust the time. You would think, that Seiko could have fixed the problem by now. Its a little annoying.

My Seiko watch is really great. I bought a selfwinding watch so i wouldn't
br /have to buy batteries for it.

After much deliberation, I'm very happy I finally purchased this watch. I was a little worried after reading some of the reviews here but the watch has been great so far. I've had it for 3 weeks and just today adjusted the time. It was 1 minute fast so I rolled it back - not a problem. With so many sources of highly accurate time (cable box, intranet) its really not difficult. The watch looks great, just the right size and classic style that will always be cool. I especially like that the color of the day text is black during the week, blue on saturday and red on sunday... nice touch. The best feature is that the case looks deep without being huge. No regrets - I love this watch!

This diver has become my daily driver, replacing a very nice Citizen diver I still have. Its appeal for me is the simple design. It is sort of old-fashioned looking: it looks like an old classic Seiko diver. Very versatile watch as well: I've tried several straps on it and all of them look great. Very highly recommended.

I really like this watch! Seiko doesn't publish accuracy information for watches with the 7s26 movement (this watch has one), because it's not terribly impressive (most leave the factory doing +/- 25 seconds a day, whereas an Omega might be built +/-10, but cost MUCH more). They tend to run fast out of the box and then wear in over a month or two. Mine's currently gaining 14 seconds a day (down from 17 secs/day) after a month of wearing it nonstop, which is perfectly acceptable for me.
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br /This watch is very bright, so as long as you were outside for about five minutes, it'll be bright enough to see in the dark for about 12 hours after that. I get up in the morning and it's still pretty bright after being on my wrist under a blanket for the past 8 hours.
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br /As far as Amazon.com went for this watch: I got it right away, but I don't know if I'd buy from amazon again. Amazon isn't an Authorized Dealer for Seiko, so you don't get a legitimate Seiko warranty (at least, not to my knowledge). Seikos are pretty tough as far as automatics go though, so it's unlikely that my watch will crap out. Just something to keep in mind, since ADs abound online and their prices are competitive with amazon.

I am the owner of a lot of quartz watches, what this mean I have to spend money to replace the exhausted batteries and also, at the same time, to increase the polution for the earth. These are the main reason why I took the decision to take off my expensive Longines and put this watch on my wrist. I've been a fan of divers watches since high school days and with this watch I will always have a watch ready to go without regard to the battery is full or exhausted, and everything with the quality guaranty of Seiko

In conclusion, an excelent watch at a terrific price

I have had this watch for approx. 45 days now. It is a beauty and appears to be well made ... like you expect from Seiko. BUT, it doesn't keep accurate time. The watch GAINS 2-3 minutes PER DAY. What a shame for a timepiece at this price. You can get dive watches for half the price that do keep accurate time. Since I am past the 30-day return period, Amazon will not take it back. Seiko will give me an "estimate to fix" after I mail it to New Jersey! I'd suggest that you look elsewhere for a good dive watch. Not sure about all the good reviews here (I trusted them) ... maybe I just got a lemon ... will you get one too?

Sean Connery wears a Rolex Submariner in "Goldfinger." You can wear one too. Just go to ebay with about five grand. Or, you can get this watch and have a really cool 21st century updated look.

I can't even swim, but I wanted a black sport watch and thought this was by far the best value. It is big, but not so big that it blings. And, as others have mentioned, there is the added plus of not having to buy batteries.

It is better looking in reality then in the pictures, but: it is not made in Japan, it is made in Malaysia, it goes about 7 seconds ahead each day. So if want the precise hour, minutes and seconds you won't be foully satisfied. Overall it is a good diver's watch.

I've had my 173 for less than two years and I have really liked the watch. But recently the band keeper broke and fell off somewhere. Then, just this morning, I noticed the watchband itself has cracked in half and hangs by only a tiny slip of rubber. Replacement bands are expensive ($30-$39) and I am very disappointed in this unplanned expense. Great watch but lousy and overpriced watchband.

While I'm very pleased with the look and feel of this watch, I'm sure that I'm eventually going to have to send it in for repair. I haven't because I'd have to ship it to New Jersey -- surprisingly, there are no authorized repair facilities here in Southern California.
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br /On two separate occasions I've experienced problems with this watch. First, a couple of months ago, the watch inexplicably started to run fast -- and I mean fast -- to the tune of 5+ minutes per hour! After resetting it a few times over the next few hours, and a couple of solid taps to it with my finger, it kept accurate time again. Then this morning, I noticed the watch stopped at 1AM. This is unusual, as I wear the watch at all times except to bed -- it shouldn't have wound down. I reset the time, but noticed that the watch stopped again. After repeating this process a few times, the watch finally kept running accurately.
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br /Bottom line, no matter how good a watch looks, it's worthless if it isn't reliable.
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br /Even if this watch were 100% reliable, its shortcoming is that you must wear this watch continuously to keep it from winding down. I've had this watch stop after having not worn it for just two days!
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br /If I have to buy another, I'll consider the Citizen Eco-Drive instead.

Nice watch, keeps good time if you keep it wound up. At rest after 8-10 hours it stops. A watch winder would be a good idea if you don't wear it every day.

The band was described as "long" by Seiko. Not so, I have a 9"+ left wrist and the band barely fit. I've had to order an extra long leather band to be comfortable.

i just got mine today. it's fast by 15 seconds PER minute. that's 15 minutes an hour, six HOURS PER DAY. it's going back tomorrow. i've never had such a horrible watch in my life and i own plenty: from a $100 invicta (the most accurate watch i own) to hamiltons to a $4000 chronograph. this is my first and LAST seiko. sounds like i got a bad one, an exception, but if this is seiko's version of "quality control", i'm not interested in another "seiko experiment"...how does ANYONE let a watch that's off by SIX HOURS A DAY get out of the factory??? update: i went inside and adjusted the regulator to slow it down as much as possible. now, it's fast by "only" 8 minutes per hour. such the improvement! great stuff! made in malaysia! back to the swiss for me...

This watch arrived after about 60 days, owing to the fact that I live/ work in Afghanistan, as an aid worker. No fault of ewatches here - they delivered fine to my colleague in the US.
br /I was very disappointed to see this watch is made in Malaysia - this is clear in the reviews, but not on Amazons site, which I think is deceptive. But for the low price, I guess it is not surprising and I would accept this better if the watch worked. It doesnt. Despite being worn for 14+ hours every day, it stops every night after about 2- 3 hours of coming off my wrist. Predictably, regular as clockwork, it stops around 0100 -0200 hours. This morning was no exception. I have of course tried manually winding it via shaking, for 2-3 minutes - no change. I never had this issue with my old Seiko (which was stolen here).
br /I have emailed ewatches 4 times and NO response. Nothing. So - great if it all goes well, I guess, but the test of a good company is how they respond when things go wrong, and in this case ewatches gets ZERO.
br /Luckily there is a warranty so I will be dealing with this in Bangkok next week - lucky for me I have a work trip there. Otherwise dealing with this from AFghanistan is a nightmare.
br /Very disappointd.

It is nice looking watch. I was planning to buy this for sometime. To keep this watch working, you have to wear this watch 8 to 12hrs every day. Nice strong rubber band.
But watch is not as tough as it looks, At work during changing my clothes I hit my watch with locker. Now I have dent on bezel ring. I was kind of disappointed with construction material of watch. But overall I like this watch.
I think it is good buy.

First of all its a great looking watch...but you should know it was made in Malaysia with Malaysia movement. The wrist band was made in China. Calibre #7S26-0028 engrave in the back. Is it me or do all SKX173 made in Malaysia??

This watch runs quite fast, and must constantly be adusted (which is not easy as you think). Also, the self-winding mechanism does not perform well, leading to even more adjustments. Unless you wear this watch for several hours a day, every day, it will wind down. It has essentially no reserve power, and you cannot manually wind it. I expected much more from Seiko.

Its mechanical watch. I had to worry weather the time is correct or not.
br /And the band is harder than expected.
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I ordered this watch in September for my husband's birthday (mid-October). I was pleased that it arrived on time. However, two problems make me unlikely to do business with Watchzone again in the future: (1) it doesn't mention on the product description that the days of the week are presented in both English and Spanish (which they should disclose to be informative), and (2) since my husband received another dive watch for his birthday, I attempted to return this one. Because it was 5 days past the 30 day return policy, Watchzone denied my request for a return. I spoke to several customer "service" (NOT) representatives and the "manager" (doubt it) to no avail. I appreciate the need for policies, but when it over-rides reasonable customer service, that company loses my confidence and my business. I will not purchase from this supplier in the future.

br / I know these watches since the 80s and i know them well'THEY ARE NOT ACCURATE'. Thats the reason i dont use them anymore.These people that compare this with atomic watches thats a joke. If you dont care abaut accuracy and you are willing to reset the time then is a nice watch.
br /All that talk abut 50 dollars to chanche batteries,a batterie is only 4 dollars and you find them everywhere,i chanched them myself.There are also solar watches,they last forever and they are very acuurate.

If you don't wear this watch for a couple of days, you will have to reset it before use. I have a watch for daily use, so this happens opten. I liked the old battery operated Seiko Dive watch I had for 17 years better.

The reviews on this watch are unbelievable. I guess there are a lot of Seiko employees. This watch keeps horrible time. I want to send it back for repair but Seiko says that + or - 20 seconds a day is normal! I have had other automatics and this is unacceptable. Mine is fast by 30 seconds a day! Do the math after a month you will be ahead 15 minutes! 10 minutes a month is apparently acceptable to Seiko. Not me, don't buy.

I have been thinking about purchasing this watch, but have several questions before I decided to buy:
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br /1. How long does the luminous hands and markers stay luminated (i.e. 1 minute, 1 hours, 5 hours, etc.?)
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br /2. One of the review in amazon said that the strap emits unpleasant odor that he has to replace it with an aftermarket band, is this true?
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br /Thanks
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Have used this watch while SCUBA diving and it performed fine in keeping the minutes underwater. The one way rotating bezel is a nice safety feature that will not allow you to subtract time from your dive if accidently bumped. It is a heavy well built watch. It feels like a quality watch on your arm. However don't plan on this being your daily wear watch. It keeps time lousy. It looses nearly 15 minutes a month if you don't reset it. This wouldn't be so bad if the watch was easy to set but you pull out the knob and there are three increments to set the time, date, and day and it is very hard to get it just right. I dreaded setting this watch. Very disappointed in this watch from such a well respected brand name.

The first watch I received did not work at all; the second watch runs fast, I really thought Seiko made a better product. Maybe it really isn't a Seiko!

I ordered this watch and it stopped working within 24 hours of arriving. I never even took it out of the box. I am returning it. Very unhappy with this purchase.

I bought this watch for my husband, and he's been happy with everything about it except for the fact that it will stop running if you don't wear it often enough. Since he switches watches, he sometimes doesn't wear it for a few days and has to re-set it. Had I known this, I probably would've bought a model that you don't have to wear to keep running, but other than that, it's well built and he seems to like the face size, band, etc. If you will only be wearing this watch, you should be fine.