The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver

7s26-0020-7 (WinCE)

A couple of years ago, someone proudly posted his proud acquisition on SCWF โ€“ a strange looking 7s26-0020 diverโ€™s watch that none of the forum members had ever seen. Nobody was able to identify the odd model from Seiko and a few suggested that it may be a fake Seiko watch.

I scrutinized the photos carefully and couldnโ€™t put my finger on it. Appearance-wise, it looked like the garden variety SKX173 model for North America โ€“ except that there were differences enough to suggest that it wasnโ€™t a SKX173 at all. The second hand was indisputably borrowed from the SKX007K model as the lumed dot (or some call it โ€œmeatball") was on the opposite end of the hand. It was as though this model was a โ€œFranken Seiko", i.e. cobbled out of parts from different Seiko models.

Forum members nevertheless congratulated the owner for his strange find. This watch was never seen again on the forum nor was it discussed after that. It was largely forgotten. Until recently. ๐Ÿ™‚

I still kept the photos downloaded from the post and decided to take another look at them. What model was this watch, exactly? It wasnโ€™t even referenced in Kevin Chanโ€™s Seiko Diverโ€™s Reference โ€“ the well known, de facto Seiko diver photo repository.

There was something strangely familiar about the design of the watch dial โ€“ itโ€™s like Iโ€™ve seen it before, but where?

Where does this watch fit in?

Before we delve further into the subject matter, we need to make direct comparisons this mystery watch with what we already know โ€“ the SKX173 and the very commonly found SKX007K.

7s26-0020-7 (Medium) 3651

Top: The mysterious 7s26-0020 vs another well-known 7s26-0020, the SKX007K.

ย 

As we can see, the only the only similarities between the two are the black rotating bezel insert and the hands. The dial on the watch on the left has square hour markers while the SKX007Kโ€™s have round and ellipsoid index markers. The 12 oโ€™clock index shapes are also vastly different.

At the surface, our mystery guest seems to be an SKX173 diver gone wrong! ๐Ÿ™‚ Did someone at the factory inadvertently switch the wrong parts for this oddball piece?

OK, now letโ€™s take a look at the same watch versus the North American model.

ย 

7s26-0020-7 (Medium) seiko_skx173_04b

Top: Compared with the 7s26-0028/9, the SKX173 for the North American market. Nope, doesnโ€™t match 100%.

ย 

Now the arcane looking Seiko diver draws more parallelisms with the SKX173. You can see that the hour markers are rectangular and the addition of the lumed marker at the 3 oโ€™clock position. In fact, it would be a dead ringer for the SKX173 if it werenโ€™t for the:

  • Different styled second hand (lumed dot on the opposite end of the hand)
  • Shorter and wider V-shaped 12 oโ€™clock marker
  • Framed index markers (hardly noticeable in the picture)

As you can see, the cryptic watch appears to be a combination of the SKX173 and the SKX007K. I would have believed that, except for one thing. The dial is very unlike the SKX173 despite both designs having rectangular markers. I figured out that it had to be some short-lived model that not many people knew about.

ย 

The mystery was solved at last!

I remembered that there was one particular SKX diver that was considered rare as henโ€™s teeth and only a handful of photos were available. It was the SKX401K with the Pepsi-colored rotating bezel. It struck me that the V-shaped 12 oโ€™clock marker looked very close to the SKX401Kโ€™s, so I decided to compare this watch with it.

ย 

7s26-0020-7 (Medium) skx401k (Medium)

Top: Our guest watch next to the very-hard-to-find, SKX401K. Bingo! Perfect match! ๐Ÿ™‚

ย 

As you can see, except for the bezel insert color, all aspects of both watches are similar. The dial of the mystery watch matches the SKX401Kโ€™s to a tee. Likewise, the hands are also of the same design with each other.

Here are more pics of the rare SKX401K. Itโ€™s so rare that if you were to put up one for sale in the watch sales forums, I guarantee that your watch would be booked by eager buyers within minutes! ๐Ÿ˜‰ In fact, one regular SCWF forum member used to persistently put up a WTB (Want-To-Buy) ad in the trade forum for the SKX401K for months. I donโ€™t know whether he finally got one though.

ย 

chris_moy_skx401k_1 seiko_skx_401k_03

Top: Two breathtaking shots of the SKX401K. Pics courtesy of Chris Moy.

Since the unknown watch was very much related to the SKX401K, it had to be a model thatโ€™s numerically close to the SKX401K. I looked for some reference numbers in the Seiko database and I finally nailed it. The mystery watch was the rarely heard-of SKX399K.

More photos of the rare SKX399K

Letโ€™s take at some pics of the SKX399K as submitted by the owner (sorry, I cannot remember his name). From a distance, it sure looks like the North American model, SKX173 diver. But itโ€™s not. Dimensions-wise, it is similar to the ubiquitous SKX007K or J model, nothing more and nothing less.

ย 

7s26-0020-1 7s26-0020-6

7s26-0020-5 7s26-0020-13a

Above: Additional photos of the SKX399K. This watch was a March 2004 production.

ย 

Incidentally, the SKX399K has a dark grey-black dial with a dial part number of 1614XB13 while the SKX401Kโ€™s deep navy blue dial has a different part number โ€“ 1614XL13.

Where were the SKX399K and SKX401K models marketed?

This is the tough part to crack. I canโ€™t pinpoint which countries these two models were sold back then. But I can tell you that these watches were definitely not for:

  • The Japan domestic market. JDM models always have a 4-letter prefix with no โ€œK" or โ€œJ" as the suffix.
  • The North American market. If they were, the dials and caseback should show the country of origin as per US FCC regulations. Also, North American SKX divers have the caseback designation 7s26-0028 or 7s26-0029, not 7s26-0020.
  • The Middle East market (like the SKX007J/011J). These watches are designated as โ€œK" models and donโ€™t have โ€œMade in Japan" printed on the dials. I doubt these were exported to the Arab speaking countries.

I think the SKX399K and SKX401Ks were probably sold in Southeast Asia (not all countries). It could have been for the Hong Kong, Taiwan or the Thailand market. Definitely not for Malaysia or Singapore โ€“ otherwise I would have seen them locally and the Singapore based eBay sellers would have auctioned them by the truckloads. ๐Ÿ˜‰

7s26-0020-12

A close up pic of the SKX399K with the warranty card. Photo by the watch owner.

ย 

As we can see from the picture above, the standard 1-year warranty card and silver hang tag is typical for Seiko watches sold in SE Asia. The owner was a very lucky chap to own a totally new old stock (NOS) piece, given the fact that the SKX401K and SKX399K were rare birds. He purchased it more than two years since it was made, by the way. ๐Ÿ™‚

Itโ€™s unclear why the seller marked the caseback as โ€œ7s26-0020w" because no such caseback number exists according to Seikoโ€™s caseback naming convention. It could have been an error made by the seller. This watch is definitely a 7s26-0020 and no doubt about it.

ย 

ย 

Latest photo gallery of the SKX399K

A big round of thanks goes to my good friend James Tan from Singapore, who happens to be another proud owner of this uber rare Seiko diver. He took the trouble to submit fresh photos of this this lovely watch just for Quartzimodoโ€™s Time Journal!

According to him, he purchased this watch from someone in the Philippines. Without additional supporting data, itโ€™s too premature to deduce that the SKX399K (and the Pepsi-bezel SKX401K) were confined to the Philippines market.

Thanks, James! ๐Ÿ™‚

ย 

SANY1732c (Medium) SANY1744c (Medium)

Above: Jamesโ€™ watch comes with the factory fitted Z22 polyurethane strap. The blue protective sticker is still intact, suggesting that he very seldom wears this watch or doesnโ€™t wear it at all.

ย 

SANY1735c (Medium)

Above: A direct, side-by-side comparison with the Japan-made, SKX009J (left). You can see how the framed rectangular index markers makes it appear slightly dressier than the SKX009.

ย 

ย 

SANY1746c (Medium) SANY1750c (Medium)

SANY1748c (Medium) SANY1747c (Medium)

Above: Jamesโ€™ trademark โ€œwok" (Asian deep frying pan) shots lend a very unique background to these stellar quality photo shots. Note how the index markers glow like in the lume photo on the top right.

ย 

ย 

ย 

Why were these models unheard of before?

The answer to that question is simple. They were simply not produced in enough quantities to go around. However, itโ€™s unclear as to why Seiko made very few pieces of the SKX399K and SKX401K. Perhaps Seiko was trying them out to see how they fared against the extremely popular SKX007/SKX009K.

Or, it was specially made for a specific Southeast Asian market for a very limited period of time. Not much is known about these two very hard-to-find 7s26-0020 divers.

Suffice to say, both the SKX399K and SKX401K are rare as henโ€™s teeth. I have no idea when they first appeared in the market, but Iโ€™ve seen photos of the SKX401K as early as 2004.

So if you ever see one of these for sale โ€“ grab it while you still can. I know I would! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.

Comments

Hi Quartzimodo,

What would be a reasonable price for these hard to find models? How much more than a usual SEIKO divers MSRP price would be acceptable increase 10%, 20% more? Just in case I find one online or in shops.

Thanks & Regards.

Hi Kenth,

These models may be no longer in production and they were never sold by Seiko as special โ€œlimited editionโ€ watches. Therefore in my opinion they should cost about the same as the regular SKX007K model. Only the dial sets it apart from the SKX007K because all other components appear to be identical. Your biggest challenge is not about the price but actually locating one. ๐Ÿ™

However, if a seasoned collector is willing to selling one from his collection, expect a premium of 40% or more over its original price paid, given the super rare status of the SKX399K/401K. A cheaper alternative is to buy the replacement dial from a Seiko service center (if they allow you to buy this dial) and to swap it with the one from an SKX007K.

Update: It seems that this model was sold in the Philippines (thanks to Gerrylb who lives there).

Hope this helps. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

Hi Quartzimodo,

Thanks, this is a big help, at least I know if Iโ€™m getting ripped off or not.

Will let you know if I come across some.

Thanks & Regards,
Kenth

Great post, nice work. I have an skx173 and love it. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Thanks for your comments, Chris! ๐Ÿ™‚

I could choose either the SKX173 or the eye-catching yellow dial, SKXA35, so I went for the latter. Iโ€™ve too many black dialed divers as it is.

Quartzimodo Admin.

i12.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/e6/ac/6e0f_1.JPG

Hi there,

I have the opportunity to buy this watch from a local seller here in the Philippines. Does it look legit to you? Thanks for any info!

Gerry

Hi Gerry,

Yes, it looks authentic to me. Seems like that the rare SKX399K/401K were made for the Philippines market (this is the third time Iโ€™ve heard this model is available in the Philippines) for some reason. How much do these watches cost over there?

thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

If the deal pushes through, itโ€™ll cost the equivalent of around US$85 pre-owned. Seller says he got it for US$180 brand new a couple of years ago. Looks to be in pretty good shape. Hope I can close the deal. Thanks so much for the advice!

Gerry

That sounds like a real bargain to me for a rare 7s26-0020 diver (rare for the rest of us living outside the Philippines, that is).

Good luck with the purchase! ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

Nabbed the watch this morning! Whatโ€™s more, I found the same model NOS at a small watch store in downtown Manila. If it had been the 401k Iโ€™d have grabbed it. Thanks for your advice Quartzimodo, if youโ€™re ever in the Philippines drop me an email.

Gerry

Wow, that was fast! ๐Ÿ™‚

Good for you, Gerry! Now Iโ€™m more convinced that itโ€™s a model specific to the Philippines market and I have no idea why Seiko chose the SKX399K/401K for the Filipino market.

Salamat po for your generous offer, Iโ€™ll take it up when I visit Manila someday! ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo.

I posted a few pics in Watchuseek forum. I posted a link to your site in the thread last week. Hope you donโ€™t mind.
forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=1641946#post1641946

Hi Gerry,

No problem. Isthmus is a friend of mine and I know heโ€™s a mod at WUS. I can always track referrer links to my blog and Iโ€™ve already seen your post, lol. ๐Ÿ™‚ . All the images in my blog are public domain (including my own watch images), except for the content (text) โ€“ which is of my own work.

Thanks for posting the link to my article, appreciate it. ๐Ÿ™‚ Now โ€“ look for the hard-to-find SKX401K diligentlyโ€ฆ after all, perseverance pays off!

Quartzimodo Admin.

Looking to purchase the following watch off the bay & am a little confused as to what it is.

Seller says the numbers are 7S26-0028.

Pictures:
i24.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/2f/22/d01c_1.JPG
i2.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/2f/22/d256_1.JPG

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Hi Tucker,

The watch in question is an SKX173 diver (not SKX173K), specially made for the U.S and Canada market. It should not to be confused with the SKX399, which is a different design although both look very much alike. โ€œ7s26-0028โ€ means the movement is a recent 7s26B caliber from Malaysia and then the watch was assembled in China.

Itโ€™s a genuine Seiko watch from the photos, no worries. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

Thanks for your great BLOG REVIEW. I was lucky enough to see one BRAND NEW at my LOCAL AD display window and Iโ€™ll be going back tomorrow to pull the trigger. I just wanted to visit your blog one more time to see if I did have the correct model in my sights(yup, everything checks out). I snuck a picture with my phone cam while I was there- Iโ€™ll take more pics when I bring her home.

img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00020vc7.jpg

Oh yeah, I am from the Philippines as well. I guess we can definitely say that the Philippines was one of the (if not THE) target countries for this limited run.

Hi Stanley,

Thanks for your inputs. Iโ€™m now convinced that the SKX399K/401K were specially made for the Philippines market. At this point in time itโ€™s uncertain why only the Philippines is lucky enough to get these rare models. Kevin Chanโ€™s diverโ€™s reference site made no mention of the market it was for and for a long time not much is known about this diver.

How many PhP or US Dollars do one of these watches fetch over there?

Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

Its currently on sale for PhP 6,339.00. I believe the original price was somewhere in the 10k region. I wasnโ€™t able to return to the mall today, but iโ€™ll definitely go there tomorrow. Will send you more pics and details as soon as I land this baby.

Good for you, Stanley! ๐Ÿ™‚

Looking at pics of your watch, I think it could be a Dec 2007 production. The rubber strap, bezel and the case shows no signs of aging. If it were truly NOS, the blue stickerโ€™s adhesive on the caseback would have glued itself. Warranty card and ownerโ€™s manual have not yellowed due to age either. The only way you can determine this for sure is to open the caseback and look at the rotor. If it says 7s26B on the rotor, then itโ€™s a Dec 2007 production without doubt.

That said, I have not seen examples of 1997-made SKX399Ks. Congrats and wear this beauty in good health! ๐Ÿ™‚

cheers,

Quartzimodo Admin.

I still donโ€™t have a case back opener(its on itโ€™s way) so until I visit the AD again, I guess its safe to assume that 2007 would be this watchโ€™s production year.

By the way, would it be possible to guess-timate this models total production run if we use the known serial numbers of this watch model as an indicator?

If not the total production run numbers, we can at least figure out the time period that this particular model was produced.

Unfortunately, there isnโ€™t sufficient data in the form of caseback photos and/or owner testimonials to determine a rough period when the SKX399K/401Ks were produced, Stanley. ๐Ÿ™

Are these models easy to find in Davao or Manila and are SKX007K/009Ks also sold alongside the SKX399Ks in your country? Your watch simply looks too new to have been in the shop for 12 years. The caliber variant of your watch will however, determine if your watch was made back in 1997 or 2007. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Quartzimodo Admin.

Theyโ€™re not that easy to find over here in Davao or even in Manila, but if you look hard enough- you can get lucky.

Iโ€™ve scouted a couple more units in smaller shops and I can probably see their serial numbers if I get around to visiting them again. We can ask Gerry in Manila to do the same if he can. Plus you can also ask your other readers to do the same if the care to help out.

Yes, the other divers such as the SKX007/009Ks are also sold alongside the SKX399ks in local shops. We havenโ€™t seen the 401K yet though. As a matter of fact, pepsi bezels in general are outnumbered here. Seems like most Filipinos prefer their divers straight black.

Many thanks for your feedback, Stanley. ๐Ÿ™‚

I guess that pretty much explains it all โ€“ the SKX399K/401K for some unknown reason, was made specially for the Philippines market. Thatโ€™s too bad considering that Seiko could have extended these models to the rest of the ASEAN countries. Personally, Iโ€™m not an SKX009K fan, but if Iโ€™m looking for a Pepsi bezeled 7s26-0020 diver, it would definitely be the SKX401K. ๐Ÿ˜‰

cheers,

Quartzimodo Admin

Hi:

Was very interesting as I think I have a Seiko Divers Watch โ€ฆ but now Iโ€™m not sure if it is a fake or not. It looks exactly the same as the SKX009J but with an orange face and a black surround of the SKX009. Iโ€™ve been using it for diving for about 5 years now. Could it be a fake? .. as it was a present to a freind who did not dive so I bought it off him new.

Hi Graham,

I think your watch may be an SKX009K with its dial modified to the orange one from the SKX011J. Which explains why the chapter ring is black (for the SKX009 itโ€™s actually very dark navy blue, not black) and I should think your watch hands are silver while the bezel insert is a blue/red combo (often referred to as โ€œPepsiโ€).

Itโ€™s kind of ironic, but most guys who collect and/or modify diverโ€™s watches are not divers (like me) while diving enthusiasts and pros donโ€™t really wear diverโ€™s watches but rather, dive computers. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Should you need any help in verifying your watchโ€™s authenticity, please contact me via the Contact Form and Iโ€™l be glad to oblige.

cheers,

Quartzimodo

I Caught one of these while riding the Mega bus from Montreal to Toronto, exact model 7s26-0020. Though i donโ€™t think the guy was Canadian. He had a European accent. It proves me right per your research.

Hi Tanowitz,

Are you sure you hadnโ€™t mistaken the SKX399K for the North American model, SKX173? They both look very much alike. ๐Ÿ˜‰

I will search for this watchโ€ฆif i find one i will post some pics hereโ€ฆim a watch collector myselfโ€ฆdid you know that your the one who make me interested on buying divers watch?haha..currently i bought 2 used but good conditon 7s26-0020 orange dial and a black 7002-7000โ€ฆi have also a titanium seiko watchโ€ฆI hope I can find this kind of watch tooโ€ฆ.

Kumusta Xtian,

LOL, some people have said that I have been a bad influence on them that they actually searched for and bought the watches I happen to have. ๐Ÿ™‚ Since you live in the Philippines it shouldnโ€™t be that hard for you to find the SKX399K or SKX401K somewhere in Manila. Happy watch hunting!

Salamat po for your comments!
Quartzimodo

Hello, I would like to buy this watch the seiko skx399k, could someone buy it for me and ship it, thank you in advance.

I live in France.

Hi guys and Quartzimodo admin.

I live in Manila, Philippines!

I recently purchased a Seiko divers much like the one featured above. Written on the back was 7s26 0030 scuba. It also had the same written on the dial at the south part (nearest to arm 6) and it says 7s26 0003R. Itโ€™s a nice looking watch and so I took it coz it only pegged at $51 used but in great condish.

The markers though, were rounded, as opposed to the example above as rectangular, and thatโ€™s the only difference I can see with what Iโ€™ve got against the 7s26-0020, since I have the 7s26-0030. And these came with the original rubber strap.

Can anybody tell me more about this watch if you have any info about it? Itโ€™s a nice watch to supplement my monster, and I plan to buy more for my little Seiko collection =)

Many thanks!

Hi Yebadudi,

You have a rare Seiko 7s26-0030 diver if your watch is the orange faced SKX017K and to a lesser degree, the Pepsi bezel, SKX015K. Most 7s26-0030 divers that Iโ€™ve seen for sale are the common black dialed, SKX013K. These are mid-sized divers suitable for boys or women. Most Seiko diverโ€™s watch collectors, myself included, prefer the full sized 7s26-0020 models though.

Apart from the differently styled hands, the 7s26-0030 watches have bezel markings with the 10 minute mark with a hooked โ€œ10โ€ instead of the โ€œstraight-tenโ€ number. The black SKX013K comes in either 20mm Jubilee bracelet or rubber strap, while the rarer orange dialed SKX017K is issued with the Z-20 Z-22 rubber strap.

hope this helps,
Quartzimodo

Thanks for that Quartzimodo!

What I have is not orange, and not a pepsi bezel. And itโ€™s the same size as my Orange Baby monster, so maybe this is a mid sized one.

And you are spot on with the โ€œ10โ€ on the bezel which is hooked rather than straight on the 1. And I checked the rubber strap it says Z-22.

I appreciate the infos mate! Looks like I got a keeper here. Iโ€™m not much of a fan of the rubber straps so I think Iโ€™ll look for a jubilee or a nATo strap for this to suit my taste.

More power guys!

Hi Yebadudi,

OK, then you own the more common SKX013K then. The SKX015K and 017K are rarer versions. Yes, it is a mid-sized diver. I erred on the lug width as I had really forgotten about the 7s26-0030 divers and there arenโ€™t many left in the stores, depending on where you live. You may want to check with William Jeanโ€™s eBay store in case you prefer the solid linked Oyster II bracelets instead of Seikoโ€™s lower speccโ€™ed Jubilee.

Quartzimodo

Hi could this watch be the SKX399K (7626-0020),I recently got one and slapped a NATO strap to give it a MACHO look

i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/toxicpapa/IMG_6952.jpg

i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/toxicpapa/IMG_6987.jpg

i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/toxicpapa/IMG_6973.jpg

Hi Jake,

Yes, it seems that you have the SKX399K. Everything about your watch checks out OK. Congratulations, wear it in good health. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Quartzimodo

Thanks Quarztimodo , your information regarding the SKX399K inspired me to hunt one down.

Hi, Quartzimodo.

I read in philippinewatchclub.org that the 399 is still available in SM North Edsa, Prestige store, here in Manila, Philippines. Itโ€™s very far from where I currently live. If get the chance to travel here, you know where to start.

Hi Ryan,

I always feel that if you like a particular watch that much, buy it before Seiko stops making it or someone else gets to it first. Havenโ€™t been to the Philippines but will hunt for the Pepsi-bezeled SKX401K if I ever visit Manila. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo.

Very informative history for the SKX399K model. Made me looked around here in the Philippines. Luckily, I found one today in one of the local malls in cubao area, NOS but no more box.

More power sir!

Hi Lito SEG,

Thanks for the comments. The watch is worth more than the box itself, unless youโ€™re talking about limited or Historical Edition Seiko watches. Collectors are willing to pay more if the special box that accompanies the equally special watch, but the SKX399K is one of the mass produced Seiko divers therefore not getting the box is not a big deal to me. All the non-Japan market Seikos I bought on eBay came without boxes anyway.

Quartzimodo

@ryan you can easily buy original Seiko White boxes from some of the other ADs for about 100pesos each.

Great article!
The watch researched is my daily wear and mine is numbered as 7S26-0020.

Hi Peter,

Actually โ€œ7s26-0020โ€ also refers to other models like the SKX007K,SKX009K and SKX011J divers. Itโ€™s a generic caseback code that refers to several Seiko divers, including the SKX399K and SKX401K as well. Good to know that you happen to own the SKX399K. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo

I have a Seiko SKX399K (7S26-0020) which I bought in Bacolod City, Philippines in December 2009 at Shoemart Dept.Store . I am a Filipino living in the US. I went on vacation to my hometown in the Philippines and decided to get a Seiko Divers Watch. I always wondered where this watch was made and what the model number really was. I finally decided to hunt down the model number today, typed in โ€œSEIKO 7S26 0020โ€ (this number appears on the back of the watch)in Google and landed on this website. I am going to take photos of my divers watch, including case and warranty card and share it with this website. The serial number of my watch is 800655. Not sure when this was made.

Hi Paul,

Nobody knows for sure when the SKX399K first debuted in the Philippines market, but photos of the harder-to-find, SKX401K (with the Pepsi bezel insert) have been around earlier than 2003. All I can say is that if your watch looks and smells brand new, itโ€™s likely from Oct 2008. If youโ€™re able to open up the caseback and you see โ€œ7s26Bโ€ inscribed on the oscillating weight, instead of โ€œ7s26Aโ€ it confirms that your watch is from 2008 (instead of 1998).

Quartzimodo

[โ€ฆ] Seiko SKX399 Diver โ€“ RARE For sale is a rare Seiko SKX399 diver watch. here's a review The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver Bought January 2011. With card and papers. no box. Comes with original seiko president. Condition [โ€ฆ]

Great write-up, Quartzimodo.

Iโ€™ve only recently just bought a โ€˜399 myself and wasnโ€™t sure of its origin until I read this article. Safe to say, I snapped it up as soon as I found out what it actually was! They seem to be incredibly rare here over in the UK.

Iโ€™ve written a very basic review of said watch here:

www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=173034&p=1757717#p1757717

Again, great article and very informative!

,Iwan

Hi Iwan,

Nice and sweet review you did about the SKX399K. This model is indigenous to the Philippines market for some odd reason. Itโ€™s not even available in other countries in SE Asia. Itโ€™s probably like the Yellow, Blue and Red Monster divers, which were exclusive to Thailand.

I would however, prefer the Pepsi bezeled, SKX401K. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo

[โ€ฆ] SKX399 โ€“ Rare I'm looking to sell my Seiko SKX399, which is apparently rare, as reviewed here. The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver The watch was original purchased in January 2011 by the previous owner, comes with card and [โ€ฆ]

[โ€ฆ] with full kit etc. Here's a link explaining about the watch as many don't know of its existence. The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver I put it on an oyster and never wore it so the rubber is mint too. OYSTER NOT INCLUDED. I tag and [โ€ฆ]

I have a watch that looks identical to the SKX009J. THe only difference from the one in the photo is mine is a quartz movement instead of automatic. I bought it on base in Japan in 1980. Donโ€™t have the book for it. Is it an SKX009J or some other model?

I also have another that I bought at Costco several years ago. The book says itโ€™s a Cal. 7S26 but it has a face like the 9J. any Ideas on what model it actually might be?

Hi Don,

Seiko made a few quartz divers that resembled the SKX009J (or K) from the late 80s onwards. I think you had the Seiko 7548-700F, which is the closest looking model. Itโ€™s been discontinued a long time ago.

The reference letters โ€œSKXโ€ refers exclusively to the 7s26 automatic caliber and never any other type of movements. Your watch that was purchased at Costco is likely to be the SKX009K if comes with a deep blue dial and a โ€œPepsiโ€ red/blue bezel insert. The SKX009K is a good and robust watch and is one of Seikoโ€™s best selling diverโ€™s models since 1996, when it first was introduced.

hope this helps,
Quartzimodo

Hi Quartzimodo,

I brought SKX007K last march 2010, and i have a problem a few months ago about it because the rotating hand clock per second are to fast, i would like to ask you if there are discrepancy or it is normal?

Hi Renz,

All 7s-caliber based Seiko watches are set to run fast at the factory to err on the well, fast side of timekeeping. I guess the manufacturer feels that itโ€™s better for the wearer to show up early for an appointment than late. Furthermore, owners new to automatic watches are quick to associate a slow running watch as โ€œdefectiveโ€. If you vigorously shake your watch too frequently, doing so will also cause it to gain time.

The factory specifications for the 7s26 caliber movement used in your SKX007K is no more than +40secs per day. If you notice that your watch is consistently running too fast, youโ€™ll need to have it regulated โ€“ preferably by an experienced watch repairman. Sometimes it takes several attempts to regulate your watch for optimal accuracy. You might want to have it regulated first and monitor its accuracy for a week. If it runs too slow, it needs to be regulated again as necessary until you get something like plus or minus five seconds a day. Try to strike up an understanding with your watch repairman to have your watch monitored over three weeks to allow the regulated escapement mechanism to be fine tuned. Any experienced watchmaker should know that mechanical watches cannot be regulated to perfection on the first try.

Itโ€™s like bringing a guitar to a guitar repair technician to adjust its action and intonation. He will usually note how hard you strum and bend the strings, adjust your guitar and tell you to come back in a week to allow the adjustments to settle in; and fine tune it further until youโ€™re happy. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

Quartzimodo Admin,

What color faces did the Seiko automatic diverโ€™s watch come in? I have seen the black, blue, yellow, and orange. However, I recently saw a purple and a green for sale. Are these fakes or the real thing?

Thank you.

Hi Watch Fan,

If youโ€™re referring to the 7s26-0020 family of divers, they come only in the colors that youโ€™ve listed above.

Those with green, purple or even red dials are usually used, vintage Seiko divers with aftermarket dials, which are not manufactured by Seiko. Most of the funny colored dial watches are 6309-729x and 7002 series divers. This is because their original dials had deteriorated so badly that nobody would want to buy them. .

Since stocks of genuine replacement dials have long dried up and are no longer available, enterprising sellers (particularly on eBay) fit them with non-Seiko dials. While purists would readily scoff at such aftermarket dial watches, some people donโ€™t mind buying a green or purple dialed Seiko diver. ๐Ÿ™‚

Hope this answers your question!
Quartzimodo

@Quartzimodo Admin โ€“
Quartzimodo,

Thanks for the information. At this point, I can avoid the after-market editions and stay four true colors!

Hi, French Seiko forums donโ€™t known infos about these rare seikoโ€™sโ€ฆso thanks to make this revue and post pics โ€ฆ
my skx399 i buy in 2009 in mascate (oman) is a 1997 year model with arabic/english calendar. mint, all original; i changed just the z22 rubber for a black luminox nato strap

Hi lum,

Youโ€™re indeed fortunate to locate the SKX399K in Muscat. I didnโ€™t think this model was actually sold to the Middle East countries. AFAIK, itโ€™s exclusive to the Philippines market, just like the limited edition, Yellow, Blue and Red Monsters were to the Thailand market! ๐Ÿ™‚

enjoy the watch in good health!
Quartzimodo

I have a 7S26-0029 Black Dial Automatic, my google research shows the 21 jewel movement is a Miyota movement. It is 200mm. Made in the Philippines. Iโ€™m wondering how rare it is. Have worn it one week and it gained 1 minute. Can you offer feedback?

Hi sda,

Iโ€™ve never heard of ANY Seiko watch that uses a Miyota movement, which is a company owned by Citizen Japan. Seiko and Citizen are competitors and it does not make sense to find a Miyota-made movement in a Seiko watch. The movement may be made in the Philippines, but I havenโ€™t heard of a Seiko factory in the Philippines.

Your diverโ€™s watch is not an original Seiko one, but more likely a Franken-Seiko (made up from different parts not original to the watch).

best regards,
Quartzimodo

I own this illusive watch (7s26-0020L) it has AO in a square box right next to it. It does not have the same band as the originally pictured. I purchase this watch from a Japanese seller whom indicated to me that it was strictly a Japanese only model, extremely well made. it indicated โ€˜made in Japanโ€™ on the face, any input? Thanksโ€ฆDave

Scratch that, mine is similar to the one one on the right, can anyone tell me about my particular model, appreciatedโ€ฆDave

Hi David,

Your seller was probably misinformed. The SKX007J is not a Japanese market model, but one thatโ€™s exported to special markets such as the Middle East, Arab nations and Singapore. Because the SKX007J was never meant for sale in Japan, some watch dealers in Japan actually import the SKX007J back into their country to cater for a niche, collector demand.

You can learn about your watch in this article which I published years ago. ๐Ÿ™‚

cheers,
Quartzimodo

[โ€ฆ] this one at 94%. Also comes on a Seiko Z22 rubber strap. You can read more about this timepiece at: The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver Price $225 PayPal and Delivered USPS Priority. Please email me at [email protected]. 3. [โ€ฆ]

Hi all,

The SKX399 appears to be currently available โ€“ a member of our watch board who lives there has been the middleman for four purchases in December and January โ€“ I just got mine from him on Friday โ€“ brand-new with currently dated warranty card, box, manual, hang tag. Are the 399s still considered rare? I know the 401s are never seen โ€“ even my middleman in the Philippines canโ€™t find one of those.

thanks

Hi Spencer,

The SKX399K/401K are considered region or country-specific Seiko divers. Itโ€™s native to the Philippines for reasons best known to Seiko (perhaps due to local demand), just as the Red, Blue and Yellow Monsters were exclusive to the Thailand market. Occasionally Seiko Japan gives a free reign to regional Seiko distributors to produce local versions of Seiko watches.

Do you see the letters โ€œWPโ€ or โ€œKGโ€ on the caseback? If you do, itโ€™s most probably from 2011 and not 2001.

cheers,
Quartzimodo

OH, and the serial number dates this watch to February 2011 โ€“ I canโ€™t believe that it might be from February 2001 โ€“ it was just sold brand-new by a retail outlet in Quezon City just a few weeks ago.

Love the dial markers. I wish they offered this watch in the states.

Quartzimodo,

how could one know if a 401 was original, and not a 399 with a pepsi bezel?

Hi Thang,

The SKX401K has a deep, navy blue dial while the SKX399K is fitted with a very dark charcoal grey dial. Itโ€™s just like the SKX009K vs the SKX007K.

Quartzimodo

Yes, โ€œWPโ€ in front of โ€œstainless steelโ€ on the caseback. What does that signify? The guy who got these for us says that when he finds a store that has these theyโ€™re never on display โ€“ theyโ€™re in a back room. The sellers say theyโ€™re an โ€œold modelโ€. I wish I knew for sure but it seems that theyโ€™re recently discontinued.

Hi Spencer,

I suspect the watch dealers have gotten wise to the SKX399Kโ€™s rarity and theyโ€™re hoarding them, hoping to drive their prices higher as demand increases and supplies dwindle.

The โ€œWPโ€ letters seem to have appeared on 7s26-0020 watches produced in the last two years. Its real meaning is not known outside the Seiko employee circles in the know. It could signify a production plant location, the stainless steel grade, etc.

cheers,
Quartzimodo

do we know what the skx399/401 came on originally, rubber strap, oyster, or jubilee?

Hi Thang,

While the illustrative photos in my post show that of a Jubilee-clad, SKX399K you can also see the ones owned by my friend with the wave vent, Z-22 rubber strap. Itโ€™s quite possible that the SKX399Kโ€™s strap variations follow that of the SKX007K, where there was once an Oyster bracelet version but are now available only in either rubber or Jubilee bracelet.

cheers,
Quartzimodo.

I have a skx007k I bought from a reputable online dealer a few months backโ€ฆ It came with the original blue box, the clear blue plastic on the caseback, and the gray seiko tag hanging on the band.. Itโ€™s my first automatic and I had heard they tend to run fastโ€ฆ I set the time and it runs perfectly gaining only about 20 secs a weekโ€ฆ Mine does say โ€œwpโ€ where most say โ€œaโ€โ€ฆ Im pretty sure this is a factory locationโ€ฆ If Iโ€™m wrong them somebody correct meโ€ฆ My serial number reflects a build date of September 2010

Hi Ed,

You have an SKX007K that was made towards the later part of 2000, possibly from 2008 onwards. Earlier ones like both my SKX007Js have โ€œJAPAN Aโ€ on the caseback. Itโ€™s plausible that โ€œWPโ€ refers to a certain factory in Hong Kong (if Seiko now has more than one production site in China). One thingโ€™s for certain is that only certain Seiko insiders know what โ€œWPโ€ actually refers to.

As to whether the โ€œJโ€ versions are actually made in Japan is an age old question. For the Saudi Arabian market, all low end Seiko watches have the โ€œJโ€ designation and โ€œMade in Japanโ€ marked on the dial and hang tags. If I recall correctly, this was a special trade arrangement between Saudi Arabia and Japan, dating back to the seventies. What I cannot remember are the details of this trade memorandum between both nations.

If you ask me, Iโ€™d say it doesnโ€™t make economical sense for Seiko Japan to produce the โ€œJโ€ versions, which to date are exported to two countries โ€“ Singapore and to Saudi Arabia. Production costs are much higher in Japan than China. For simplicityโ€™s sake, I will just accept that the โ€œJโ€ versions are made in Japan according to their labels. Even an old inquiry made by a watch enthusiast to Seiko Japan as to whether the โ€œJโ€ models are actually Japan made was replied with a very vague, โ€œThe shipping routes are slightly differentโ€. You can see that Seiko Japan sidestepped the direct question and gave an indirect answer. Itโ€™s like one of those standard, canned responses that some White House media spokespersons make to the press. ๐Ÿ˜‰

The โ€œJโ€ models will never be officially sold to the U.S. as its Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is extremely strict with their labeling regulations. That is why you will find U.S. export models like the SKX173 and SKXA35 divers being marked โ€œMovโ€™t Malaysia, Cased in Chinaโ€ on the dial. This is not something new; I have seen examples of the old 7002 diver for the U.S. market with three countries of origin on the dial. It was clearly marked โ€œMovโ€™t Singapore Dial Japan Cased Hong Kongโ€.

While itโ€™s true that many Japan market Seiko watches are priced beyond USD1,000, they are largely upscale models from the Brightz, Credor, Grand Seiko and certain Prospex ranges, not all of them cost that much. I own a few JDM Seiko models like the SBDR005 Sky Professional, SBDC001 โ€œSumoโ€, SBDA003 and SBDA005 โ€œTi Samuraiโ€ divers plus the 300m, SBBN007 โ€œTunaโ€ quartz diver. None of them cost me over USD600 each. They are ALL 100% Japan assembled and were mainly meant for local consumption in Japan.

Quartzimodo.

It is also my understanding ( per several seiko dealers, experts, watch repair ppl) that NO seikos, except the high dollar, 1,000.00 price and up are made in Japanโ€ฆ That means that everyone wearing a skx007j with โ€œmade in Japanโ€ on the dial, is wearing a watch made in china, ( in a seiko factory of course with all of seikos quality control etc).. The made in Japan is on the dial solely for reasons of marketing and sales and intended country of saleโ€ฆ They are allowed to put. โ€ made in Japan โ€ if they have a tiny small percent of something on or related to the watch that derives from japan

Good to knowโ€ฆ Another question, are the skx divers that are made in china, malaysia, etc.. Of the same quality that seiko has had for years? Are the movement peices and parts 100% made and assembled in china as well? Are the quality control standards of these non Japan factoryโ€™s the same as the Japan ones? Also, Iโ€™ve personally seen a skx007j โ€ made in Japan on the dial watch with โ€œJapan wpโ€ on the casebackโ€ฆ This might prove that those too are actually made on china as well since weโ€™ve figured out that wp is a factory in chinaโ€ฆ Please respond

Hi Ed,

Seikoโ€™s SKX divers are cased in Hong Kong, while the 7s26 and 7s36 movements are made in Malaysia since the 7s26B version came out in 2007. Prior to that the 7s26A version was formerly assembled in Singapore.

Quality wise there are no perceivable differences whether the watch is cased in China, Singapore or Japan. How many mainstream laptops and smartphones do you know that are still made outside of China or Taiwan today? Probably none.

Can anybody remember the last time IBM made their ThinkPad notebooks in the U.S. or Australia? What was the last Apple product that was American made? My last U.S. made digital gadget was the Palm m515 PDA and that was back in 2002. Thereafter the subsequent models which I bought โ€“ the Palm Tungsten T3 and TX were both China made.

In any case, I wouldnโ€™t go on record saying that the โ€œWPโ€ and โ€œKGโ€ symbols found on current SKX divers refer to a factory site. It could be codes signifying something else. Thereโ€™s no evidence to support this theory.

Itโ€™s not like the Suwa and Daini symbols used by Seiko up to the 80s, which represent the factory of assembly in Japan because the symbols were a certainty.

Quartzimodo

Seiko models have, as far as I or anyone else can tell, the same quality control at every factory. Iโ€™ve never observed better accuracy or worse with any correlation to any geographic area. The best out-of-the-box accuracy Iโ€™ve ever seen on a stock entry-level Seiko was on a 7s26 dress watch bought new off of Amazon for around $55 USD. Unreal accuracy, a few seconds off a month. Totally flat output on the timegrapher. My SKX399 which I just got is accurate to a few seconds a week, at four times the price.

Hi Spencer,

You are totally right in saying that the country of origin has no bearing on the accuracy of a 7s caliber watch. You can get a China assembled, Seiko automatic with pretty good accuracy and you can also get a Japan assembled version that runs too fast. It all boils down to sheer luck.

Where did you buy your SKX399K from? A few seconds of variance in a week is pretty impressive, I must say! ๐Ÿ™‚

cheers,
Quartzimodo

Hi, as I noted above the SKX399 came out of The Philippines in early January. The watch was new wig box / manual / tag etc, manufacture date of Feb 2011. Caseback WR marked.

As for 7s26 accuracy, over at SCWF we had an accuracy competition in january where all participants wore the same watch for a month, and reported accuracy. More than a few guys wore 7s26 models, and most were quite accurate โ€“ a few reported total monthly variances from a few seconds to up to a minute total โ€“ in a month! There was no discussion around where the watch was made. We typically will only talk about movement families now, not geographic origin. This is true even for older models now like the 6309 divers which had multiple production places.

Hi Spencer,

Thanks for the update. Itโ€™s good to know that the SKX399K is still sold in the Philippines and I guess demand for this model is still strong there. Although Iโ€™m a registered member of SCWF, I havenโ€™t participated in the forum since 2009 when it was upgraded to the new format. Good to know that SCWF has its core members with new participants too!

Iโ€™m not really bothered with accuracy as I wear different watches each day. If I were to rotate my watches and not wear the same one daily, it would take almost three months before I get back to the original watch. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo

Good to knowโ€ฆ I was about 12 years old when I walked into my local jewelry store and saw both the Pepsi bezel and black bezel divers on display right next to each otherโ€ฆ Ever since that day I wanted oneโ€ฆ I finally bought one 20 years later ( now) and am just excited about it as the day I first saw itโ€ฆ I like the fact they are REAL divers watchesโ€ฆ Thatโ€™s what I always thought was so coolโ€ฆ And what you said about the luck of the draw about the accuracy of the movement is correct.. This being my first automatic I was apprehensive after reading several threadsโ€ฆ Luckily I must have got a good one because, as hard as it is to believe, I set the time off my iPhones time and it literally has gained or lost at allโ€ฆ So accurate its almost unrealโ€ฆ I shook it next to my head and could hear the counter weight spin.. I started thinking it must have a battery to be this accurateโ€ฆ I was showing my local seiko dealer my watch, ( the same shop I saw it in 20 years ago) and the first thing he said was that mine had a beautifully sweeping second handโ€ฆ The U.S skx 173 they had on displays second hand was more choppyโ€ฆ Anyways, thanks for all your info itโ€™s nice to hear from someone that knows their seikosโ€ฆ

Hi Ed,

While I donโ€™t have the SKX173, I do own the yellow dialed, SKXA35 diver. I chose this model because itโ€™s not sold outside North America and is considered a rarity in SE Asia.
The appearance of the SKX173โ€™s sweep second hand being โ€œchoppyโ€ is due to the lumed โ€œballโ€ being at the tip of the second hand. Therefore it looks choppier than e.g, the SKX007K which has the lumed ball at the opposite end.

The longer the second hand, the more visually magnified its tip becomes. I first observed this optical effect with the 6R20 equipped, Seiko Premier SPB003J. The 6R20 has a high beat, 28,800bph movement which runs smoother than common 21,600bph movements. Because the SPB003Jโ€™s sweep second hand is extra long, youโ€™ll notice its individual ticking motion. On the other hand, my Orient CEY04002BO World Timer, despite beating at 21,600bph has a very short second hand in a sub-dial rotates so fluidly that you canโ€™t even discern its individual steps.

Do note that accuracy and precision are totally separate things. If your watch gains 8 seconds for the first half of the day and somehow loses the same eight seconds for the remainder of the day, the net loss/gain would be zero. Your watch would be deemed as accurate, but not precise.

cheers,
Quartzimodo

I have those rare Seiko SKX399K 7s26-oo29 , I did contacted Seiko to know , they look those very carefully โ€“ My is Seiko , those was designated for Asian Market, many find way somehow to USA. I get those in Florida 2005. By the way, today I find rare original brand new Seiko โ€“ Land monster SNM O35 with metal bracelet on watchmaker store, I do not resist! I get it this Seiko for really good price.

Hello Vlad,

Are you able to show me photos of your SKX399K? You can use the free TinyPic photo hosting service to upload photos of your watch. AFAIK, the SKX399K should have the caseback numbers 7s26-0020 and NOT 7s26-0029. Any Seiko diver with 7s26-0029 marked on the back is meant for the U.S. export market and must have โ€œMovโ€™t Singapore, Cased in Chinaโ€ printed on the dial.

Your Seiko โ€œLandmonsterโ€ SNM035 is an example of a U.S. specific, Seiko watch thatโ€™s not sold elsewhere in the world and it will have the country of origin printed on the dial.

Quartzimodo

[โ€ฆ] [โ€ฆ]

Hi,

My new Seiko Orange Monster (SS Bracelet) arrived from Watches-Bay today (Gift Time Pte Ltd 329 Beach Rd Singapore) and I was intrigued upon looking at the caseback serials and markings:

โ€œSEIKO 7S26-0350 AO Scuba Diverโ€™s 1N3468 KG Stainless Steelโ€

A few things here:

1. Was this made in Novemeber 2001 or November 2011?
2. What does the โ€œKGโ€ stand for
3. This monster feels more โ€œflimsyโ€ compared to a previously owner monster markings as follows:

โ€œSEIKO 7S26-0350 AO Scuba Diverโ€™s 881427 L3 Stainless Steelโ€

Any thoughts appreciated:

Thankโ€™s.

Hi N,

Congrats on owning the SKX781K Orange Monster! Itโ€™s never too late to join the Monster Club and the fact Seiko is still making the OM/BM models is proof that theyโ€™re both popular models.

Monster models are fast moving stock, unless you bought one from some antiquated watch store with leftover Monsters from the early to mid 2000s. Yours is definitely from November 2011, because Black and Orange Monsters from 2008 onwards (if my memory is correct) have the cryptic letters โ€œKGโ€ stamped on them. The SKX007K/SKX009K classic Seiko divers also underwent a slight cosmetic change for its caseback; and had โ€œWPโ€ engraved. Monsters with the โ€œKGโ€ letterings also have the cheaper looking, all-polished stainless steel caseback while the earlier versions (like mine) have the Tsunami logo in sandblasted finish.

Neither โ€œKGโ€ nor โ€œWP were present in either models previously and your guess is as good as mine what they represent. ๐Ÿ™

Iโ€™m not sure what you meant as โ€œflimsyโ€ in your description, because Iโ€™ve never liked the Monstersโ€™ factory fitted 20mm bracelet or worn them. Both my OM and BM are on water resistant Morellato Cordura-Lorica 22mm leather straps. ๐Ÿ™‚

cheers,
Quartzimodo

Ok need some advice.. Iโ€™ve decided to ad a skx 009j to my collectionโ€ฆ Where do you recommend me purchasing it? Iโ€™m looking at either creation watches. Com or skywatches.comโ€ฆ I love the Pepsi bezel always have โ€ฆ I feel the j model of the 009 is the end all be all of seiko diver.. Rubber strap of courseโ€ฆ

Hi Ed,

Both sellers, which are based in Singapore are more or less on equal terms. Skywatches has been around since the early 2000s, while Creationwatches is a relatively newcomer to the online watch selling scene. The latter offers a 30-day money back warranty for any reason and if that gives you a better peace of mind, you might want to factor that in too. Skywatches only accepts returns in case of defects; they wonโ€™t entertain returns if youโ€™ve changed your mind about the watch after receiving it.

Iโ€™ve never purchased from either vendor, therefore I canโ€™t share my experience buying from either seller.

happy buying! ๐Ÿ™‚
Quartzimodo

ED,

I can personally attest to the overall quality of Skywatches.sg delivery service. I was more than happy after having received my Mako 2.

One note though, just double check that the item you intend to buy is actually in stock before you confirm that payment.

Cheers.
N.

Thankโ€™s for the info Quartzimodo!,

This is actually my second OM!, I parted with my original OM recently as it was gaining. This 2011 model just didnโ€™t seem to hit me as much as my first OM out-of-the-box for some reason.

Perhaps I was just expecting too much โ€“ although I did suspect a (rare) fake or my 3048 Invicta left too much of an indent on my wrist when I replaced it with my OM! ๐Ÿ™‚

On closer inspection the caseback is indeed more polished and is different to my old OM โ€œSEIKO 7S26-0350 AO Scuba Diverโ€™s 881427 L3 Stainless Steelโ€ incidentally, am I right in saying that my old one was from 1998 ? as it felt (and looked) more solid.

Thankโ€™s again!
(New OM gained 1 min in 1st week of daily wrist time).

Hi N,

Your previous OM diver was made in 2008 and not 1998. This is because the Monster divers were only introduced in the year 2000 and not earlier than that.

The new, all-polished casebacked Monsters only appeared sometime in 2010 and Iโ€™ve read gripes and grouses that its finishing isnโ€™t as good as the earlier batches.

IMO, you need not have sold your previous watch; if it ran fast it can be regulated by a competent watchmaker or by an authorized Seiko service center.

Quartzimodo

QA,

Savoury info, thank you.

I actually managed to dent the outer-housing at hour 11 and thatโ€™s where the hairspring sits in the 7s26, I do believe.

A local Seiko Authorized retailer wanted 100AUD to open her up, adjust, and put it back together again, hence my very sad parting with it.

N.

I think that the watch I have is a yellow dialed version of the model under discussion

Hi Terry,

If your Seiko 7s26-002x diver has a yellow dial, then it has to be none other than the SKXA35 thatโ€™s unique to the U.S. market. Of all the 7s26-002x divers, the SKXA35 hold the distinction of being the ONLY yellow faced model ever made. I have one too, and I wrote a short review about it here.

Quartzimodo

My watch is slightly different to the pictures you show on your review. The 12 marker is a plain triangle with no split and the 2,3,4,5,7,8,10 and 11 markers are circular. The 6 and 9 markers are are rectangular with rounded corners. the second hand pointer is plain and white, with (beyond the centre point) the back end being black with a circular end to it that is infilled with white. On the day section it has French alternatives.It is on a stainless bracelet.

Hereโ€™s little more info โ€“ on the dial (I noticed they are the same markers and hands as in the photograph you show with two watches on, that the Pepsi on the left has) Under the 12 marker it says SEIKO centred under which it says automatic and at the bottom over the 6 marker it says DIVERโ€™S 200m and at the very bottom in tiny characters set either side of the 6 marker it says 7s26-003R R 2 and no country of origin that I can see.

I bought a watch with the blue and red bezel on base in Japan back in 1980. Does anyone know where I can get an original replacement bezel. Mine is pretty worn down. Thanks.

Are SKX399โ€™s still readily available new at shops in the Philippines? Iโ€™m trying to find a middleman that is willing to ship one to me.

Hi cucuchicuu,

Itโ€™s coincidental that you asked the same question as I did. My long time friend Eddie just returned from a three-week business trip to Manila and I texted him to buy the SKX399K diver for me.

He went through nearly all the watch stores along the Makati shopping district and was surprised to see that not one retailer even carried the Seiko brand, much less the SKX399K.

He wears the SKX779K Black Monster himself and owns a few other Seiko watches, so he knows what genuine Seiko watches should look like.

While. I canโ€™t blame him for not looking in the โ€œright placesโ€ as he wasnโ€™t there for a holiday, Iโ€™m equally surprised to learn that Seiko watches are harder to find in downtown Manila compared to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong or even Bangkok.

The Timex brand on the other hand are plentiful; which isnโ€™t surprising since Timex watches are made in the Philippines.

cheers,
Quartzimodo Admin

[โ€ฆ] sale only please. Here's a link to the most interesting read that always accompany the watch: quartzimodo.com/the-little-known-seiko-7s26-0020-200m-diver/ Thanks for looking. Reply With [โ€ฆ]

[โ€ฆ] Mounted on an aftermarket Seiko wave vent strap. Here's some more info from Quartzimodo's website: The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver Price: US$250 paypaled and shipped from the Philippines. Please PM me for inquiries. Thanks [โ€ฆ]

In a german forum I found another (at least I think so) 7S26 watch and they claim that it is a SKX399.

It is the watch in the center of the last picture in the first post.

Does anybody know what watch this is (or is it a mod)?

Hi Andreas,

I apologize for the late response as Iโ€™ve been traveling and did not bring my laptop with me.
The Seiko watch in question (as you pointed out in the German forum), is actually a modified SKX007K with a dial from the discontinued SKX171K 200m diverโ€™s watch and the second hand replaced with the one from the SBDA001 Titanium โ€œSamuraiโ€ diver. Therefore the watch is a mod. Itโ€™s not even close to the SKX399K model thatโ€™s sold in the Philippines.

best regards,
Quartzimodo

sorry, here is the link to the forum

uhrforum.de/seiko-skx173-t110728

[โ€ฆ] the SKX401K (Pepsi) and there rare as hens teeth description here is a good read about them quartzimodo.com/the-little-knโ€ฆ20-200m-diver/ Thanks again to Glock 'em down __________________ SEIKO DIVERS: 6309 -7049||6309 [โ€ฆ]

I have one, I purchased it a US Navy exchange in San Diego.

Hi Sir

Just got a 401 and movement is 7s26A. Meaning.. Made in the 90s?

Thanks

John

Hello John,

Youโ€™ve got the SKX401K? Congratulations, thatโ€™s a watch thatโ€™s hard to find! ๐Ÿ™‚ Yes, if you have the 7s26A caliber then itโ€™s very likely to be made somewhere between 1996 and 2006. Your watchโ€™s serial number will be able to determine its exact manufacturing date.

best regards,
Quartzimodo

Yes Iโ€™ve been searching everywhere for this. Kinda disaapointed didnโ€™t get an SKX399 when I had the chance but this sort of made it up for it. Not NOS but it looks good.

Thanks for your review on these watches Sir. Appreciate it a lot ๐Ÿ˜‰

John

Hi John,

Consider yourself very fortunate to own the uber-rare, SKX401K. ๐Ÿ™‚ Itโ€™s believed that Seiko discontinued the Pepsi bezeled version of the SKX399K much earlier and most WIS folks only got to know the SKX401K through photos shared on the Internet. The framed index markers of this watch makes it stand out from the garden variety, SKX009K diver and is more than enough for die hard collectors to outbid one another if they ever find one for auction on eBay. ๐Ÿ™‚
As for the SKX399K, I havenโ€™t been following the latest developments of this watch. Itโ€™s been a couple of years since I wrote this article and have no idea if it still can be found in the Philippines (brand new).

cheers,
Quartzimodo

I tried looking for 399s the other weekend to no avail. Last time I sold one was around a year and a half ago as far as I could remember.

Got this 401 with AM insert and faded depth rating but I hope to get OEM pepsi insert from Seiko. They are the same as the 009s?

Iโ€™ll post pics soon. As of now I have it on vintage pepsi insert, 7002 I think.

Thanks again

John

Hi John,

Yes, the bezel styling is similar to the SKX009K as both this and the SKX401K are from the same 7s26-0020 brethren. ๐Ÿ™‚
Unfortunately you canโ€™t buy just the bezel insert from Seiko. There is no such thing as a unique part number for the insert (however the bezel does). I know this from personal experience because Iโ€™ve bought some bezels for my overseas WIS friends some years ago. Youโ€™ve got to buy the entire bezel kit, which includes the washer or gasket โ€“ and thatโ€™s not exactly cheap. Thought youโ€™d like to know. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo

Thatโ€™s too bad. I guess itโ€™s time for scavenging watch parts again at watchmakers tables and hope to find a pretty good original example then.

Thanks again for the reminder Sir. Will update once project is completed ๐Ÿ˜‰

John

I have a midsize 7S26-0030 and the rubber strap is Z-20. All bracelets for this case are 20mm, not 22

Hi JDM Watches,

Yes, the midsized divers certainly have 20mm lugs and use the Z-20 wave vent rubber strap, or the 20mm Jubilee styled metal bracelet. ?

Quartzimodo.

Just came across this page whilst looking for a new strap. Thankyou. Just discovered I had a collectable watch I purchased in the UK about 110 years ago, ill make sure I look after it now!

[โ€ฆ] to find Seiko SKX399 from 1997 Only produced for a few regions on the world! Here are some infos:The little known Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver -crystal is in good condition with only few hairlines -bezel is light faded blue and turns perfect [โ€ฆ]

I have a 7S26-0020, it run 5min fast over the week, the glass has a few scratches and the red/blue bezel is faded. Was looking to get the glass and bezel insert replaced + serviced but Seiko want ยฃ200. Is it worth getting it done?

Hi Graeme,

At 200 quid? Good heavens no! For that amount of money, you might as well get a brand new SKX009K (rubber strap version) with an updated 7s26B or 7s26C movement on eBay or from this site, or here (with Jubilee stainless steel bracelet to name a few! ๐Ÿ™‚

I understand that professional labour is expensive in the UK but this is an affordable Seiko diverโ€™s watch weโ€™re talking about, not a Rolex Sea Dweller or high end Seiko Marine Master Professional 1000m diverโ€™s watch. If you prefer to keep your existing watch, youโ€™ll need a replacement Hardlex crystal (P/N:315P15HN02) and the complete rotating bezel unit (P/N:8601469B). Note that Seiko does not sell the bezel insert separately so youโ€™ll have to buy the entire bezel โ€“ (click here for an example). There may be some sellers on eBay that stock both parts too.

As for your watch running 5 minutes fast per week, that averages out to 42.8 seconds per day. Thatโ€™s not too bad although the 7s26โ€™s factory specifications state +/- 40 secs per day. You can have your watch regulated by any jeweler who is experienced with fine tuning mechanical watches for a small fee. Note that regulating watches may be a two or three step process, therefore look for a watch repairer who agrees to recalibrate your movement for the second time in case it runs too slow on the first regulation attempt.

good luck! ๐Ÿ™‚
Quartzimodo

I have a brand new and un-used Seiko 7S26-0020 still in itโ€™s original box. I am looking to sell it, and was wondering where the best place to do so would be?

With regards to price, what would you suggest I should expect for it?

Thanks,
Joel

Hi Joel,

That would be like saying, โ€œI have a BMW model E90 for saleโ€. Well, that refers to the 4-door, 3 series sedan but which engine type and trim level does the car have? Which year is it from? What about its mileage and service records? ๐Ÿ™‚

Seiko makes several models with the same 7s26-0020 designation, like the SKX007K/J, SKX009K/J, SKX011J, SKX171K, SKXA35, SKX173 (and a few others whose reference numbers escape me) and different models have their own appeal and demand. If your watch is the rarer, orange dialed SKX011J it would fetch a bit more than the more common, black dialed SKX007K.

Anyway, have a look at private watch listings like the Seiko & Citizen Trading Forum and of course, eBay and Amazon. Look at the second hand examples on offer and from there you can estimate how much your watch is worth. I am unable to give an offhand figure as asking prices fluctuate with the demand as well as the exact condition of the timepiece.

As a basic rule of thumb, look for the lowest prices of brand new pieces on Amazon and youโ€™d probably want to shave off at least 20% from a listing for a new watch that is the same model as yours.

Good luck with the sale. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo

I have one the these rare seikoโ€™s

I got this Seiko divers a couple of days back and Iโ€™m having trouble identifying which SKX designation/variant it is. Itโ€™s dial looks like the 173 except for the way the ratings are written and the made in japan at the bottom. Also itโ€™s hands are different from the 173 but more of the 399/007 hands. No question itโ€™s an SKX but which one. I almost resigned to the fact that it has been modified with an aftermarket dial until I came across this one listing on ebay www.ebay.ca/itm/SEIKO-SCUBA-DIVER-S-7S26-0020-SKX173-AUTOMATICO-PARA-HOMBRE-WR200M-/222555213543?hash=item33d1530ee7:g:rSwAAOSw3YJZS-dr which has the pepsi bezel (mine is black). Also it has the 7s26B movement.

Thanks.

Hi Chip,

I looked at the photos in the eBay listing which you provided and that watch is very likely to be an SKX009K. The watch dial on the other hand, is not original to the watch. Itโ€™s either a near exact replica of the SKX173โ€™s dial or a real SKX173 dial with its original text โ€œDiverโ€™s 200mโ€ erased and hand painted with โ€œWater 200m Resistโ€, plus โ€œMade in Japanโ€ printed in the wrong size and on the wrong location of dial.

AFAIK, a genuine SKX173 would have โ€œDiverโ€™s 200mโ€ on the dial face and the country of origin would have been either โ€œMovโ€™t Singaporeโ€ or โ€œMovโ€™t Malaysiaโ€. The caseback would have indicated 7s26-0029 or 7s26-0028 respectively โ€“ signifying a North American only model, and which the SKX173 is.

Therefore if your watchโ€™s dial is similar to the one listed by that seller, you most probably have a Seiko SKX007K with an aftermarket dial. However, all is not lost. If having an aftermarket dial bothers you, you can always get a genuine replacement dial like this one here. Very few online merchants dealing in Seiko watches are able to provide original Seiko parts and Chronograph.com happens to be one of them.

hope this clarifies things! ๐Ÿ™‚
Quartzimodo Admin.

I own one of them Seiko 7s26-0020. I too bought in the Philippines 2 months ago. Im not sure where they came from. I thought it was a fake. Is it? thanks

Hi John,

Seiko makes a few variations based on the 7s26-0020: the SKX007K, SKX009K, SKX011K including the Philippines market only, SKX399K and the rarer SKX401K.

If the watch that youโ€™ve purchased came from an authorized Seiko dealer in the Philippines and looks exactly like the SKX399K in the article, it should be the real deal. This watch, and like all other 7s26-0020s are assembled in Seikoโ€™s factory in Hong Kong and are then exported worldwide.

The exact background history of the SKX399K is not known but for some reason it is officially sold only in the Philippines for their local market. Consider yourself fortunate to own one of these hard-to-find 7s26-0020 models!

Hope this helps! ๐Ÿ™‚
Quartzimodo.

I bought a yellow dialled seiko scuba divers watch with 7s26-0020 markings โ€“ made in Japan in Dubai airport duty free in 2017 to replace my Tissot divers watch that had failed on me on holiday. Cost was @ ยฃ165. It has dual english / arabic date functions.
I can send you a photograph of dial etc if I knew where to send it

Hi Mike,

That is a very intriguing story you have there. AFAIK, Seiko has been marketing the orange (not yellow) dialed, SKX011J to the Middle East countries since the early 2000s. Or does your Dubai bought watch look anything like this?

If your watch looks exactly like the SKXA35 (right down to the dial index markers and the sweeping second hand), then Seiko Japan has decided to sell the SKXA35 to UAE and its neighbors. This is indeed news to me, because the SKXA35 was originally meant for the North American market and they are not labeled โ€œMade in Japanโ€ as per the American FTC import regulations. The SKXA35โ€™s day calendar comes in English/Spanish dual language.

Kindly send your photos of your watch to quartzimodo.admin (at) gmail.com for my verification. ๐Ÿ™‚

cheers,
Quartzimodo.

Hi guys! I have an old SEIKO Diverโ€™s 200m 7S26-0029. There are no straps though. It was my dadโ€™s, a gift from a friend of his; but the watch has not been used for almost 15 years now. How much would you be willing to pay for it?

How rare is the SEIKO 7s26-0020? I have one which I just got from repair two weeks ago. Itโ€™s a PEPSI variant btw. Thanks for your reply

Hi dnnmrmpl,

Great question. If you are referring to the 7s26-0020 that would also include the globally sold SKX007K, SKX009K and the SKX011K. If you are referring only to the SKX401K then it is relatively a rare watch outside the Philippines.

hope this helps,
Quartzimodo Admin.

How rare is the SEIKO Diverโ€™s 200m SKX401K?

I have a seiko 7S26-0020 with yellow dial purchased in Dubai Duty Free airport โ€“ @ ยฃ160 December 2017

Hi Mike,

You might have purchased a yellow dialed 7s26-0020 at an airport duty free shop, but I canโ€™t tell if itโ€™s genuine unless I get to see it in pictures. ๐Ÿ™‚ In the meantime, you might want to peruse this discussion on yellow dials. I would be surprised if what you have is the Seiko SKXA35, which is strictly a North American market watch model.

cheers,
Quartzimodo

I believe I have a 7S26-0020. Iโ€™m wondering if it is rare or of higher than expected value. Is there a way to post photos?

Hi Patrick,

7s26-0020 divers are extremely commonly found throughout the world, so they are not worth more beyond their original purchase price. If you have the dark blue dialed SKX401K with the Pepsi bezel, youโ€™ll have the rarest among the 7s26-0020 family. Itโ€™s worth a deal only to die hard Seiko diver watch collectors, but not much to the average watch wearer. Upload clear images of your watch to www.tinypic.com then copy and paste the link to your photo in your comment reply.

Quartzimodo Admin

I do have the 7s26 0020, black dial, black bezel, 200 meters, 21 jewels, I bought it in Saudi Arabia probably in year 2000 ish, planning to buy the super oyster bracelet, i like the look of it, any advice,

From Dubai.
Thanks.

Hi Manny,

You have the classic Seiko SKX007J just like I do. ๐Ÿ™‚

I would recommend the Super Oyster Type II bracelet, like this one. I have a similar bracelet which I purchased from a friend of mine, William Jean over ten years ago and itโ€™s still looking shiny to this day. Even Seikoโ€™s factory issued Oyster bracelets, which are long discontinued canโ€™t hold a candle to the Super Oyster II.

Wear the watch in good health!
Quartzimodo Admin.

I bought this Seiko Diverโ€™s watch as described in this article at a watch store at Ali Mall a long time ago.

Glad to know that I have a rare kind of Seiko Diverโ€™s watch!

This is the SKX399 that Iโ€™ll be selling in the near future. Your write up was a valuable resource. Thanks a bunch.
P.S I have no idea if I posted the pic link correctly.

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the compliments, much appreciated. ๐Ÿ™‚

Unfortunately your photo didnโ€™t show up, instead I see a message from Tinypic that itโ€™s shutting down its service in 2019. ๐Ÿ™ You can also upload your watch photos to your own Google Photos service (photos.google.com) and send the link via the comments section.

โ€œAnd if the date ends with an 8 what are the possible years?โ€

I think you meant to say โ€œthe serial number startsโ€. If the first digit is an 8, your watch may have been made in 1998 or 2008.

cheers,
Quartzimodo Admin

Does this look accurate, Iโ€™m about to sell it. And if the date ends with an 8 what are the possible years?

I inherited a Seiko 7S26-0029 Scuba Diverโ€™s from my late step father in 2007. He had it for a long time I think. It says โ€œMOVโ€™T SINGAPOREโ€ on the back and 8N0297. He traveled all over SE Asia, specifically the Philippines, while in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. I wear the watch daily. Works flawlessly. Email me if youโ€™d like photos.

Hi Brian,

Thatโ€™s an interesting anecdote. If you have 7s26-0029, it is actually a Seiko diverโ€™s watch that was exclusively sold only in North America. Itโ€™s probably the SKX173 (if the dial is black) or the SKXA35 (yellow). โ€œMovโ€™t Singaporeโ€ on the dial means the caliber is an early 7s26A. Later versions (7s26B/7s26C) will have โ€œMovโ€™t Malaysiaโ€ instead. Serial number 8N0297 on the watchโ€™s caseback points to either November 1998 as the month of manufacture.

Your late stepfather may have been in SE Asia with the US Navy, but I can tell you that your watch did not exist before the year 1996. He couldnโ€™t have had it while he was serving during the Vietnam War. ๐Ÿ™‚

best regards,
Quartzimodo

Hi great post. So I found this because I just bought a Seiko off eBay and turns out it might be one of these same numbers on the back but itโ€™s been modded

Is there a legit Seiko skx399 with English/Spanish day date?

Hi Richard,

Yes, it is possible for the Seiko SKX399K to come with English/Spanish or English/Roman calendar wheels. It is not unusual for these watches that were manufactured before 2004 to be fitted with English/Spanish day language.

Quartzimodo.

Mine is the only one of these Iโ€™ve ever seen. My wife bought me a (new) 7S26-0020 as a birthday gift back in โ€™96 or โ€™97 after we both got dive certified. It is pretty much a daily-use watch with English/Spanish calendar. It came on a rubber band that I have since swapped out for a Seiko oyster-style steel band with dive-suite extension and an aftermarket batman bezel. Sadly I lost the box and papers when we moved.

She bought it at Feldmar Jewellers in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. Years later she complained about how expensive it was but Feldmar gave her no indication this was a rare or uncommon watch. Because it has no SKX designation and it is the only Seiko diver Iโ€™ve ever owned, it took me a while to understand the product lines.

Thanks for this article, it ties off many loose ends.

Hi KevPilot,

Glad you liked this old article of mine. If your watch dial indices exactly match that of the SKX399K (as depicted in my article) then it cannot be the SKX007K or the SKX171K. These three models are fundamentally similar, save for the watch dial design.

I donโ€™t know when the SKX399K was first released as history of this particular model is sketchy and incomplete at best. If yours is the SKX007K then it fits your โ€™96-โ€™97 timeline, as the SKX007K was indeed introduced back in 1996.

best regards,
Quartzimodo

I just purchased a 7s26-0020 pepsi bezel for $100. Wondering if I paid to much. It has an upside down triangle at 12 oโ€™clock, round markers at 1,2,4,5,7,8,10 and 11 and oval markers at 6 and 9. Day and date at 3 oโ€™clock. Iโ€™m a newbie collecter and know very little about collecting. Stainless band.

Hi JC,

Assuming you have purchased a genuine Seiko SKX009K albeit in second hand guise, Iโ€™d say that US$100 is a fair price to pay. The entire 7s26-0020 diverโ€™s watch family has been officially discontinued since 2016-2017 and whatever is offered for sale on the Internet is either NOS (New Old Stock) or pre-owned. Congratulations! ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo

Hi Richard,
It is nor unusual for these watches that were manufactured before 2004 to be fitted with English/Spanish day language.

โ€“ what do you mean by this, please elaborate. ?

Hi Richard,

I didnโ€™t see that typo and it should have read โ€œIt is NOT unusual for these watches that were manufacturedโ€ฆโ€. By that I meant, Seiko usually fitted English/Spanish dual languages on its 7s26-0020 (SXK family) divers. I noticed that they started to change to English/Roman from the year 2004 onwards. Since then Eng/Roman is the preferred dual language for its โ€œKโ€ watches, e.g. SKX007K. The โ€œJโ€ versions that were meant for the Middle East markets were fitted with English/Arabic dual languages (e.g SKX011J).

Quartzimodo Admin.

Hi Admin,

I have one 7S260020 model. Am from the Philippines and bought it here as well sometime in 2009.

Very informative post, thanks for the info didnt know its a rare model

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for the comment! The correct way of describing your particular model would be the โ€œSKX399Kโ€ and not โ€œ7s26-0020โ€. This is because Seiko made several variants based on the 7s26-0020, including the even rarer Pepsi bezeled, SKX401K.

Word has it that both the SKX399K and 401K were sold only in the Philippines, unless there have been verified reports that these models were available in other parts of Asia. I guess I should have named this article โ€œThe little known Seiko SKX399Kโ€ instead, because some of my readers end up thinking that there is only one kind of 7s26-0020 diver.

cheers,
Quartzimodo

Hello,
Can somebody tell me the years the skx399k was build?
Thanks!

Hi I have an 7s26-0020 serial no 170392.the days are English and Arabic.I have had this for about 18 years.. just wondered if you know any more about it it appears to be quite unusual judging by the comments on your page.regards John

Hi John,

When I first wrote this post, I didnโ€™t realize that its title also carried an alternative meaning. That is, the subject matter is about โ€œa Seiko 7s26-0020 200m diver and it is also little knownโ€.
This is actually not true. I composed this article in reference to the very rare Seiko SKX399K diverโ€™s watch.

Yes, its caseback number is 7s26-0020. But then, so are the popular SKX007K, SKX009K, SKX011J and the SKX401K. Both the SKX399K and the 401K were meant for the Philippines market and I doubt Arabic day language would be of use in that region.

Your watch is very likely to be an SKX007J, similar to mine. ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin

Hi, i recently acquired a 399 off eBay. I used your pictures to verify it, thanks for this awesome little page. The bezel ring was very beat up, so i got a double dome Sapphire crystal and angled bezel ring. I also replaced all the gaskets. I think it looks amazing! I love the subtle differences, like the framed indices. Not sure how to upload pictures here, but would love to share.

Hi, i recently acquired a 399 off eBay. I used your pictures to verify it, thanks for this awesome little page. The bezel ring was very beat up, so i got a double dome Sapphire crystal and angled bezel ring. I also replaced all the gaskets. I think it looks amazing! I love the subtle differences, like the framed indices. Not sure how to upload pictures here, but would love to share.

Iโ€™ve always been a fan of Seiko watches from my first purchase in 1967 of a Bellmatic in Cyprus whilst serving there. I have since bought many more and one of them was the one in this article, I at first thought it was a fake (a good fake) because of the price asked for it. This was reinforced somewhat by not being able to identify some of the numbers. (Seiko 7s26-0020 (AD) 009321 (WF) and some slight dissimilarities on the face at the 45 min and hour marks. I have had the watch examined by a reputable dealer and he says, as you, that it is a rare watch tried out on the Philippines market, I payed ยฃ100 and it is in pristine condition but has a NATO strap instead of the original steel (can supply photos if required) this was three years ago, the watch keep perfect time and looks fantastic.

Hi Tony,

If your watchโ€™s details match exactly to the diverโ€™s model as portrayed in this post then you have the Philippines exclusive, SKX399K. Iโ€™m not sure if your watch was originally sold with the Z-22 rubber strap or the stainless steel band, but you can buy a perfect replacement bracelet for your watch from this site. I donโ€™t have any affiliation with the seller, but the so-called โ€œSuper Oysterโ€ bracelets are more superior in quality than Seikoโ€™s original, factory issued Oyster band. I have two of these Super Oyster Type II bracelets myself (check out my friend Gabe Walshโ€™s review right here) and the metal is made from 316L surgical grade stainless steel. Very difficult, if not impossible to rust.

Happy buying and wear that Seiko 399K in good health! ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin.

I have one of these with the Pepsi dial 7s2 0020 . My wife bought this watch as a wedding gift in a department store in Saipan . The rubber band rotted off years ago . It was purchased 10-15-05

Hello! Iโ€™m glad I found you. I recently acquired a 7s26-0020 and cannot really find anything on it. Itโ€™s 150m with date only, no day. Please email me so I can send you pictures. Thank you!

Hi Josh,

There is no such thing as a 7s26-0020 diver that has only a date indicator and rated to 150 meters. Seiko had transitioned from 150m to 200m when the older 7002-70001 diverโ€™s watches were in the market and that was way before the 7s26 came out. Iโ€™ve already sent out an email to you, so check your Inbox! ๐Ÿ™‚

Quartzimodo Admin

I ordered from WISH a Seiko watch that looked nice with real numbers on it and a small cutout square for the date number. Since it costs only 22 bucks I decided to risk it.
Upon arrival of course I immediately noticed it was defective since I couldnโ€™t get it going and when shaking it the hands went all over the place.
I sent in a complaint and to their honour they promptly sent me my money back with giving me or asking me any further information,
The front and back show SEIKO and the back has the following numbers: 7S26 0020, the letters AO inside a small square and the number 8D0675.
Does this all make any sense to you?

Hi Adri,

Apologies for the belated response. Iโ€™ve heard of the Wish marketplace and it seems that a lot of inferior, defective and fake products can be found there. I took the liberty of registering myself as a new user and randomly looked for โ€œSKX007 diversโ€.

There are two simple rules when it comes to buying a new and genuine Seiko watch:

1. If the asking price is ridiculously low, the watch is neither new nor genuine.
2. See Rule #1.

A genuine, New Old Stock Seiko SKX007K or any 7s26-0020 diver in 2021 should cost several hundred dollars (US$400-500 nowadays, due to its scarcity). Not $22. Even back in 2003 a genuine, brand new Seiko 7s26-0020 diver would have cost you at least $130.

Your seller knew that he or she was peddling junk on Wish and $22 is a small amount of money to refund. If you had spent $400 on a genuine Seiko watch and found it to be defective, the seller will either instruct you to immediately ship back the watch in its original form (uncut bracelet, no visible signs of damage on the watch), OR have the watch repaired for free at the nearest authorized Seiko service center. Genuine Seiko watch sellers know what they are selling and are very unlikely to refund your money, let alone with no questions asked.

Iโ€™ve seen one of the listings for a Seiko SKX007K diver, with an asking price about US$9.67 (without shipping fees). The seller has been using mixed photographs of genuine Seiko 7s26-0020 divers (most likely the images were lifted off the Internet) with one picture of the actual product. It didnโ€™t take me even a minute to spot that it was a fake Seiko diver.

Iโ€™m sorry to say this, but you paid for a lemon and got one. Even pre-owned, but authentic Seiko SKX007 divers in good condition will set you back at least $150 these days.

hope this helps,
Quartzimodo

I own this watch and had no idea it was rare. Diverโ€™s rated to 200m, 7S26-0029 with the rectangular minutes, the bubble second hand, day/date. The rubber band is long gone, but the watch was purchased new onboard a US Navy warship when I was a young petty officer in 1998 or so.

Hi Jon K,.

If your watch indicates โ€œ7s26-0029โ€ on the caseback and the dial face is black in color, then what you have is the common SKX173 model thatโ€™s sold only in North America. Although appearing almost similar, your watch is actually NOT the same as the SKX399K, which the article is all about. Both the SKX173 and the SKX399K sport the โ€œbubble tippedโ€ second hand, so itโ€™s easy to confuse between the two! ๐Ÿ™‚

As with all watches sold in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission requires that the main individual partsโ€™ country of source is stated on the product. Since your SKX173 has its movement assembled in Singapore, you will find the text โ€œMovโ€™t Singaporeโ€ on the dial face, near the 6 oโ€™clock index marker. The SKX399K was never meant to be sold in the USA, which explains that its dial has no country of manufacture printed on its dial.

Hope this helps,
Quartzimodo

Hi,

Was the day wheel in Eng/Spanish or Eng/Roman for the SKX399?

Thanks.

Hi Gavin,

Most likely English/Spanish, if the production year is 2003 or earlier and the watch hasnโ€™t been modified with the day calendar showing English/Roman. From my past experience, watch enthusiasts would rather change the color of the calendar disc (to match, or contrast with the dial color) rather than have a preference for a specific calendar language. AFAIK, this also applies to the Seiko 5 watches sold in the Far East โ€“ it was only from 2004 onwards 7s26 based Seiko watches started appearing with the English/Roman calendar.

Quartzimodo.

I bought one of these back in 1997-8 in Munich, Germany. I wear it every day and have been diving many times with it. It does, however, need servicing every 3-4 years though and it make it very expensive to keep as a service cost โ‚ฌ250-โ‚ฌ300.

Itโ€™s a lovely watch though and even though Iโ€™ve got other watches that are more expensive etcโ€ฆ I always go back to my humble yet massively practical Seiko divers watch.

Iโ€™m about to buy one of those weird black 7s26-0020. Whatโ€™s a fair price?

Hi Doug T,

I wouldnโ€™t know, sorry. When my article was written way back 2010 the last remnants of the SKX399K (I assume you meant this model when you mentioned โ€œweirdโ€) probably sold for US$250 thereabouts, brand new. As you already know, 7s26-0020 divers (even the most popular and discontinued SKX007K) are selling between US$600-950 on eBay, new old stock. A New Old Stock SKX399K in the wild would easily command over US$1,000 in 2022 due to its rarity.

best of luck,
Quartzimodo.

Very informative article! I have an SKX399 made in 2012 (maybe 2002, not sure, itโ€™s confusing). I assume itโ€™s more precisely an SKX399K but Iโ€™m not sure about that either. Were all 399โ€™s made in Korea for the Philippine market? Were any SKX399โ€™s made in Japan? Thanks in advance for your time!

Hi Dave R,

Good questions! If you have an SKX399K, it would have been made way back in 2002. Seiko didnโ€™t make this model for long and would have not manufactured it by 2012. The SKX399K was assembled in Hong Kong, China with the 7s26A movement sourced from Singapore. AFAIK, Seiko Japan never manufactured any divers based on the 7s26 caliber in their homeland, so the answer would be โ€œnoโ€. To expand this further, the last mid-priced Seiko automatic divers that were manufactured in Japan were the early batch of 6309-7040/7049 divers (that had โ€œJAPAN Aโ€ text on the caseback).

Seiko never had an overseas production facility in South Korea as traditionally Japan and South Korea have been having a political and trade dispute going back to the early 20th century.

Wear your watch in good health! ๐Ÿ™‚
Quartzimodo.

Leave a comment

(required)

(required)


Additional Info

privacy policy

{ezoic-ad-1}

{ez_footer_ads}