If you're from. N. America, SKX173 was the official released model designation. The dials and casebacks bore either Singapore (early 2000s) and Malaysia (mid 2000 onwards).

Probably, once the SKX173 was discontinued, the new designation of SKX007P was reserved for the N. Am market. Let's wait for the rest to share their thoughts.

Below are pics of the SKX173 Singapore and Malaysia versions.

Jan Raymund

 

Yeah, I'm thinking the 007P is the re-release for the American market... like the 173, but with the 007 dial.

Does the P version say Malaysia on the dial, or is it blank like the K?

 

Here is the difference in packaging, the dials are identical.

 

Yeah the box doesn't mean a whole lot. Dealers get boxes in bulk separate from watches and will put watches in whatever box they have available.

The different tags are interesting, but it makes sense that USA tags would be different from ROW tags.

 

It would seem then that the SKX173's successor is the SKX007P9.

And for manufacturing streamlining purposes, both K and P versions would have the same dial.

Maintaining a different dial, like the SKX173, would entail another set of inventory.

Jan Raymund

 

Makes sense to me. Why hasn't seiko ever tried to promote the skx line in North America though? I see plenty of posters and signs for their prospex divers but you can't even find the skx on their website

 

Thank you guys for clearing that up. I was pretty confused on the differences but from your posts I see there isn't much change. It probably is for regional distribution purposes as mentioned.

 

I think the P and K is just a regional thing.

 

Seiko caused some confusion with this sudden and unadvertised release which resulted in a few returns and suspected counterfeits. They've finally decided to create a line of SKX007's for the North American market which requires country of origin to be indicated. However, they were a bit lazy with it and only restamped the case back whereas the N. American SKX009 was released as the SKX175 and had "Movement Malaysia" stamped on the case back AND "Mov't Malaysia" printed on the dial. The oscillating weight/rotor on the movement has "Malaysia" stamped on it as well.

Otherwise, as stated, they're identical watches.

 

Good to know! I haven't seen a thread explaining the difference yet so I'm glad I started this one so others don't get confused

 

Since this thread has so may knowledgeable Seikoists.................. are crystals the same (interchangeable) for the SKX173 and SKX007??

 

I do believe the case is the same for the 173, the crystals should be interchangeable as well

 

They all use the same case, so the crystals should be interchangeable.

 

Production date is April 2019. Maybe the SKX is not discontinued after all?

 

So we know they were still making them in April.

 

Seiko was probably using up the remaining stock of SKX dials and case back covers before switching the production over to Seiko 5 Sports models.

 

I've asked this previously, but how do you know the 9 signifies 2019 and not 2009? Unless there's been a movement revision since back then and you open it up to find a newer one, you couldn't know.

 

7s26C didn't show up until 2011. So a serial number starting with 9 with a 7s26C can only be 2019.

 

These P versions just started popping up for sale in the last year or so. I think it's safe to say they aren't 10 years old.

You're right, though, the only way to know 100% is to open it and check the movement.

 

Yeah sorry I meant the K's, not P's.

 

it's so funny these damn P watches pop up now, not only amidst the constant seemingly false rumors of the SKX's cancellation (years ago) but also constant J and K threads. not that people were starting to get it anyway, but it certainly doesn't help, lol

 

I do think the discontinuation rumors are finally real this time and we're seeing the last of the classic SKX divers now. With the new 5 Sports being so similar, it seems unlikely they would maintain two different production lines to continue making them in parallel. Just like they stopped making the SARB065 when the Presage stuff came out. They've been phasing out the 7S26 stuff for a while now so its days were numbered anyway.