Cool story.

 

I have two Sharkey watches, a Turtle and a Tuna. Yes, they are homage watches, but in my opinion these are better than the real thing. OK, I don't actually own either a Seiko Turtle or Tuna, but I do own an SKX, and they are better than that. So why are they better? The bezels have a better movement, and are more clicky, whereas the Seiko bezel movement is wishwashy to say the least. To the advantage of the Seiko it is ISO tested and the Sharkey isn't. To be honest I would be amazed if the Sharkey leaked during a shallow dive. The case quality and finish is similar on all three watches. Hands down the Sharkey watches have far superior bracelets and solid end links. Even though the bracelet is very chunky on the tuna, it is amazingly comfortable. None of them have a divers extension, which I find strange. The Sharkey watches actually use a Seiko NH35 movement, which is better than the 7s26 movement in the SKX, as it hacks and self winds. Unfortunately the movement in the SKX hasn't been regulated and runs at -40 spd. The Sharkeys are both very accurate, running within a few spd. Both the Sharkey watches have a sapphire crystal against the Seiko's Hardlex. OK, Hardlex isn't that bad, but for what a Seiko diver costs I believe it deserves an upgrade. Seiko are famous for their lume, and so they should be, however the Sharkeys matches it comfortably.

For those of you (if there are any) that won't buy a Chinese watch, buy a Seiko, but for those of you that just want a better watch buy a Sharkey. At this point I should mention that Sharkey cost half as much. I should also say, take a look at Phoibos, because they are pretty impressive as well.

If I wasn't already getting a watch for Christmas (Seiko SNKP25), I'd be ordering a Heimdallr SKX007 with a green dial. Fantastic bargain. Oh, and completely agree on Phoibus, as well.

 

I like my San Martin 6105 homage, which cost less than a Seiko Turtle, has better specs, and is bronze. Not hatin' on anyone who prefers Seiko -- I got some of them, too -- but those Chinese homages are an outstanding value, if you can tolerate basically a copy watch.

 

Apparently, the Sharkey / Hamdollar (Daz right, I am spelling it this way) version is identical in SIZE on every element except for the crown.

 

Looks nice to me.

 

I bought one of the white dial Heimdallrs to mod with a new (non-Seiko) dial. My original intention was to buy a Seiko SKX then replace the crystal, bracelet and maybe eventually the movement to get it how I liked, but why bother when you can take a massive shortcut by getting a Heimdallr that already has all those upgrades built-in.

Now I'm thinking of keeping it as is and just changing the bezel and insert - it's nice to have a white dial diver.

Here's another video from Grimwood Watch Modding, who has done really great in-depth coverage of which parts are cross-compatible between the Seiko and Heimdallr SKXs:

He has also reviewed a few other Heimdallr models if anyone wants to see some close-up shots of the watches:

Hulk:

Turtle:

Bronze Turtle:

Bronze SKX:

 

how can a pseudo seiko can ever be better than a real seiko?

 

1. Sapphire crystal
2. A better bracelet
3. A better movement
4. A better bezel

Hope that answers your question. Of course, you spend your money, and takes your choice. Pay twice as much for an inferior item that has Seiko on the dial.

 

Me thinks the OP should change the title to "Heimdallr Sharkey, better than an SKX review. Unless he believes it's better than a MM300, spring drive Tuna, etc.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

Quite

 

Ew

 

I have two Sharkey watches, a Turtle and a Tuna. Yes, they are homage watches, but in my opinion these are better than the real thing. OK, I don't actually own either a Seiko Turtle or Tuna, but I do own an SKX, and they are better than that.

 

View attachment 14661921

Why not? You don't think the OP has handled or examined them?

 

I think there are certainly comparable or better options in how Seiko movements are cased up, so I agree in principle on certain models where Seiko cuts corners. The Sharkey watches in general seem well-reviewed, from everything I've come across, about them. Phoibos also gets a lot of compliments. As you say, however, it depends on the individual if a "better" version of a Seiko, even for less money, is a desired buy, or not, if it's not actually from Seiko.

Always seems to go back to the same argument of value, and whether specs alone are worth it, in homages, copies, non-branded imitations, micro brands, non-heritage brands, etc. Getting better specs for less money is an easy choice to appreciate, while others have issues about it. Each side of the coin has its arguments.

Personally, having bought a couple of Seiko 5's, I was surprised that much lower cost brands with the same movement are on par and superior in many ways. Then again, even if inferior in specs, a Seiko is a Seiko, haha, so that's a win for Seiko fans. Oddly, that argument falls apart at the high end, in some debates, where, no matter how grand a Grand Seiko is, it's still "just a Seiko" to some people, much like a Nissan with supercar skills is "just a Nissan" to some people, no matter how great the performance.

Seiko is a bit odd in their pricing and in what one gets -- uninspired bracelets with stamped clasp, DiaShield coating at some price points but not in other models that cost more, when one gets Hardlex or Sapphire, etc., so, for years, it was a difficult brand for me to appreciate, until finally finding one model I just loved and I became interested in the brand itself.

That led to buying more models with which I'm very pleased. Some re-issues paying homage to their own history, and then finally picked up a Save the Oceans Turtle, and the new Sumo with the 70 hour Power Reserve, and Sapphire crystal. Granted, in their price range, on specs alone, one could spend less and get more in other brands, but I've become a bit taken with the impressive history of the company, which does add value for me in these being "Seiko" pieces, even if some would consider them overpriced, on specs alone.

I think the very fact that so many companies rely on their movements, even if cased up better, is a pretty worthy testament to Seiko's contribution to the industry. After all, if the beating heart is a Seiko, it's still basically a Seiko watch, to some degree, it seems.

 

Do you have shares in Heimdallr? I swear there is a thread or a post about this topic from you every couple of days.

 

I have to wonder if people are simply setting their expectations for the SKX way too high. At the end of the day, it's Seiko's lowest-end professional dive watch and not a particularly expensive watch in general. It's also been around and largely unchanged for over 20 years. It is one of the least expensive ISO rated divers available, which does give it more street cred versus the various other dive-style watches in that price range, but otherwise the spec sheet reads like most other major brand offerings in that price segment. Low end mechanical movement, cheap bracelet, mineral crystal, aluminum bezel insert, spotty bezel action. You're not going to get a gourmet feast for McDonalds value meal money. Set expectations accordingly.

 

I have my fair share of SKX. It's just OK, I got them only so I could modify them.

I agree, it's taken on a strange life as some kind of "iconic" watch that's supposed to be a must-have.

Some kind of Forestgumpism -- people running with him, not knowing why. Sure, good to run, but ... excessive adulation.

This phenom is a bit like how a mediocre hole-in-the-wall joint becomes popular becz it's cheap and tasty - but not really great food -- and then, it comes to be known as THE place to eat at, "the best tacos EVAR!" kinda thing.

Just 'hive mind' at work, the way I see it.

I have to wonder if people are simply setting their expectations for the SKX way too high. ...
the spec sheet reads like most other major brand offerings in that price segment. Low end mechanical movement, cheap bracelet, mineral crystal, aluminum bezel insert, spotty bezel action. You're not going to get a gourmet feast for McDonalds value meal money. Set expectations accordingly.

 

Heimdallr watches are kinda like the most recent Star Wars movies...much better special effects, etc...but there's something special about the original 3.

I do like em and just ordered a green SKX clone.

 

The Sharkey watches are nice hommages, but they really can not compete with a Seiko Tuna. The Tuna was purpose built to meet the needs of professional divers working in a saturation environment, they run a far superior quartz movement that is both more robust and more accurate that the NH35. Add to this the availability of an established brand with a well established service network and I think the only conclusion one can come to is that the total Seiko package is superior.

 

I also have the (bronze) Tuna and the turtle Sharkey. They are well made and I love the NH35 in them. But I differ from you assessment of the lume. The Seiko's are far superior with that. Mine didn't come with bracelets, but all in all, there are excellent Chinese bracelets out there, a way better deal then the "leather" straps sold in China. Those are usually horrible i.m.h.o.

 

Some of the Seiko homages are very nicely made. Excellent quality and in some cases, yes, better finish than the original.
One of my favourite watches is my Helm Komodo, a microbrand with an NH35 movement and it's solid, beautifully made and certified in excess of 300m extended pressure testing and has the best like of any watch I've owned. If it had Seiko on the dial it would be marine master pricing or higher.
I love my Seiko's but they are increasing in price with their popularity.

 

The pricing of the Seiko Marine Master has more to do with a better finish (subjective), more expensive/better movement (not subjective), is HE safe without the need for a relief valve (not subjective) than it does with the fact that the watch is branded Seiko. Saying that the Komodo would go for over $1000 if it was Seiko branded doesn't ring true. The Komodo is a nice watch for the money so is my Armida A6, but that doesn't mean if it said Rolex on the dial it would sell for as much as an explorer.

 

I have two Sharkey watches, a Turtle and a Tuna. Yes, they are homage watches, but in my opinion these are better than the real thing. OK, I don't actually own either a Seiko Turtle or Tuna, but I do own an SKX, and they are better than that. So why are they better? The bezels have a better movement, and are more clicky, whereas the Seiko bezel movement is wishwashy to say the least. To the advantage of the Seiko it is ISO tested and the Sharkey isn't. To be honest I would be amazed if the Sharkey leaked during a shallow dive. The case quality and finish is similar on all three watches. Hands down the Sharkey watches have far superior bracelets and solid end links. Even though the bracelet is very chunky on the tuna, it is amazingly comfortable. None of them have a divers extension, which I find strange. The Sharkey watches actually use a Seiko NH35 movement, which is better than the 7s26 movement in the SKX, as it hacks and self winds. Unfortunately the movement in the SKX hasn't been regulated and runs at -40 spd. The Sharkeys are both very accurate, running within a few spd. Both the Sharkey watches have a sapphire crystal against the Seiko's Hardlex. OK, Hardlex isn't that bad, but for what a Seiko diver costs I believe it deserves an upgrade. Seiko are famous for their lume, and so they should be, however the Sharkeys matches it comfortably.

For those of you (if there are any) that won't buy a Chinese watch, buy a Seiko, but for those of you that just want a better watch buy a Sharkey. At this point I should mention that Sharkey cost half as much. I should also say, take a look at Phoibos, because they are pretty impressive as well.

I agree with You Heimdallr is a great watch...as good as Seiko. Better Lume! However, Heimdallr is a German company. Production is in China.. With Heimdallr being one of the Gods

 

Heimdallr is a German company.

[citation needed]

 

If you owned a company, and paid your designers to create a new watch and movement it would typically be much more expensive to produce than the next guy who came along and stole all of your design work and bought an off the shelf movement to toss in the case.

I much prefer to support original design, rather than the intellectual property thief who gets away with it because there is a different name on the dial.

 

Amen. This cannot be said enough.

We need to start changing the narrative. These are not "homages," they're copies.

 

I'd eat my left shoe if they were German.
They're part of that Steel Dive conglomerate which, I imagine, are a few factories and warehouses somewhere in Guangzhou.

As for the topic, these watches are clearly better watches for the prices they charge, but they're not Seikos.
It strikes me as almost self-defeating that you buy a product running on obsolescent 80-year old technology with no original design cues. It's like you've missed half the reason and pleasure of why an enthusiast actually collects watches.

 

What gets me about Heimdallr — and I’m only just now looking at their website — is that they call one of their models the “Sea Shepherd.” As far as I can tell, they have no connection at all to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Along with borrowing names like Tuna and Turtle I find that a little shady, regardless of the quality of their products.

 

Meh. Seems like these probably appeal to the people who buy Luis Vuitton knockoffs. It's kind of like "Oooh, I want a Seiko monster but I want to save $100 at the same time," which is a bit silly.