[usclassic]

Once again I find myself shopping for a Seiko diver and am drawn to the 009 and or 175 for looks and price. I know the 175 is for the US market and the 009 the world and other than some Malaysia markings on the 175 for US customs compliance they are the same......or are they. Is it possible the US export models undergo more quality control - regulation - adjustments for the movements. Perhaps a movement sorting step before assembly of the 175 using cream of the crop for those. I would appreciate your thoughts and experiences especially if you have had both 009 and 175.

 

[Seiko Madness]

Well, I purchased many SKX007/009 and one SKX173 (USA market). It was not the more accurate one. In fact, most of the others were much more accurate than it. Of course, we should not generalize from such a small sample. Let's see what the others say.

One think that you may consider is the warranty. If Seiko makes the 173/175 for the USA market, I will not be surprised if the SEIKO USA deny to honor a warranty for the 007/009. Maybe other users who lives in the USA may bring some light on this matter.

 

[LightDot]

There might be some truth to this. I once saw a hidden mirror reflection in one of the Seiko promotion videos, a scene that wasn't ever meant to be caught by the camera.

But there he was. An old master watchman, white haired, blind and wrinkled from the passage of time, holding his trembling hands over the production line and picking out seemingly random 7s26 movements just before they were cased. These superlative 7s26 make a different tic tac sound compared to the ordinary ones, you know, different from the lowly common lot, meant for the Japan and the rest of the world... The old master senses this more than hears, thus picking up the very cream of the crop for the US...

Er.. sorry, did I go too far? :-d

 

[j0n]

This may not be much help, but my SKX175 started at +4 sec/day and settled to -2 sec/day, which I understand is pretty darn good/lucky for the 7S26. I have never owned a 009.

 

[ddd]

I've had a couple of 009s and one 175 (still own). For me the 175 was/is much more accurate. Likely just the luck of the draw though.

 

[usclassic]

There might be some truth to this. I once saw a hidden mirror reflection in one of the Seiko promotion videos, a scene that wasn't ever meant to be caught by the camera.

But there he was. An old master watchman, white haired, blind and wrinkled from the passage of time, holding his trembling hands over the production line and picking out seemingly random 7s26 movements just before they were cased. These superlative 7s26 make a different tic tac sound compared to the ordinary ones, you know, different from the lowly common lot, meant for the Japan and the rest of the world... The old master senses this more than hears, thus picking up the very cream of the crop for the US...

Er.. sorry, did I go too far? :-d

Not too far - Perhaps Santa's Elves sort movements as well and distribute to good boys and bad boys accordingly...

 

[usclassic]

Well friends now to expand the thread a little and add the SRP779 into the discussion with the 4R36 is this worth the extra $100.

 

[59yukon01]

Well friends now to expand the thread a little and add the SRP779 into the discussion with the 4R36 is this worth the extra $100.

First to answer the OP. My new SKX175 is running about +5 s/d. Have a 18 year old SKX173 that used to be that accurate. Maybe I was just lucky. As far as the SRP779 being worth $100 more. For me personally it wasn't. Had a SKX175, sold it, and bought the 779. After a couple of months I realized I liked the 175 more, so bought another one at a great price, and sold the 779.

 

[atarione]

I have a SKX009 and a SKXA35 (usa model) both are about equally accurate.. fit and finish is about the same.. the A35 however has a slightly misaligned chapter ring where the 009 is actually pretty spot on.

I honestly don't think it makes much difference...

 

[sticky]

I'm fairly certain that they're both identical under the skin. If the 779 sings to you more than the 009 then of course it's worth the extra money.

 

[usclassic]

First to answer the OP. My new SKX175 is running about +5 s/d. Have a 18 year old SKX173 that used to be that accurate. Maybe I was just lucky. As far as the SRP779 being worth $100 more. For me personally it wasn't. Had a SKX175, sold it, and bought the 779. After a couple of months I realized I liked the 175 more, so bought another one at a great price, and sold the 779.

Thank you for posting your comment. It is hard to tell, really until after you experience the watch on your wrist. I have bought many I thought would be wonderful but ultimately were lacking in some area. Visually I think I prefer the 009/175 case design as more minimalist and efficient. If you don't mind sharing more details of what features exactly you preferred I would enjoy hearing about them. As for me now my problem is how much I would not like having my Victorinox Infantry automatic sitting in the watch box while I wear the Seiko. The watch has been very faithful to me for 7+ months so I feel an obligation and attachment to it. Perhaps even a duty. It was my grail watch at the time and has served me very well so perhaps the answer is to stop looking at watches and focus my attention elsewhere. They just are such wonderful machines it is hard not to admire them.

 

[srexy]

The 7s26 and the 4R36 share the same guts and they come unregulated from the factory so it's a complete crapshoot as to whether they'll keep better time or not.

If you have one that's crazy fast/slow they're not that hard to regulate to a decent rate - +/-10spd is easily achievable. It's the sub +/-5spd that's elusive

 

[59yukon01]

Thank you for posting your comment. It is hard to tell, really until after you experience the watch on your wrist. I have bought many I thought would be wonderful but ultimately were lacking in some area. Visually I think I prefer the 009/175 case design as more minimalist and efficient. If you don't mind sharing more details of what features exactly you preferred I would enjoy hearing about them. As for me now my problem is how much I would not like having my Victorinox Infantry automatic sitting in the watch box while I wear the Seiko. The watch has been very faithful to me for 7+ months so I feel an obligation and attachment to it. Perhaps even a duty. It was my grail watch at the time and has served me very well so perhaps the answer is to stop looking at watches and focus my attention elsewhere. They just are such wonderful machines it is hard not to admire them.

Personally I like the SKX case better than the SRP, at least on the Pepsi. Also like the dial with the red text, and the absence of the X. Dial color, even though pictures sometimes makes it look black, is actually a blue gray. I also have a SRP775, so I don't dislike the SRP's. I like the fact the gold is more subtle on the dial. It's the best of the Turtles imo.

 

[usclassic]

I have been looking now at SNZF15K1 since I don't dive this may be the scratch for my "dive" watch itch without spending too much scratch....

 

[usclassic]

The other issue I am really more concerned about is the lume- are there noticeable differences? between skx009, snzf15, skx175? I started another thread for that - here

 

[kostantinos]

Go for seiko 009.classic watch ever

 

[Elarock]

I was on the thread because I was researching the differences between the 009 and 175 before buying, but thought I'd chime in on the SRP since I have one. I actually have the SRP775 (gilt) and it's really the one I grab when I'm rushing out the door and not thinking about what to wear. I've had it for several years now and it's running about +3 sec. (giver or take) which I'm very happy with not to mention it's built like a tank. I know there are people out there that the difference in a few seconds per day (genuinely) matter, but I'd guess that 97.3% of us (if we're being honest) can't tell the difference day-to-day. Just checked before posting and Amazon has the SRP779 at $249 w/free shipping. Is the SRP worth 100 more...still yes IMO. Is it worth 50 more? Absolutely.

Although that said, after wearing a buddy's SKX for a few weeks they do wear differently with the SRP feeling much more substantial. And that's not even mentioning the hack/wind of the 4R36 in the SRP.

Just my .02.

Well friends now to expand the thread a little and add the SRP779 into the discussion with the 4R36 is this worth the extra $100.