Watch modding is a funny thing. When I buy homage watches I do everything possible to make them appear as a Seiko. However, when I buy a Seiko I mod it to hell and back until it looks totally different from the factory product. I must be insane.
You just can't beat a good quality waffle strap. I remember as a kid in the 1970s how cool they looked. Also Martin Sheen wore a black waffle strap on the Seiko 6105 in the film Apocalypse Now, inadvertently creating that timeless classic look.
Hey John, just wanted to let you know that I bought this little fella because of your review. 78.- $ on sale! I love it. Bezel action on mine is perfect, alignment as good as on a real Seiko and the lume is also almost as good as on my Seiko Turtle. Have a great weekend.
Hope you enjoy it...I ought another in the Choices Sale with the Orange dial that I plan to re-review as the review you have just seen was my very first video 1 year ago :)
@@johnswatchjoint I like the down to earth, relatable delivery. I can see it as your signature. I prefer slightly shorter videos which may naturally happen as you build more of a catalogue and look forward to seeing you build your followers.
Nice review and great watch to start, but please keep the watch still in front of the camera. Talking with your hands as italians do is not useful in this situation.
Just revisited this video after 14 months of doing this now. Congrats you were my first critic! My very first video and nervous as hell. Was looking for your content to see how you do your videos, you being a critic and everything but, alas you have never made one. Perhaps you should try it sometime :)
Thanks a lot for remembering me, I did not realize this was your first video. I was indeed thinking about my own videos but there are so many watch reviews on RU-vid that I don't think that anyone is in need of yet another dude showing the latest available watches. I have a watch collection of about 80 watches built up in 50 years now, some are really special, rare or quirky. Maybe I could show some of those, but I would have to learn how to cut videos and buy some equipment. Maybe some day who knows...
@@BosworthMcG Yep. The Ray is a bigger watch and doesn't have sapphire glass. The previous reply was someone who didn't watch the video properly. Happens a lot when others don't like your content. Thanks for watching and making a comment. Remember to subscribe ;)
Meh. I'll dissent. The SKX013 is a nice watch but this is just another case of China ripping off someone else's designs. I'm sure the value is there at that price, but I'd spend the money on the real deal first. At least the movement is Seiko (maybe, unless China is building those on the cheap, too. Probably, LOL.)
I tried 3 times to get an SKX013. 1 DOA and two tragically misaligned. For the prices second hand this just gives folk another alternative. Same looks, better movement and sapphire. Just showing valued option :)
@@johnswatchjoint I have multiple Seikos, some of then misaligned, but that's okay with me. Still the real deal. I've never scratched hardlex so the superiority of sapphire isnt there for me.😉 Also Chinese sapphire so may just be sapphire coated mineral. Also, not sure about superior movement. It's the exact same movement as the SKX013, minus the day wheel and with the addition of handwinding. I get why people spend their money on these things; they are cheaper than the Seiko brand. That is due in large part to not having to go through the design process and building the brand, having little overhead, and also building it in China using very poor labor practices in some cases. As I said, they're taking an established brand's design and running away with it and building it cheaper, using sometimes bad business practices behind the scenes, possibly inferior materials, etc. There's a host of other reasons I won't get into but everyone has a different perception if value and there's definitely more than cost involved for me. Just another Chinese knockoff. Hope you enjoy it, though.👍
@@ForeverUnknowing we get it, you dont like homage watches... and i can agree with some points but in case like this where seiko has decided to not make the skx013 anymore and the 2nd hand prices are ridiculous you can get a decent alternative with sapphire (and yes they use real sapphire) and a genuine seiko movement which is the upgraded version of what was in the original. Im Sure case finishing isnt as good but for less than $100 there is a lot of value here. If seiko was smart theyd make the sk013 with sapphire and nh35 themselves, people would glady pay more $ for it than $100 but seiko is japanese and makes very strange business decisions. So since you cant easily get the original for what they really should be worth this is a great alternative
@@ryanpeck3377 On the contrary, I don't totally dislike homage watches. There's a difference between homages and basically copies, though. An homage could simply take design cues without taking the entire design, for example. And also some watches are "homages" to virtually unobtainable ones that are long discontinued and cost many thousands of dollars. I totally get that and understand the 013 in particular is discontinued, so the choice now is either buy used, or buy a copy brand, of which there are many and the prices are cheap. I'll also grant that a lot of watches (especially dive style) will have similar design aesthetics anyways. For the sake of argument, is there any proof that these are real sapphire crystals and not sapphire coated mineral? Is there any proof that the movement is genuine Seiko and not a copy with the Seiko logo on it? I'm not one to put it past Chinese companies to make copies of the movements and nobody should be, and especially at this price. Not being a dick, just asking for the sake of argument if we have any proof to the claims. Japanese companies are indeed prone to strange business ideas, at least as it appears to us. Although realistically, Seiko is probably just aiming for a different demographic these days. The Seiko 5 Sports line (the ones that have the SKX case) has lots of WIS guys complaining about how they lost the 200 meters water resistance and the screw down crown, things they never really needed but were just for style points or for that robust feel. How many of Seikos customers are WIS people that care about that (or professional divers using a wristwatch instead of the more practical dive computer), versus the number of people in Asia and other places that buy watches as fashion pieces because it caught their eye at the local Macy's? To us guys that really enjoy watch collecting as a hobby, it makes little sense to take away features and raise prices, but there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than people really take into account. Some bean counter was paid a lot of money to figure out what sells.👍 WIS people call that stupid, a businessman might call that smart business. There's a lot of different angles and opinions and I'm just a casual watch collector with my own take on things. You do you, though. If this is your cup of tea, go buy one and wear it in good health.👍 It's indeed a great value when considering what you're getting for the price, it's just that to me that's not the only thing at work.
Welcome to the watch reviewing world! Good looking piece. The only qualm I have is with the "DIVER"S..." on the face. That typically denotes an ISO 6425 certified watch which I doubt this is at that price. Now Jody has some competition! Wishing you success!
I've had my eye 👀 on this particular exact watch for a lil while now and from the research they are the best iteration or close to it for that type of money it's a very solid value IMHO. The size is great and kinda rare in the lower end dive market unless The smaller size and looks , movement, materials etc it's a great alternative imo!! I personally think they knocked this one out the park and that doesn't happen often where all areas or close too are done right IMO! Its actually very possible that it may be my next watch for a good value everyday watch diver skx style watch that actually will fit my 6.25 wrist properly, anything under 39/40mm is kinda hard to find a nice diver with those proportions unless you go Swiss etc , they are around just bit harder to get a good value that marks all areas with those beautiful proportions. Using rubber instead of cheap bracelet to accomplish the right overall build and cost hence being able to tick the right boxes. I've been looking forward to this review!
Rooting for your success. Looking forward to watch reviews that don’t use gimmicks such as exaggerated buffoonery or thumbnail clickbait. I wear the SKX013 when I want a “below the radar” size with rugged performance particularly during water excursions in less developed destinations. This offering appears to do all that and more at a better price point.
Hi and thanks for the comment. I agree, and glad you, as an SKX013 wearer are on my side. Just trying to be myself and get some honest content out there. Not just Chinese's watches either ;)
Nice video! Just watched your other vid on the Depth Charge. I think you and I are in the same catagory for watch collecting; finding affordable good quality, good looking watches. Looking forward to your future content.
I bought the case used in this watch (they sell it separately). In person the case doesn't resemble the skx013 at all. It looks like a scaled-down skx007 with a coin-edge bezel. The cases of the 007 and 013 are very different. Also, there's no space for a chapter ring under the crystal!!! If you want to use one it will have to sit on the dial.
Hello John good video & a decent watch for $89 bucks 👍 be nice if you had a few micro shots I subscribed looking forward to see what else you come up with .
Thanks. Just back from family holiday. Have upgraded phone, mic and lighting and currently putting a vid together. Old set up was VERY basic so micro shots were pretty much a no go. Hopefully you like what will transpire ;)
They have but unfortunately they have not brought out an improvement to the smaller SKX013. This video was just to highlight the fact that you can get a similar looking small diver with a better movement and sapphire crystal, wrapped in a very similar case to the SKX013 for under $100 :)
Good find - considering buying it. I've also got my eye on the Tactical Frog Titanium FX-Diving Watch which is an homage to the Tudor Pelagos FXD. No one seems to have reviewed the Tactical Frog so I'm feeling a bit trepidatious about buying it. But might anyway.
That sounds interesting. Stuck on the runway in Prague as flight delayed on last day of my break. Will have a look tonight at it along with some other possible new buys to review ;)
Nathan Smith I just recently found out about that Tactical Frog Tudor Pelagoes and that is a great watch it being Titanium is just a bonus and I was about disappointed as it's a 42mm from what I reckon and I can't go past a 39/40 unless it's a smaller lug to lug distance with smaller wrist some watches just won't work and would look and feel beyond unwearbale so being attracted to divers in particular it's nice to find some that have slimmer dimensions and this Tandorio does it! If that Tactical Frog fit it being very high up on the list as it's just a very versatile and imo looks great and if it's fits then it should wear quite awesome being a titanium watch without a metal bracelet. Not many homages or others that look like the Pelagoes but this TF looks the part and it being Titanium for the price it is if ya like the style I think it's a good value and would also work nice as an everyday watch IMHO.
@@michaelplantus1999 the more I think about it the more I'm tempted to buy it. My only concern would be the titanium getting scuffed but it's a comparatively cheap tool watch so that could just add character. I also wonder about the titanium case back screwing into the titanium body. I've heard other watch reviewers hint that titanium case backs can 'fuse'? But I expect it's fine. It comes with a 3 year warrantee after all. The count down bezel is perhaps less ideal than a count up one but still good for boiling an egg.
Thank you for this video. Looks like a decent option this watch. I want an SKX013 but its a little bit out of my budget right now. Do you have any stainless steel straps that you would recommend for this watch? I think all silver just looks better with any outfit!
The best watch at a great price for you with your wrist size would be the Seestern 62 mas. Stunning watch for the price. Check my review from a beach in Scotland ;)
I bought the SKX007 a couple of years ago just before they discontinued it. Picked it over the 013 because I prefer the handset of the 007. Size wise, the 013 would fit me better, so this is quite perfect!
I couldn't live with the 007. It just rolled around on my wrist like an out of control school bus! Took me 7 attempts but finally got the best example of an SKX013. All straight and accurate too. Dated 2019. Love it!
A sweet looking watch, thanks for the review. A little advice for future videos, try not to talk with your hands. When you're talking you keep shaking the watch, try to hold it steadier. Good luck with the new channel.
Haha. Is it possible they got it wrong on the website? That would be the best mistake ever. I know there are some reviewers like “I like watches” who has a device that can test the water resistance. Would be fun to see how it holds up.
I see a lot of value here. Just might pick it up...Always wanted a skx013 but im not paying the price they cost 2nd hand... Good review (i would suggest doing some b-roll footage of just the watch sat stll instead of holding in your hands. Makes it easier to see the details etc) overall i enjoyed this. Best of luck with your channel.
I bought this watch and am loving it. I ground down the sharp bezel edge with a rotary tool though. The bezel on mine is a bit misaligned but it does not really bother me. I use it to time my cooking. The strap is tough and comfortable but ugly so I bought 6 new quick release straps to suit my mood. Good solid little watch for the money.
