38 mm case / 20 mm lug width / 13 mm thick / 44 mm lug to lug / hardlex / 200m water resistance
Hydrophobes Welcomed
Even the most hydrophobic enthusiast needs a dive watch in their rotation, and Seiko arguably offers the most value in this segment. Having owned the elusive Orient 2ER00001B as my first submergible and finding it just a bit too large for my wrists, I regrettably sold it and explored alternatives.
007 vs 013
The Seiko SKX007 is the go-to for entry level automatic dive watches, but coming in at just around 42mm I thought it would wear a bit too large for my taste. Enter the SKX013: the baby brother to the 007. Aside from the unavoidable scaling down that is necessary with case size and dial proportions, the only notable aesthetic difference between the two is the seconds hand: the 007 wields a lollipop style while the 013 displays a more modest arrow design. Personally, I prefer the lollipop style hand as it matches the indices a bit better, but it mostly comes down to personal taste, as both offer superb balance to the no-nonsense dial design that is underappreciated with dive watches (I’m looking at you, wordy Submariners).
Orient vs Seiko
Other watches I’d considered in this segment were from Orient; both the Mako and Ray are tempting offerings from a solid company that operates within the same parent organization as Seiko. A case could be made for either one, but ultimately for me it came down to size. Had it been between an Orient and the 007, I have a feeling that one of the Mako variants with an upgraded movement with the added ability to manually wind and hack would have prevailed. An important factor to me is a movement’s ability to be hand-wound, a feature I still miss in my 013. One other nicety that the SKX lacks is the framed day/date window that polishes up the Mako’s aesthetic, making it a bit more grown-up and classy.
Fast and Loose
My experience with the SKX013 has been mediocre at best, but I still find myself putting it on my wrist more than any other casual watch in my collection. At about +45.4 seconds per day (according to Toolwatch.io) it runs far too fast to keep it moving for more than a few days at a time which can be frustrating.
After about 2 years, the rotor came loose which prompted me to have to remove the case back and tighten it up with a small screwdriver. Though it wasn’t a big deal, I wasn’t particularly keen on opening it up, as I occasionally wear this while swimming and performing maintenance on my saltwater aquarium. Fortunately, its water resistance does not appear to have been compromised. Though I do tend to wear this watch while running, it was surprising for that to happen so soon after purchase. But ultimately, not a big deal, as watches are meant to be worn.
A Permanent Piece
The SKX watches pair wonderfully with the perlon straps that Eulit offers. I find them to suit the watches aesthetically as well as functionally, as they are far more breathable in the summer than anything else I’ve tried. I originally purchased it with the included jubilee bracelet, but knew even before it shipped that I would sell it, as I’m just not a big fan of bracelets in general. I could have opted for the rubber band, but they were out of stock at Long Island Watch, which is where I ordered from.
Overall I would absolutely recommend this watch to anyone who wants to throw something on and not have to worry about it getting beat up. Loose rotor issue aside, it’s a robust watch that looks good enough to wear to a casual restaurant as well as swim with at the beach. Seiko certainly got it right with the SKX series, and my collection would undoubtedly be incomplete without one.