There are many vintage Seiko divers popular with collectors, and the legendary 7S26 – like this serviced bright orange 1997 Seiko SKX011J automatic diver here, with its inner/outer boxes, instructions manual, and warranty paperwork – is one of these.
With good reason, Seiko was able to build a tremendous cult following around the SKX - of significant note, Seiko unwisely discontinued these legendary divers in 2019, immediately driving up demand due in part to its less than ideal successor.
The design of this 7S26 is classic and simple, with immediate evidence of those that came before it, namely the instantly recognizable Seiko 7002 automatic, 7548 quartz, and even the famous 6309 diver. Its automatic movement is tough and reliable.
There remains a fair bit of debate among Seiko aficionados, with the argument on balance this variant - the "Made in Japan" one - is superior in quality to SKX examples made elsewhere, for example in Malaysia. But there is no similar debate over the lackluster nature of the Seiko replacement for the SKX, which features an inferior automatic movement and no screw-down crown.
Regardless, during its heyday, the SKX was popular with various armed forces for this same reason - its extreme durability - despite the widely held (false) assumption that military personnel only wear military watches issued to them
Seiko’s 7S26 was a logical step in its mechanical movement line, which debuted in 1996 to replace the 7002 in Seiko’s popular dive watch line, and incorporates quickset day and date displays, and automatic bi-directional winding via Seiko’s patented Magic Lever system.
The orange dial variant was first released in the mid-1990s as the SKX011K, and was likely targeted at the South East Asian market - Seiko discontinued, for unclear reasons, the SKX011K in favor of its successor, the SKX011J variant .
This Seiko diver comes on its Seiko jubilee bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, springbar tool, original inner/outer Seiko boxes, original Seiko 7S26 instructions, and Seiko warranty paperwork .
Full Set 1997 Seiko SKX011J (7S26-0020) Automatic Dive Watch
DIAL: Pristine Seiko-signed vibrant orange dial, Arabic/English language variant day and date, and matching gold-accented handset. Lume remains bright, following exposure to strong light.
BEZEL: Bezel insert features its original black and gold Seiko SKX011 bezel insert - many a Seiko mod aficionado swapped the original SKX011's gold accented bezel for a black Seiko SKX007 inserts (which didn't have the gold). But not here! Bezel ratchets counterclockwise firmly as designed with a solid click.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 42.5mm (w/o crown, 44.5mm with) x 45mm; matching signed caseback with original caseback sticker.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal, no deep scratches or cracks.
BAND: Stainless-steel Seiko bracelet, which will fit an approx. 7.75 inch wrist; this SKX011 also comes with a black and orange nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: 21-jewel Seiko 7S26B mechanical automatic movement, manufactured in March 2007.
CROWN: Unsigned stainless-steel screw-down crown.
Of note, this SKX011 comes with original Seiko inner/outer boxes, Seiko warranty paperwork, and Seiko 7S26 instructions manual; outer box and instructions manual have wear.
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