Seiko SKX Discontinued (?)

[JBZ]

Per Mark from LIW, Seiko is discontinuing the SKX line.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5alFPHdP12Q[/youtube]

[andrema]

Based on the designs of the Seiko 5's, that was my guess. I thought they were new SKX watches at first.

[gr8sw]

they lasted a helluva long time

[JBZ]

Just looked at the new 5's. Same case as the SKX but, for some reason, the WR has been dropped from 200m to 100m (I assume this will allow Seiko to sell them for less).

The SKX line has been around for a long time, so it's somewhat iconic. But, IMHO, the SRP (NAFT) line is far superior to the SKX line for only a little more money. It's clearly been very successful for Seiko, so I imagine they felt like they could retire the SKX. And the SKX crown guard always dug into my wrist - I don't have that issue with the SRP.

[dukerules]

It's a shame. These Seiko 5s are pretty terrible IMO. If they could have kept the SKX, and maybe upgraded it a little with the 4R36 and perhaps slightly better case machining, it would have remained the perfect starter dive watch.

[spring-diver]

This has been in the making for a long time. Frank at Time Zone told me last year they were being discontinued.

One would have thought Seiko would have upgraded the SKX to a 4R35 and put a Prospex logo on the dial. Who knows, maybe Seiko will rerelease it in a few years.

[Torrid]

Just looked at the new 5's. Same case as the SKX but, for some reason, the WR has been dropped from 200m to 100m (I assume this will allow Seiko to sell them for less).

The SKX line has been around for a long time, so it's somewhat iconic. But, IMHO, the SRP (NAFT) line is far superior to the SKX line for only a little more money. It's clearly been very successful for Seiko, so I imagine they felt like they could retire the SKX. And the SKX crown guard always dug into my wrist - I don't have that issue with the SRP.

Agree with everything said here. I had an XW Tsunami because I just couldn’t get on with the basic feel of the 007. I always said if Seiko made a 6309 reissue that could be my go to affordable diver and even though the XW was nice, the dial and bracelet made it feel basic. I actually took a bit to get a NAFT, but my first was the blue lagoon which ended up being sold for another watch. After getting the 777 with the sapphire already installed, it’s just about perfect. The SKX and SRPs are basically competing with each other and it’s probably a poor business decision to make two affordable serious divers where the SKX style case can basically used for an interesting diver style watch instead of looking dated next to the NAFT. For some reason I never cared for the weirdly curvy SKX case. I like really edgy cases like the Sumo, but it’s just too big. The cushion case while rounded has at least one crease down the side and doesn’t have an amorphous blob look like the SKX.

[Joeprez]

One would have thought Seiko would have upgraded the SKX to a 4R35 and put a Prospex logo on the dial. Who knows, maybe Seiko will rerelease it in a few years.

I hope Seiko does that. Recently bought a SKX007 again and could not bond with the 7S movevent after trying the 4R and 6R in other newer Prospex divers. Might grab one of the Seiko 5 new ones as they have applied indices (and the 4R movement).

[Chocodove]

One would have thought Seiko would have upgraded the SKX to a 4R35 and put a Prospex logo on the dial. Who knows, maybe Seiko will rerelease it in a few years.

I hope Seiko does that. Recently bought a SKX007 again and could not bond with the 7S movevent after trying the 4R and 6R in other newer Prospex divers. Might grab one of the Seiko 5 new ones as they have applied indices (and the 4R movement).

Same. The quality just isn’t there compared to the NAFT’s.

[toxicavenger]

Per Mark from LIW, Seiko is discontinuing the SKX line.

I still do not believe it. Seiko has made so much cash off this watch it would be crazy to eliminated it. I do know I had one here at the shop that was manufactured Feb 2019. So either they have a ton of stock left or the plug has not officially been pulled yet.

[59yukon01]

Once I embraced the NAFTs, the SKX's just didn't do it for me anymore. Sold my Pepsi just last week.

However my beat-up 173 isn't going anywhere. After 21 years there's just too many memories

[Joeprez]

That does makes sense Terry. I would really like a new version of the SKX in the Prospex line, but with that new Seiko 5, I believe the NAFT will remain the entry level Prospex watch and Seiko will still made the SKX until they run out of parts. A nice Prospex diver with a 4R and smaller case than the NAFT would be great though.


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[1954Selmer]

I own a 007 & 009, because I love the dimensions. I would only trade them for a Yanagisawa SW037.

[sierra11b]

Buy one while you can. The times they are a changin'

[Chocodove]

One would have thought Seiko would have upgraded the SKX to a 4R35 and put a Prospex logo on the dial. Who knows, maybe Seiko will rerelease it in a few years.

I hope Seiko does that.

They will probably release it again in 10 years:

LE of 1000
48mm case
Unregulated 8l35 movement
$8000

LOL. So true.

[jswing]

One would have thought Seiko would have upgraded the SKX to a 4R35 and put a Prospex logo on the dial. Who knows, maybe Seiko will rerelease it in a few years.

I hope Seiko does that.

They will probably release it again in 10 years:

LE of 1000
48mm case
Unregulated 8l35 movement
$8000

LOL, that's the truth. I'll keep mine so I have the originals. I much prefer the SKX to the SRP. I know I'm in the minority, but with my small wrist it just fits me better. Plus the lume on the SRP is weird. I already had the 007 when this latest rumor came out, and I bought an 009 while they're still available. I do think the rumor is true this time, since they've now come out with the SKX lookalike in the Seiko 5 line. Interesting fact - both of mine are J versions, and both came with Seiko 5 tags, so were they always part of the Seiko 5 line? I guess. Would have been nice if they'd just kept the diver specs, but I guess they wanted SRP as the entry level diver now. They had a good run.

[Joeprez]

I’d grab a skx171 (the one with the applied indices dial), but those are not around as much as before.


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[AtomicTom]

That's upsetting because just thought the watch was always going to be made,
and be around. Am thinking like you guys are saying that they will re-release
the SKX down the road as a limited edition. Then we will still have the new Seiko 5
SKX-like models too to enjoy. But maybe this all leading up to the possibility, or
news of the SKX 2.0 !

That way Seiko can keep the classic design going with the new Seiko 5's, but
add in a brand new SKX at the same time.

Thanks so much for the info, along with video Jeff !