Stopgap Measure Towards the Rolex Submariner : Seiko SKX007 and Steinhart Ocean 1

One of the most queries that I received vide e-mails come from new hobbyists and always to the tune of the following statement :

"I don't want to spend RM22k on a Rolex Submariner 116610LN. But the itch is there. What watch can I get to scratch that itch as a stopgap measure for the interim period?"

Rolex Submariner 116610LN is the preferred choice of many.

You won't believe how many times I have read such e-mails. Having just read yet another similar e-mail for perhaps the 100th time, I decided to do a posting on this matter.

I like trying new watches and I have been flipping quite a no. of watches. But there are some watches that I don't flip despite getting offers from other collectors, such as my vintage Rolex Datejust and vintage Pagol.

Rolex Submariner 116610LV is MY preferred choice.

Typically, you won't really lose a lot of monies flipping your 40mm Rolex Submariner as there's always someone out there ready to net a pre-owned Sub for a price lesser than retail. You can typically get the basic 116610LN with the black ceramic bezel for some RM22k new (RRP : RM25k), and the price goes upwards to RM26k as you inch towards the 116610LV with the green ceramic bezel aka Hulk (RRP : RM29k).

However... there are some stopgap measures that you could have to scratch that itch pending your getting your real Sub. Let's face it- a Rolex Submariner is still just about the most prestigious diver watch that has been there since day one (although some would argue that the Sub's design was actually inspired by Blancpain Fifty Fathoms) and the most copied design whether vide counterfeit, replica or homage pieces.

I am not a fan of counterfeit or replica watches, but I can live with homage watches. And there are many homage watches for the Sub-design, so you can have your pick from many different brands.

Personally, there are 2 watches that I would personally recommend for fellow readers to get if they would like to get the Sub-design minus the Rolex premium pricing. I am of course referring to the Seiko SKX007, and Steinhart Ocean 1.

Supercompressor did some Smart Money articles about the Rolex Submariner vs Seiko SKX007 and Steinhart Ocean 1, which you could read in the attached links. I would summarise some of my observations as per the following :

Seiko SKX007
- robust and dependable Seiko 7s26 21-jewels, non-hacking, automatic movement;
- hardened crystal (and I really like the raised dome shape);
- diving depth of 200m;
- Oyster 41mm case;
- costs less than RM1,300 even at the highest-quality Japan-made J version. The K version costs considerably lesser.

Steinhart Ocean 1
- robust and dependable ETA 2824-2 25-jewels, hacking, automatic movement, elabore-grade (that's mid-range);
- sapphire crystal;
- diving depth of 300m;
- larger Oysters 42mm case ;
- with option to get the black ceramic bezel that would be more scratch-proof;
- costs less than RM2,000 for a genuine Swiss-made timepiece with typical German efficient engineering.

You really can't go wrong with these pristine homages with real diving capabilities. And both homages have enough differences from the Rolex Submariner so that they could hold themselves in their own rights without being blatant copies without any innovations whatsoever.\

So there you have it- you could have one, or both of them, in your collection without breaking your bank account. And both movements are easily-serviceable by most watchsmiths, so you could just sit back and enjoy the watches for years and years to come.

Rolex Yacht Master for RM9,500?!

A fellow reader pointed me to the attached advert and informed that he was interested to make the purchase.

I looked at the advert and alarm bells started ringing. A 2013 Yacht Master with a retail value of over RM50k and under warranty, going for RM9,500?! Heck, if the seller needed the monies urgently, he could just walk into a pawnshop and he could have gotten the RM9,500 easily with that watch, so why the need to advertise and sell like that?

I informed the reader that it was too good of a deal, and if it was a genuine deal, he could just take it fast. But I had 2 reservations as per the following :

1) Watch must be verified at an authorised Rolex service centre or vide a competent watchsmith (in case it was a well-made replica);

2) Likelihood that the seller would just ask for monies to be bank into his account (in case there was no actual watch on sale), so a COD deal must be agreed upon preferably at the RSC.

The reader later contacted me that the seller agreed for the watch to be verified at a watchsmith; BUT the reader must deposit RM3,000 into the seller's account first. The reader then wanted to put the seller's NRIC on the bank-in slip but the seller did not seem to know his NRIC no. The seller persistently asked the reader to bank in first, then only could he view the watch.

Alarms should be ringing like a cat's tail on fire, so I advised the reader to just stop wasting his time on this deal. There are lots of such dubious adverts going around, so fellow readers do take note and always exercise caution.

Wear your watches in good health, mates.

Diver Watch Flying : Seiko Pepsi

I should probably give Bell & Ross more wrist time with my constant flying schedules, but I was still more at home with Diver watches for the interim period.

It was the Steinhart Ocean Forty-Four on Business Class, now it's the Seiko Pepsi's turn. It may be an affordable piece from Japan, but I am liking it more and more really. So much so that I am thinking of getting another SKX009J and modding it along the lines of Dagaz Black Bay Tribute.

Anyway, this is the original piece with me in the plane.

And here is a link to another watch enthusiast's modification towards the Dagaz Black Bay Tribute. I am seriously thinking of doing this, on another SKX of course.

Seiko Pepsi SKX009J1 : Rubber or Leather?

Readers would know that I had wrote about bringing my newly-acquired Seiko SKX009J1 for some heavy-duty testing (not for diving, mind you) during my trip to a plantation overseas. Thus far, it has been performing admirably and I couldn't have asked for more given its affordable purchased price. And being located at a time when it gets dark faster than back in Peninsular Malaysia, I had a chance to test its lume (Seiko's Lumibrite) and it has been up to task, with the lume lasting overnight easily (although I should add in that I have been walking the fields in the hot, scorching sun throughout the day so the lume were very much charged through and through).

I am now considering if I should get the infamous Wjean28 Super Oyster 2 bracelet at app RM350 o match the Seiko Pepsi. Online reviews largely had that the Seiko Pepsi feels that much more solid and enjoyable when paired with the equally solid oyster bracelet that supposedly gives Rolex's Oyster a run for its monies (although I am sure that that description was largely inflated by over-enthusistic Seiko lovers).

I found a strip of Cobra leather while walking the fields though- rubber or leather, what say you, dear readers?

Maiden Wear : Edox Class 1 GMT Titanium

The weather at downtown KL has been pretty hot, so I decided to take the whole family for a weekend stay up at Cameron Highlands. But boy, it seemed that half of KLites decided to do so too so it a massive traffic jam all the way from Tapah up the mountains.

Good thing I had the Edox Class 1 GMT to pass time. It's the maiden wear today.

Just Arrived : Seiko Pepsi-Bezel 200m Diver (Model No : SKX009J1)

Pursuant to the entry @ http://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2014/06/pulled-trigger-seiko-pepsi-bezel-200m.html, there were readers whom asked about making online purchases via Seiko AD and the associated warranty.

Well, all Seiko watches purchased from Seiko AD should come with the Seiko worldwide warranty; although in my case, the watch was Japan-made but destined for the European market, so it came with a 2-year warranty instead of the 1-year warranty for local purchases. It looks pretty nice to me and looks like it has arrived just in time for my travels abroad over the next 10 days.

I bet I would be the only passenger in Business Class wearing an ordinary el-cheapo Seiko diver in the sea of Rolexes et al. But I believe that I am going to enjoy the company of this lil' fella.

Pulled The Trigger : Seiko Pepsi-Bezel 200m Diver (Model No : SKX009J1)

I wanted to get the so-called Pepsi bezel and there were quite a few options available. The nicest and most expensive option was of course, the Rolex GMT Master II.

Another option that I was interested in was the Steinhart Ocean 1 GMT.

And finally, what was commonly-referred to as the poor man's Rolex Submariner i.e. Seiko SKX009.

Having been on a sale and purchase frenzy of sorts recently, my wife would probably make mincemeat of me if I went about spending circa RM30k on a watch right now, when I had already added the 2 pieces of Edox timepieces into my collection last month.

No Sirree, what I needed was something cheap and cheerful to scratch that Pepsi itch for the interim period.

I have a new love for Steinhart's quality at an affordable price, and the Ocean 1 GMT costs circa RM1.5k which was relatively wallet-friendly. However, the model was out-of-stock due to non-availability of the ETA movements for Steinhart.

That leaves the Seiko SKX009 and it comes in 2 models- J (made in Japan) and K (elsewhere), which are further broken down into 4 types of straps i.e. leather, rubber, stainless steel jubilee and stainless steel oyster. The J model obviously comes at a premium given its higher standards of manufacturing and high labour cost.

Now, which one do you think would tickle my fancy? Well, I have just pulled the trigger and it shall be coming in the courier real soon, my fellow readers...

Keep your eyes peeled on this spot, mates.

(And in case you're the impatient type, the answer is in the title actually, LOL).