SKX399 on it's way.... having a holiday back in Japan... just for a moment

[jkchua]

I don't think the warranty manual comes together with the watch. When you buy a watch here, they'll just get a warranty manual randomly from a drawer full of it and grey manual booklets. I tried to get the grey manuals for the skx399s (7s26) but store owner said they don't have them for the entry level Seikos, only for the mid or high end ones plus they'll just say 'easy to operate, no need for manual'

[Spencer PK]

Quartzimodo states that if the caseback on any 7S26-0020 (of which the SKX399 is one) has "WP" or "KG" on it then it has been made in the past two years - my SKX399 has "WP".

[Spencer PK]

for all we know, maybe Quartzimodo was wrong to declare this model as "rare" after all...

seeing as four of us have gotten brand-new examples in the past month-plus, how rare could it be?  I think they're geographically limited, and impossible to find if you don't have our awesome SCWF brotherhood to lean on (thanks John, again) but that may not equal "rare".

[afrothang]

i kind of disagree.  regardless of what we think is the continued production, and the fact that 4 new ones have appeared in the last month or two, you cant ignore the fact that 1)you cant buy it in any store anywhere in the world except the philippines, 2)you cant find it on ebay new or used, and 3)there are basically very few photos (evidence) of them outside of the watch forum community. Furthermore, how about the issue that there is only one man (that we know of) that can get this watch.... I personally would regard the 399 as rare, just my opinion..

[Spencer PK]

i kind of disagree.  regardless of what we think is the continued production, and the fact that 4 new ones have appeared in the last month or two, you cant ignore the fact that 1)you cant buy it in any store anywhere in the world except the philippines, 2)you cant find it on ebay new or used, and 3)there are basically very few photos (evidence) of them outside of the watch forum community. Furthermore, how about the issue that there is only one man (that we know of) that can get this watch.... I personally would regard the 399 as rare, just my opinion..

I'm with you, just trying to find the justification to wear the damn thing... still has the caseback sticker on!

[Technoman]

I'm with you, just trying to find the justification to wear the damn thing... still has the caseback sticker on!

Just wear it already  Isn't that why you bought it!!

[Solaris94]

... Furthermore, how about the issue that there is only one man (that we know of) that can get this watch.... I personally would regard the 399 as rare, just my opinion..

May be John is making these dials in his garage....   Thanks again John for my beautiful SKX399... We should come up with a nick name for this one.

[Spencer PK]

Just wear it already  Isn't that why you bought it!!

here's how pathetic I am.  As Mr. Rogers had his outside shoes and sweater, and his inside shoes and sweater... I have an outside (at work) watch, and an inside "home" watch.  The SKX399 is my current "home" watch.  It sits on my sidetable, and when I get home I change out of dress shirt / slacks etc, into comfy pants, slippers, t-shirt.... and my SKX399.   

[cbrmike]

The way you could tell if the SKX399 is from 2001 or 2011 would be by the movement in it.  Seiko made the transition from the 7s26a to the 7s26b movement in late 2006 so if it has a 7s26a it's 2001 or a 7s26b would be 2011.

[at2011]

The way you could tell if the SKX399 is from 2001 or 2011 would be by the movement in it.  Seiko made the transition from the 7s26a to the 7s26b movement in late 2006 so if it has a 7s26a it's 2001 or a 7s26b would be 2011.

I was about to say that Mike, here's an excerpt from the Q&A below the Quartzimodo Journals dated April 19, 2011:

"Nobody knows for sure when the SKX399K first debuted in the Philippines market, but photos of the harder-to-find, SKX401K (with the Pepsi bezel insert) have been around earlier than 2003. All I can say is that if your watch looks and smells brand new, it's likely from Oct 2008. If you're able to open up the caseback and you see "7s26B" inscribed on the oscillating weight, instead of "7s26A" it confirms that your watch is from 2008 (instead of 1998).

[/color]

Quartzimodo"

[jkchua]

Yesterday was watch hunting day for me, I asked every store in downtown if they could get/order me a 399/s.. Nada.

I ran into one storeowner that said she could get me a 399 or a 401 but when she called their supplier she said no stocks at the moment. I 'know' she couldn't get one but she asked me how many would i like.. I said 'get me 10pcs if you could!' hahaha. Left my number and let's hope she delivers

Edit (OT): great thing about this store was I bumped into this watch seller guy that was buying a lot of diver straps. He was wearing a modded red dial and i told him how cool looking it was. While into a chit chat I told him i was looking for a 6105 for the longest time. He then went for his pocket and showed me one! It was an all original example with some kind of bracelet he was trying on, aged but real nice condition. Asked him if he was to sell it but he kinda grabbed the watch from my hands and said it was his hahaha. He got my number though and said in case he changes his mind he'll get it touch. I hope this will be it for me

[sharkfinDave]

Congrats Spencer!


Love those, and I miss mine.
The puffy lume really makes the dial pop.
I've always wanted to find a 401, but those are even more elusive.


cheers.

[Lucilinburhuc]

I pulled the trigger as well, thanks to John    You're such a good guys John!! And guy, the are rare.. I have seen divers over the past years, that for a relatively short period seemed to put up regularly. A good example is the 6309. Looking at nos ones for example: about 3 years ago, over a few months time, about 4/5 showed up for sale. At that time, my feeling was that this would appear to be pure luck afterwards. And it did, after these few examples, maybe one other really nos showed up for sale. With these kind of things I allways try to use common sense (would be great if we all did in normal life as well  ).


So regarding the SKX399: Being sold in one Country, even there not easy to get a few in more than a few places, and if they allready are still made new, they won't be for long. As the SKX divers are in production long enough to be replaced at any moment. I will be very happy with mine! First I thought the SKX007 was the only 7S26 diver that deserves a place in the standard line (62mas, 6105, 6306/6309, 7002, 7S26). I focussed to much on the round hourmarkers. After getting the SKX173, I knew the SKX007 had to share her place with the SKX173 because of the Square hourmarkers, as the 62mas, 6105, 7002 did as well. And now the SKX399 makes it a threesome    Same reasons as the SKX173, but now with with the 6105 like chrome edges of the hourmarkers 


Am I crazy? 


Ron

[size=78%]  [/size]

[Spencer PK]

it could easily be the way of it, I agree.  In years to come, guys saying "hey remember when you could get brand-new 399s out of the Philippines??  Boy I wish I'd gotten one then!"

[at2011]

Mine just touched base last night, couldn't be more happier



And with it's older sibling...



...what a lovely weekend this would be   Thanks John, 

[jkchua]

And with it's older sibling...

Glad I could be of any help to you guys

Noticed that different color print o the 'diver's 200m'.. Maybe that's the difference of a 399 and 401 besides the bezel insert.

[at2011]

Glad I could be of any help to you guys

Noticed that different color print o the 'diver's 200m'.. Maybe that's the difference of a 399 and 401 besides the bezel insert.

Hi John,
It was once the same color but faded due to age (it's a 1998 model with a 7s26A movement). It's the same color as the lume, without the glow of course.