My First Watch
A look into where my enthusiasm for watches all began.
JOHN NICHOLS
APRIL 04, 2020
Everyone who knows me nowadays seems to know that I like watches. They’ve become a synonymous part of my existence to the point where it just feels weird if there isn’t one strapped to my wrist. Though I’ve been a watch enthusiast for most of my adult life, it wasn’t all too long ago where wristwatches didn’t mean all that much to me, and the extent of my knowledge went as far as “Rolex is a luxury watch brand”.
Casting my mind all the way back to 2003, my first watch memory is seeing what I believe was a Casio A164, with a black leather strap and gold buckle, on the wrist of my Dad. Barely able to peak my eyes above the kitchen counter, I remember catching glimpses of it as he took it off to do the dishes, shave, or change the oil in the family car. When I did manage to get my grubby fingers on it, I remember being mesmerised by the LED button, amazed at how the display could still be read when I turned the bathroom lights off and closed the door.
For the longest time, this was my only exposure to watches. As a kid, I was much more interested in my PS2, my Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and what was on CITV that afternoon. Watches didn’t resurface in my younger teens either, as music, guitar and discovering new ways I could hurt myself (a.k.a. skateboarding) took hold through my adolescent years.
Fast-forward to 2016 and my 18th birthday. Coming of age, my parents got me a suitably grown-up gift – my very first watch. This Seiko 5 (SNXS73K1) was totally unexpected, but I distinctly remember being very fond of it. Looking through the display caseback, it intrigued me how this bundle of gears and rotors could tell accurate time without the need for electrical assistance. Unfortunately, I saw it as more of a trinket than as a piece to wear, and I subsequently gifted it to my younger brother before I departed for university – a decision I would soon regret!
(On a side-note: on a family visit not long ago, I found that original Seiko 5 on my younger brothers’ desk. Although now smartened up with a black leather strap, the rotor wheel was loose in the case, which I heard had been so for quite some time. It was sad to see this once beloved gift in this condition, but I hope that at some point I will find it again, get it serviced and re-gift it to my brother.)
Now at university, I soon realised that, compared to by contemporaries, I often looked like I’d dressed myself by rolling backwards through a hedge. In my quest to no longer look like a tool, I trawled websites, forums and more looking for advice on men’s style. YouTube would prove invaluable to my uneducated self, and there was a particular facet of classic style which all of these influencers touched upon – wristwatches. My mind hearkened back to the Seiko 5 I once had, and it wasn’t difficult for me to fall in love with these little wrist computers I saw on the other side of a screen. I yearned for a timepiece I could really call my own, and with my student loan in hand, I was on the hunt for my first purchase.
Inexperienced, uninformed and being led by these style influencers, I almost pulled the trigger on a Vincero(!). Fortunately, I did my research and discovered that I could get much better value for money elsewhere.
A certain TGV pointed me in the direction of a Seiko SKX. Torn between the 007 and the 009, the colour pop of the so-called Pepsi bezel, as well as it featuring on the wrist of Robert Redford in the iconic 2013 survival drama film All Is Lost (which I’d coincidentally caught whilst channel-surfing a few weeks prior), led to me laying down the princely sum of £154.00 for the 009K1.
Upon arrival, I could do naught but marvel at my new possession. As someone who was taught growing up that every penny counts, it was bewildering to realise that this ‘expensive’ timepiece was mine to do with as I pleased – it may as well have cost £10,000 in my eyes. The rotating bezel, the distinctive brushed and polished surfaces, and of course the embossed Hokusai on the caseback – although this was my biggest purchase to date, it couldn’t have felt like a bigger bargain.
I knew this watch was likely to take a few knocks, so I was encouraged by its durable feel in my hands. The 120-click uni-directional bezel had a very solid feel, and the beefy crown was much meatier than what I remembered from its counterpart in the Seiko 5. Even so, I knew that the only way to truly gauge its durability was in the field.
Therefore, before doing anything else, I popped the watch in the sink, turned on the tap and watched the water slowly rise. Not the most brutal of tests I know, and although this would be no match for its fabled 200m water resistance, it was still a shock to me that beneath the surface, surrounded by water, there was a beating movement, performing just as well under the water as above it. I was suitably impressed, and I knew then that this watch would be my companion for quite some time.
A towel-dry and day, date and time-setting later, and I put it on my wrist. Supplied on the not so great two-piece rubber strap, I couldn’t care less that it was rather uncomfortable to wear. This watch made me feel like a rugged adventurer, on a quest to explore the wilderness beyond – even if the arable fields of rural England was the closest I could get at the time. I spent more of that summer out & about than at any other time of my life so far, skating, exploring the local countryside and enjoying the weather with my new toy. I wore it every single day, enjoying it whilst simultaneously trying to keep it as pristine as possible for as long as I could.
It wasn’t too long before I invested in a selection of straps; a navy NATO (to achieve the Redford look), a bold and striking bright red NATO to match the Pepsi bezel, and a fetching brown leather 3-ring Zulu. These straps immediately improved the comfortability, and whereas the SKX is a more casual, sporty piece, these straps gave me numerous wear options, from a weekend wear to an occasional office option – I even wore it at my graduation on the leather Zulu.
As a rule, I tend to prefer my possessions worn in, rather than pristine, and whilst the watch now has a variety of minor scratches that would be expected of several years of wear, it also bears more meaty hits, most of which were the result of one fateful summer’s day at the good old British seaside, just a few months after purchase.
After spending time in the arcades and buying a 99 to cool from the rare outbreak of sun, I made my way to the beach. Covered in stones as all British beaches are, I decided to skim some stones into the murky brown sea. Four or five stones in, the best I could muster was a measly three skims, but unbeknownst to me, the buckle on my NATO was starting to loosen. I picked up a flat stone in my left hand, drew my arm back and pitched it forwards, baseball-style. Off the stone went, but off too, went my watch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shiny blur fly off my arm and high in the air to my right, towards an array of large rocks. Clink.
The sound of my SKX hitting one of these rocks punched a deep, sinking feeling into my stomach. I found it in the sand, and – breathing a huge sigh of relief – saw it had luckily come away without any noticeable damage to its integrity. The buckle pin on the strap was the culprit – it had slipped beneath its keeper, leading to the NATO, and with it my SKX, simply shooting off.
The crystal and bezel were both marked, but as disappointed as I was that it was no longer a perfect model, it was now authentically mine. All the online testimonials in the world couldn’t put absolute faith in me that this watch could handle everything I threw at it, but now, I had first-hand experience of just how tough it was, and I knew I didn’t have to baby it any longer.
The SKX models, through their use of the workhorse 7S26 movement, are known for their endurance, however aren’t known for being the most accurate of pieces, averaging roughly +/-15 seconds per day. When new, my 009 measured well within these boundaries, however after the incident above, it now runs consistently fast – around +60 to +90 seconds per day. It hasn’t been serviced since I purchased it, but considering the price I paid, I’m not too fussed – if anything, it means I’m always early!
Mis-aligned chapter rings and bezel inserts appear to be a common issue with the SKX line, and any noticeable difference definitely would have been an issue for me. The bezel insert appears to be straight and true, however on close inspection with a loupe, the chapter ring appears to be very slightly turned clockwise – we’re talking in the micrometers. Knowing this does bug me a little, but at least to my naked eye, you can’t really tell. Compared to numerous examples of mis-alignment I’ve seen online, I should think myself very lucky.
Whilst the lume isn’t something I get practical use out of very often, I am grateful that Seiko has been very generous when I do need it. Their proprietary Lumibrite has a sci-fi-esque lime green glow that will easily last through even the longest of winter nights. Looking at this watch at night reminds me of the wonderment that the LED on that Casio A164 gave me as a child, but being ‘automatic’ and as bright as it is, to my inner child, the SKX feels undeniably cooler.
Measuring in at 42.5mm wide, 46mm lug-to-lug and 13mm thick, the watch has the odd distinction of looking quite small on the wrist when wearing, for instance, a tee, but feeling gigantic when wearing a dress shirt due to that thickness. Weighing just 200 grams without a strap, it is certainly comfortable enough to wear all day without worry. It’s just hefty enough so that you know it’s there, but not so much to be distracting. The 22mm lug width is spot on, looking proportionately correct while also meaning there’s plenty of strap to plant the watch securely on my wrist.
The day-date display, whilst taking from the symmetry of the design, does give it more practicality, and as it was my only watch at the time of purchase, this was a big plus. It’s not often that white day-date windows look good on a dark dial, but with the splashes of white on the signed logo, chapter ring and bezel insert, it all comes together harmoniously.
With the SKX range discontinued in Summer 2019, the price of a 007/009 has been slowly rising, leading to the economy monkey in my brain toying with the idea of selling my 009. However, even though it looks quite big on my 6 1/4″ wrists, is in dire need of a service and doesn’t fit well under the shirt cuffs I wear almost every day, it holds so much meaning to me that I don’t think I would be able to part with it, in spite of its flaws.
Sitting here with the watch on my wrist as I type this, I can’t help but be endeared to the piece. From my graduation to job interviews, trips across the country, ghyll scrambling and beyond, it has been with me through both good and bad. It reminds me of the time in my life when I learned that I need to put my best foot forward, but I also need to be true to myself. It reminds me of my journey from style-blind to style-conscious. It reminds me of growing up.
The fact that Seiko introduced the SKX line in 1996 and were still producing them up until 2019 is a testament to its design, quality, and how much of a value proposition it is. Much like a proper cup of tea, it’s a reliable workhorse which is as at home on your couch in front of the telly as it is during a hard afternoon slaving away in your garden, or even at 8:00pm on a cold night at the side of the road when your car breaks down.
All watch enthusiasts have that one unique piece that means so much more to them than the letters and numbers on the spec sheet. Am I happy that the SKX009K1 was the first timepiece I bought with my own money? 100%. I cherish my chunky Seiko, scratches and all, and whilst it’s not perfect, it has become my benchmark for what a quality timepiece should be. If you’re looking for your first timepiece, you can’t go far wrong with this.
It’s approaching 3 years since this watch kick-started my journey as a watch enthusiast, as the SKX range has done for countless others, and I’m sure that, like countless others, this journey will last me a lifetime.
Published April 4, 2020.