Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum Message Archive

Review of 300m Professional Quartz Diver (long)

Author: Ryan

Date: 2001-09-23 20:39:00

ID: 1001302740 | thread

Hi Nikos,
I have four Seiko divers, the SKX779 200m Automatic on rubber, the SKX781 200m Auto on the metal bracelet, a SKX007k 200m Auto, and my Prospex 300m Pro Quartz.
The Japan-made 300m Pro costs a little more than twice as much as the autos made in Singapore, but the quality and detailing are twice as good making it an excellent value.
The 300m Professional is bigger than the 200m Autos (44mm vs. 42mm, I believe.) This being the case, the "arrow minute hand and sword hour hand" on the 300m Pro is much larger and bolder than on the 200m autos. The second hand is also longer.
Detailing on the 300m Pro is outstanding.
For example, the day/date wheels on my SKX007k are painted white with black letters/numbers. On the 300m Pro the day wheel is painted a faint white with letters painted on in black, but the day wheel is brushed stainless steel with numbers etched in. It's a small detail, but striking.
I also like how each of the luminous hour marker circles has a decorative outer ring around it. Nice detail the SKX007 lacks.
Another example is the bezel. The main part of the bezel on the 300m Pro is brushed, but the very outer band of the ring is highly polished stainless steel, again -- very striking.
Reviews of the SKX007/173 often mention how wonderfully the uni-directional bezel "clicks." I know this may be hard to believe, but the bezel action on the 300m Pro is even finer!
The protective outer watch case/shield has a sandblasted stainless steel finish, but the three phillips screws which hold it on, as well as the crown and studs where the band attatches to the case are all highly polished stainless steel. Striking.
The case back, as well, is highly polished stainless steel.
Regarding the crown, there is no crown guard, which I find no problem at all. Unlike the SKX007, which always screws in very unsurely, and the SKX779/781, which is much better but which sometimes feels unsure, the 300m Pro's crown screws in perfectly and smoothly every time. This is a big deal to me.
As Andy mentioned when he first got his 300m Pro, the crystal is "domed," which also looks really great when viewing the watch face from a side angle.
I like the fact that this watch is quartz. With my auto divers, I always have to shake them around and re-set them before using them. That's fine. But I also like having one diver which is a little more independent. It is always "ready to go."
Being unable to comment on the 1000m diver, I will say that the Prospex 300m Professional Automatic Diver is the most beautiful diver's watch I've ever seen. It costs a little more than twice as much as the 300m Quartz, but, I think it is twice the value again.
If I could have afforded it (i.e. -- if my funds were unlimited/or if this were to be my only watch purchase for a long time), I would gone with the 300m Auto myself.
But, I don't feel the 300m Pro is a "compromise," in fact, it's the favorite of all my watches and the quality is outstanding.
You asked about my impressions of the 1000m Professional Quartz Diver, which I'm afraid I can't do. I've been haunting Seiko watch shops and department stores in Japan for a decade, and I've NEVER seen one except in a catalog.
Although they must be available in some store somewhere in Japan, it appears that for the most part they have to be special ordered.
Watch buying is in large part a matter of taste. Over time, I've come to have my own set of prejudices. This helps me avoid making "mistakes" I latter regret.
I like big, heavy watches. I prefer silver (stainless steel) watches to gold ones, and I prefer steel watches to titanium. So for me, although I like the 1000m Pro, I probably wouldn't buy one because it's gold colored and titanium.
You may feel differently. This isn't advice to you. I just want to say up front that this is where I'm coming from. The main point is, I think it's important for you to know what YOU like.
I'm sorry I can't help you more with your research/decision regarding the 1000m Pro Diver. Instead, I decided to write to you about the divers I do know something about.
Ryan

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