Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum Message Archive

A couple weeks ago I purchased a "made in Japan" Seiko SKX007J diver and have been comparing it to the "mov't Singapore" version (SKX173).

Both the watches started off life with me about 20 seconds fast each day but over a couple months the 173 slowed down to the point where it's somewhere in the +3 to +6 seconds per day range.

Interestingly the 007J hasn't begun to slow yet. In fact it's accellerating it's rate to the point where it's gaining 50-60 seconds each day. Certainly the watch isn't "broken in" yet but it's interesting to see that it's not the superior time keeper that some people expect the J models to be right out of the box.

I'll keep observing and see what happens but for now it's not a lot of fun to wear the made in Japan verison when it's gaining as much time as it is.

In spite of the somewhat nicer appearance (I like the round dial markers as opposed to the rectangular ones of the 173), the 173 is just nicer to wear right now.

I'm curious whether the 7S26 movements in these two watches are really made in different places. I know that the 173 says "mov't Singapore" on the back and the 007J says "made in Japan" but I'm curious if the Japanese government has "home content" laws that allow parts such as movements to be imported and still be labeled as made in Japan as long as the movement is installed in the case in Japan.

I seem to remember somone saying that all 7S26 movements were made in Singapore but I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly. Does anyone know if the movements in these two watches are actually made in different countries or if they come from one source?

Duane