seiko divers reference

7S26

Production Info

Production: 1996 - 2019?
Movement: cal. 7S26
Description: 200m divers

Technical Manuals

Models

Seiko is marketing so many styles of the 7S26 divers that it's hard to keep track of all the variations. But the basic 200m diver that replaced the 7002s maintain a similar look and feel to classic divers in the 6105-6306-6309-7002 lineage. The most commonly seen are the following models:

SKX007K (7S26-0020, round markers)
SKX007J (7S26-0020, same as SKX007K but with extra text on dial)
SKX009 (identical to the SKX007 except for a blue-and-red bezel)
SKX011J (7S26-0020, SKX007J styling, but has orange dial and gold letters on bezel)
SKX171 (7S26-7020?, has a different bezel design than the classic models)
SKX173 (7S26-0029, rectangular markers)
SKX175 (7S26-7029, like the SKX007 but with a blue-and-red bezel)
SKXA35 (7S26-0029, identical to the SKX173 except for a yellow-dial)
SKX779 (7S26-0350, new design -- thick case, scalloped bezel and redesigned dial)
SKX781 (7S26-0350, same as the SKX779 except it has an orange dial)

There are many other variations of the 7S26 divers that are less frequently seen. Some are 200m divers like the classic models, others are "sports divers" rated to 100m. The following list is by no means exhaustive:

SKX403J (titanium 200m diver, black dial, "Made in Japan" version, 7S26-0160)
SKX403K (titanium 200m diver, black dial, non-"Made in Japan" version, 7S26-0160)
SKX405 (titanium 200m diver, champagne-color dial, 7S26-0160?)
SKX013 & SKX015 (38mm mid-size 200m diver, black bezel & blue-and-red bezel)
SKX023 & SKX025 (38mm mid-size Submariner-style 100m diver, black & blue-and-red bezel)
SKX031 & SKX033 ("Sports 100m" diver, Submariner-style black & blue-and-red bezel, 7S26-0040?)
SKX021K (100m diver, white dial, 7S26-0050)
SKX421 (titanium 200m diver with "Tag Heuer-style bezel," black dial?)
SKX423 (titanium 200m diver with "Tag Heuer-style bezel," orange dial)
SKXA33 (new design variation of the 200m diver with integrated bracelet?)

(Not listed here are the ladies and some mid-size divers.)

Details

The long-running series of Seiko divers from 1996 to about 2019/2020 all use the cal. 7S26 movement, which has 21J and runs at 21,600 bph. It's a non-hacking movment like most traditional Seiko calibers and has a quickset day/date calendar system.

Here are some of the differences among many of the popular variants:

The SKX007 and SKX173 are the standard models that are direct descendants of the 6105-6306-6309-7002 line of divers. The SKX007 is an Asian-market Seiko while the SKX173 is a N. American version. The SKX007 has round markers while the SKX173 has rectangular markers. The SKX173 uses a second hand similar to the 7002 divers. The second hand has a luminous dot located toward the end of the sweeping portion. On the SKX007, the dot is located on the elongated "back end" and the sweeping portion is painted white and has no lume.
At first glance, the SKX009 and SKX175 are identical to the SKX007 except they have blue-and-red bezels, but the differences between the two models are frequently the object of heated debate among some Seiko watch owners. One major difference, according to Ed Rader, is the color of the dials: The SKX175 has a dark gray dial and round markers (like that on an SKX007), while the SKX009 has a blue dial. But Bob Falfa says the SKX009 and SKX175 dials are identical in color; the difference is in the markings and country in which the models are marketed.
There has been extended discussion among Seiko diver collectors on the differences between SKX007J and SKX007K. The SKX007J has extra text on the dial that's not on the SKX007K -- "21 JEWELS" under "DIVER'S 200m" and in small lettering "Made in Japan" along bottom edge of dial below 6 o'clock. Some people have said the SKX007J is made in Japan and the SKX007K is made in Singapore and the Japan-made model seems to be better. Others argue there's no proof of the country of manufacture or of any difference in quality between the divers. Many people on the S&C Forum have concluded that there is only cosmetic but no real difference between the J and the K variations -- they are all great divers.
In answer to the question, "What are the differences between SKX007J and SKX007K?," Seiko Japan said:

"The watch ref.#SKX007J and SKX007K are completely same watch model. The shipping route is slightly different. We are not able to inform you of the details" (email from Seiko Japan Service Group, 10/28/02).
The SKX011J is identical to the SKX007J except it has an orange dial. The bezel insert also lettering and markers in gold instead of the customary silver.
The SKXA35 is identical to the SKX173 except it has a yellow dial.
The SKX779 and SKX781 are new designs that depart from the classic diver style. They have a thick scalloped bezel on a thick stainless steel case with pronounced curves. They also have a slight convex glass crystal. The dial and hands are radically different in style from the classic divers. Owners seem to all agree that the SKX779/781 cases are bombproof and the dial and hands glow like Chernobyl.

Except for the SKX779 and SKX781, the traditional-style divers all have similar if not identical cases. One small difference between the 7S26 divers and their predecessors is that the crown position on the 7S26 has moved to 3:45 o'clock instead of 4. All 200m divers have uni-directional locking bezels with 120-click graduations.

According to the Seiko Japan Service Group, here are the dates when the following models started production:

Watch model #	Production started in
SKX007J	1996
SKX007K	1996
SKX011J	1996
SKX173	1996
SKX175	1996
SKX779/781	2000
SKXA35	2002

Here are some details about other variants of the 7S26 divers:

According to S&C Forum contributor Yap Kok Hung, the Seiko Titanium 200m diver SKX403 comes in 2 versions: "the Seiko Ti diver with the black dial (7S26-0160) is known as the SKX403K (non-Made in Japan version) and SKX403J (Made in Japan version with the jewel count and the words 'Made in Japan' on the dial)."

More info

General info about 7S26 divers

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