Review: Seiko SKX173, and the Small Mods That Made It My Own

It’s not surprising that the SKX007 gets a ton of attention. In fact, it’s well-deserved. The 007 is an affordable, ISO-rated dive watch with some serious pedigree, and it comes from a brand that’s been around for ages and knows how to make a proper diver’s watch. If you’re anything like me — and most collectors, frankly — adding a watch from the SKX lineup to the collection was a no-brainer. 

However, instead of opting for the SKX007, I took a slightly different route with the SKX173, and eight years later and now more knowledgable than ever I have yet to regret my decision.

With this week’s relaunch of the Seiko 5 Sports line, which came out of the gate swinging with 27 SKX-inspired watches, we thought it’d be fun to take a closer look at the SKX173, my personal ownership experience with the watch, and the small mods I’ve made over the years to truly make the watch my own.