Let me start this off by saying that this won’t be your typical Seiko SKX009 review – I’m well aware that this watch was reviewed to death. And honestly, it’s a watch that I just didn’t get for a very long time.

Beloved by both budget and high-end enthusiasts and collectors, it was the darling of the watch community. The hype around it was surreal and I suspect it was the hype that made me stay away from it for all these years. That and the rather unsubstantiated claims about “value” and “bang-per-buck”.

For me, the value was never there – there were always better-priced or better-spec-ed (or both) watches from Orient, Citizen and the vast array of microbrands out there. And actually, for me, the huge modding community the Seiko SKX009 boasted was the biggest proof that it was, in fact, a lousy value for money – since most people just upgraded it with things like better bracelets, sapphire, movements and properly aligned bezels and chapter rings – just to make it wearable, often paying a sum equal (or larger) to the value of the original watch for the upgraded parts.

So, what’s changed? Why have I bought the Seiko SKX009 that I don’t consider to be particularly good value (or particularly good in general), 3 years after it was discontinued?

Well, as soon as you stop looking at it from a value/spec perspective and start appreciating it for what it actually is, things are starting to make much more sense. Having in mind that the Seiko SKX009 was first produced more than 20 years ago and has remained virtually unchanged up to the moment it was discontinued, an argument could be made that it is, in fact, a vintage watch. If you look at it like that – the antiquated movement, the cheap tinny bracelet, the plain printed dial – they all seem much more reasonable. And let’s not forget – it’s a vintage piece that can still be found in NOS condition relatively easily.

But there’s another, much more important argument in favor of the Seiko SKX009 – it’s an icon. It’s an iconic watch from the past, a milestone of a particular moment in history, both for Seiko and for the watch industry in general. And there are not many universally recognized iconic models in the world of watches – in fact, there’s only a handful – and most of them are well out of reach for most enthusiasts. So, when you look at it like that, the SKX is actually quite the bargain.

I’ve described you my thought process, but what do I actually think about the watch? Well, one of the positives of buying a watch that was reviewed to death is that you pretty much know what you’re getting yourself into. Yes, the bezel and the chapter ring aren’t quite aligned. There’s no sapphire covering the dial. Sure, there’s no hacking and hand-winding. The rubber strap is about as soft as pliable as a truck tire and the bracelet isn’t much better either – more hollow than solid parts and the jingle it produces is loud and proud.

And yet, I simply love the thing. The sleek case shape, harkening back to years of evolution of Seiko divers, and the way it just effortlessly sits on the wrist. The no-nonsense legibility of the dial. The pop of color on the aluminum bezel. The sheer comfort of that jubilee bracelet – seriously, I think it’s one of the best bracelets Seiko ever made, despite of all the cost-cutting involved in its production.

The Seiko SKX009 is a prime example of something being much more than the sum of its parts. If you already have one – good for you! If you’re like me and you’ve avoided it until now for whatever reasons, I’d suggest you give it a try. Go out and get one while they’re still reasonably priced (well, at least the 009 is). In terms of pure joy and coolness factor, the value is really unbeatable.