The Desk Diver

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a capable, iconic, and well-designed watch.

The green, blue and red just work so well on this watch.

Am I a poseur for loving dive watches and not being a diver? Do I have to be a professional athlete to enjoy playing a sport? I don’t think so but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it. My favorite thing about wristwatches is that you can be whoever you want just by strapping on a timepiece. 

Want to be an astronaut? Just put on an Omega Speedmaster Professional and you’re Buzz Aldrin.

Do you long for the golden age of air travel? Wear a Rolex GMT Master and you’re a Pan Am pilot.

Is Jacques Cousteau your hero? Then maybe you should try on a Doxa Sub 300T or a 5513 Submariner.

Unlike the late Cousteau, I am not a scuba or skin diver. I’ve never been Scuba diving. I went snorkeling once in Puerto Rico and loved it. I think diving is awesome and would love to do it as soon as I have the time. As for now, I have to live out my diving dream by wearing a watch.

The Seiko SKX009

As deep as my watch will probably go.

My dive watch of choice is the Seiko SKX009. If you’ve been into watches for a minute then you know just how iconic this watch is due to its performance and value. The SKX was discontinued in 2019 so it’s not the value proposition it once was but its performance still stands. This watch has an ISO 6425 rating, which means it’s a suitable tool for recreational scuba diving down to 200 meters. The ISO 6425 rating consists of:

• Reliability under water

• A condensation test

• Resistance of crowns and other setting devices to an external force

• Water-tightness and resistance at water overpressure

• Resistance to thermal shock

• The presence of a time-preselecting device

• Legibility of time, time-preselecting device, and an indication that the watch is running

Knowing a watch has an ISO 6425 rating means one thing to me: it’s tough. But being tough isn’t everything. The affordability of a watch plays into its overall package. I’m more likely to wear a dive watch that costs less than $500 over one that costs $10,000. I don’t have the net worth to justify beating up a five-figure watch. And for me, a good tool watch needs to strike a balance between functionality and value. The SKX009 hits the sweet spot.

My First Enthusiast Watch

If a watch keeps the time then it’s a “real” watch. I hate when a watch gets classified as “real” versus one that isn’t. I think that’s just petty gatekeeping by the watch cognoscenti. I subscribe to the idea of enthusiast watches and everything else. The majority of people know little to nothing about watches and they’re okay with that. For most people, an Apple Watch is great because it does everything they need. But for the romantics of the world, we need something with soul.

That’s what happened to me in 2018. I had worn lots of different watches, primarily quartz-powered pieces or GPS trackers. I don’t know how I discovered the SKX009 but when I saw it I knew it was something special. I purchased my watch on Amazon for $200. Mind you, the same watch now costs $985! How the times have changed.

I wore my SKX everywhere from riding my bike to wearing a suit. It was my everything and everywhere watch. I didn’t realize how much this watch was a gateway drug into the world of horology. After a year and a half of wearing my SKX, I started to get interested in other types of watches and brands. As the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world, I like many others, found distractions to help pass the time. Watches became my obsession. I purchased dozens of watches between 2020 and 2022, and I sold just as many, including my SKX009. To this day, it’s one of the two watches I regret selling.

An Old Friend

After I sold my first SKX, I tried other versions of the SKX and SRP lines. I’ve owned multiple JDM 007 versions, all of which I bought cheaply and sold for healthy profits. I owned different versions of the Seiko 5 GMT watches and sold them too. They were nice but they didn’t have the “it” factor like my original 009.

While browsing on eBay a month ago, I came across a well-loved SKX009 that had no box or papers but it had a ridiculous price of $210. I messaged the seller to learn more and everything checked out. I purchased the watch after it had been online for an hour. When my new-to-me SKX arrived it brought back a flood of memories. I no longer wanted a pristine JDM SKX that had the Arabic date wheel with matching papers. I just wanted a solid watch that I could use without devaluing it. 

I put the watch on a green NATO strap and everything clicked. I like the 7S26 movement without its hacking and manual winding capabilities. The watch is a true automatic, meaning you have to wear it in order to power it. One perk of a non-hacking movement is that changing the time while traveling is easier because the seconds hand doesn’t stop.

Contentment Is Key

The pursuit of novelty is addictive. We all seem to have an insatiable hunger for stuff that leads us nowhere. Had I just kept my original watch—and been content with it—I could have saved myself thousands of dollars. But I can’t look at my journey through the cost lens alone. I’ve also learned a great deal about watches, what I like, and what speaks to me. I know that tool watches are my favorite. I especially like dive watches for their everyday practicality. I like watches that have a unique design and heritage. Having the real thing on my wrist is always cooler than a replica. Am I going to dive 200 meters with my Seiko? Definitely not. But it’s fun to know that my watch has that capability.

I wouldn’t appreciate the SKX009 without all of the experience I’ve gained from owning dozens of other watches. I’m much more content with what I have because I know more about what’s out there. Unfortunately, much of the watch hobby is about impressing others and buying the latest models. I’ve been guilty of this but I’m happy to say that I no longer care if people like my watch or not. I need to like it and that’s all that matters.

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a capable, iconic, and well-designed watch. There are great options out there for new and seasoned watch enthusiasts on every budget.

I’m going to continue pretending I’m Jacques Cousteau whenever I wear my dive watch. And I’ll think about Jim Lovell on Apollo 13 whenever I wear a Speedmaster. The point is that I’m going to enjoy what I have and not worry about what everyone else is doing. It’s a liberating feeling to be content with what you have.

And if you made it this far, thanks! My articles about watches perform the worst but they’re the most fun to write. If you’re thinking about getting into watches then please reach out to me. 

I appreciate your attention.