The Only Two Watches You’ll Ever Need: The Omega Speedmaster Professional and the Seiko SKX007
A small but mighty watch collection.
I’ll kick this post off by saying that nobody needs a watch anymore. Smartphones have replaced most devices in our lives, like the iPod, a calendar, a camera, and a watch. This is especially true with the popularity of the Apple Watch and wearable tech.
Simply put, most watches are worn as jewelry and not used as tools.
But if you’re a hopeless romantic like me who pines for the past then a mechanical watch is a must-have item. I’m relatively new to mechanical watches. I purchased my first watch, a Seiko SKX009, in 2018, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Since that first purchase, I have bought and sold around 30 watches. Through my buying and selling, I’ve narrowed down—what I think are—the two best watches for any situation: the Omega Speedmaster Professional and the Seiko SKX007.
Before you get upset with my choices, please keep in mind that this is my experience and my opinion. Everyone is free to like what they like. But I’d love to hear what your two watches are.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional
If you’ve been interested in watches for a minute then you know about the Omega Speedmaster Professional. It’s one of the most popular and recognizable watches in existence, with the exception of the Submariner and maybe the G-Shock.
My first Speedmaster was the 3513.50 automatic chronograph. I purchased it in April 2020 at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns. I wore this watch for a year and loved it. Although I adored it, I never felt like it was the right watch for me. The 39mm case was a tad too small, it didn’t pair well with many straps, and it was too flashy for my taste.
I sold it to help fund my Speedmaster Professional. I purchased my Speedy for my 34th birthday and wore it for the first time at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I couldn’t have found a better place to wear it for the first time. Standing beneath a Saturn V rocket with my Speedmaster on felt like a big moment for me.
The Speedmaster is one of those rare watches that combines history, value, and design into a small package.
History
The Speedmaster was initially developed to be a watch used for racing. But it ended up taking on a more prominent role as the watch worn by the Apollo astronauts. Owning a tangible connection to the Apollo Missions is an incredible thing. Something that Omega is quite keen on capitalizing on. But can you blame them? Not everyone gets to say they created the first watch worn on the moon.
Value
The Omega Speedmaster Professional is not an inexpensive watch. Spending $4,000 and up for a watch is crazy. Especially when you can buy a Casio for $15 that keeps better time, does more, and can withstand the elements better. But like I said earlier, I’m a romantic. As far as mechanical chronographs go, the Speedy is the best value. You get a Lemania-based movement that can last a lifetime (and more) if serviced regularly.
A watch like the Rolex Daytona costs double (based on retail prices) and doesn’t offer much more in value besides a better water resistance rating.
On top of that, you get a sturdy and comfortable bracelet that looks and feels premium. I’ve used my Speedy like the tool watch it is for hiking and walking. The 12-hour chronograph is extremely useful in day-to-day situations. What’s more, you don’t have to go through a bunch of menus to time something. Just press the top pusher and go.
Design
I’m a big fan of mid-century modern design. I think that era of design captures the best of what the world had to offer. The Speedmaster Professional is one of those designs that looks as good today as it did in 1957, which means it should still look good in another 60 years. I naturally gravitate toward timeless designs. It’s one of the reasons why I love the Porsche 911 so much.
The understated beauty of the Speedmaster is one that garners attention from the right people. The watch isn’t ostentatious—begging for your attention. It’s subtle in its release. The more you wear it the more you notice how brilliant the watch actually is. It packs three sub-dials, a tachymeter, 60 hash marks, six hands, and three user interface functions in a usable and elegant design.
Takeaway
Thanks to the Speedmaster’s history, value, and design, it could easily be my only watch. I wear it in most situations and on a number of straps and bracelets. And because of its unique ability to be worn almost anywhere, I’ve been able to make some incredible connections with other Speedmaster owners.
I met a gentleman this summer who noticed my Speedmaster and then promptly showed me his. I discovered that he is friends with Buzz Aldrin and used to play poker with him regularly. He shared all sorts of great stories about Buzz and mentioned that he always saw him with an Omega Speedmaster Professional on.
I also recently met a gentleman who has worn the same Speedmaster for 51 years. He purchased his watch after finishing college to start working at NASA. He told me that he’s never had the watch serviced and it still keeps amazing time. His watch looked like it had been through combat but it still kept on working.
I hope to wear my Speedmaster for years to come. I love the idea of having a watch for my entire life that I can pass on to one of my children. I am a romantic after all.
The Seiko SKX007
My relationship with the Seiko SKX has been hot and cold. Not because of the watch but because of my capricious buying and selling habits. The SKX is well known as the “gateway drug” of the watch world. Why? Because it packs so much value and history for not a lot of money—well it used to anyway.
As I mentioned, my first mechanical watch was a Seiko SKX009. I bought it after discovering it on several YouTube videos and wanted something a little more upscale compared to the Garmin I was wearing.
I immediately took off the rubber strap and put on a NATO. I wore that watch daily for more than a year. I took it swimming, wore it to work, did yard work with it, I wore it everywhere. As the months wore on I started to grow bored with the watch and eventually sold it on eBay.
I wanted to try other watch styles from other brands. I feel like most watch enthusiasts go through this phase. And why not? There are endless options for every budget. I bought dive watches from brands like Casio and Tudor. They all had their benefits. Some had interesting colors. Others were more accurate. And others had more brand recognition.
After a year of not having an SKX, I purchased a 007J model. I had heard great things about the Japanese Domestic Market models and wanted to try them out. I could tell that the finishing and alignment were better on the JDM model. I put it on a jangly Seiko jubilee bracelet to complete the look and feel.
Ultimately, I sold this 007J model after a few months because I was wearing my Tudor Black Bay and Speedmaster more.
I eventually sold my Tudor and a slew of other watches to free up cash and simplify my collection. However, there was a glaring omission in my collection: I didn’t have a dive watch. I felt I had tried almost every diver in my budget. A Submariner was too expensive. Microbrand watches don’t appeal to me. So I began looking at SKXs for the third time.
I found my current SKX007J on Chrono24 listed as a Seiko Turtle. I knew from the “21 Jewels” text on the dial that it wasn’t a Turtle and rather a JDM SKX. I picked up the watch well below market value and have been wearing it several times a week.
Why do I keep coming back to the SKX007?
Having owned three SKXs in the past five years, I’ve learned to focus on this watch’s strengths. Yes, there are technically better watches for the money. But the SKX is something special that isn’t being made anymore.
I feel like it’s one of the last dive watches that was actually built for divers. I don’t have any data to back this up other than pure conjecture. If you look at the current market of mechanical dive watches under $500, most of them are for style and aesthetics. Seiko itself does this with its SRP line of watches that look like an SKX but lack the specifications of a real dive watch.
Am I going to dive with my SKX? No. But that’s not the point. I like this watch for what it represents and what it could do. It was designed to be a tool, just like the Speedmaster Professional.
As for the 7S26 movement in my SKX, I really like it. Funny enough, both of my watches don’t have the hacking feature or large power reserves. The 7S26 is robust and accurate for what it is. I’ve dropped and knocked my SKX around and it hasn’t phased the movement. In fact, it gains or loses two seconds per day. That’s on the same level of accuracy as my Tudor’s MT5612 COSC movement, which is incredible considering the SKX costs 10x less that the Black Bay.
I put my SKX in a watch winder when I’m not wearing it. That way I don’t have to worry about it dying—it’s always ready to go.
Takeaway
My SKX007J fulfills almost all of the requirements I need out of a mechanical watch. For me, its biggest shortcoming is its versatility. I don’t like wearing it with a dress shirt because it doesn’t fit under my cuff and it looks a little out of place.
I think the SKX will continue to grow in popularity and price. These legendary watches have a unique design, storied history, and awesome specs. I can’t think of another watch for the money that gives me what my SKX does.
Conclusion
Watches are all about enjoyment for me. If I don’t enjoy a watch, I’ll give it away or sell it. Considering that I’ve owned three different SKXs, it’s become obvious that I need one in my life. Both of my watches do something for me that the other one can’t. The Speedmaster is a great conversation piece that works in nearly any situation. The SKX is tough and rugged. It attracts the attention of other watch enthusiasts who respect the SKX for what it’s done to grow interested in mechanical watches.
I’m at a position in my life where having less is more. I don’t like owning things that I don’t use. If I’m not using a watch regularly then it needs to go. I don’t have the time and resources to sit on unused items.
Whether you’ve been into watches for a month or a lifetime, I don’t think you can go wrong with a collection consisting of the Omega Speedmaster Professional and the Seiko SKX007.
I’d love to know what your favorite watches are and why. I created this Substack to connect with other enthusiasts, so please share your story.