SEIKO SKX007 Automatic Diver’s 200m Color Pallet
In 2004, German watch manufacturer Nomos released its Tangente model in 30 colors. A limited edition of 100 units in each shade was made. By all accounts it was a great success. The folks at Nomos are smart; Seiko people take note. When you have an iconic product, like Seiko does with its SKX007 200m divers watch, why not roll with it rather than always trying to reinvent the wheel?
That’s what Nomos did . . . er . . . does. After the success of the 2005 Tangente project that some dubbed “The United Colors of Nomos,” the German company just created a similar series with its Tetra model. Click on the picture below for more information.
It’s a no-brainer. Lots of companies with iconic products use this strategy to give old favorites new life. After all, what’s wrong with having a little fun? Converse gets it.
In its own way, Seiko does too. Reading Kevin Chan’s Seiko Divers Reference this week, I was surprised to re-learn the yellow-dialed SKXA35 debuted in 2002 — not that long ago. Post 9/11. Put that watch together with SKX011 in orange, and SKX007/173 in black, and Seiko only has 27 more colors to go to match Nomos’ color pallet.
Some may scoff at the idea of releasing SKX007 with a pink dial, or a lime green one, or one in grey. But Seiko fans swim in a big pond. Maybe you wouldn’t want to collect all the colors. Perhaps watches in certain colors would be bricks. But offering a “United Colors of Seiko” SKX007 collection would make a splash — a splash of color. For a Seiko divers watch, that’s not a bad thing.
What new Seiko SKX007 dial color would you like to see?
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August 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I’d like to see red and blue. Maybe they could have different colored bezels too.
Wait a sec, doesn’t the pepsi have a blue dial, barely?
Overload in CO
August 11th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Hi Overload,
Oh, I had forgotten about SKX009 reportedly, sometimes, having a blue dial. Mine had a black dial, but I remember years ago on the Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum the confusion caused by some saying theirs was blue, while others said theirs was black. If I remember well, the conclusion was both were right.
Different color bezels is another idea. I hadn’t thought of that. I like how SKXA35 looks with yellow dial and black bezel, but doing color bezels is a very interesting thought.
Regards,
Bryan
August 12th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Hi Bryan,
Here’s a tag that came with a shirt that I bought recently. It’s a new shirt with a vintage look.
Besides having the SKX divers in multiple colors, Seiko could make one with a ‘used’ look just like the one in the picture below but less the scratches.
Just a wild idea. I prefer my watches mint condition
Regards,
Thomas
August 13th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Hi Thomas,
The first time I saw a Seiko 4S15 military, NIB, was in 2001 in a small watch shop in Japan. I knew it was valuable, and contacted a friend to see if he wanted it. He immediately replied in the affirmative.
I picked it up for him, but when I brought it home and looked at it, I was surprised to see the case looked like it had marks on it. Only later did I learn the Seiko 4S15 military has a purposely “distressed” case. So your idea’s not so wild after all!
I was just trying to have a little fun with this article, with my Warholeque use of color, and don’t see anything wrong with Seiko having a little fun with their SKX007 line too. Some Seiko fans probably wouldn’t like it, but hey — Seiko even made a pink-dialed Credor Chronograph back in the late ’90s, so why not?
Regards,
Bryan
August 15th, 2007 at 6:27 am
It’s a tried and true formula Nike does it not to mention they bring in outside collaborators such as artists, skaters and musicians to help with the design along with limited editions of a common shoes. They are laughing all the way to the bank while people like me have 50 pairs of the same nike dunk in different colors.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Hi ga13e,
I think another good example is Victorinox Swiss Army knives. Victorinox has a traditional, iconic product. To spruce things up and add some fun, they make the Classic SD in many colors. The ones shown below are only a small sample of those available.
Thanks for your feedback. Appreciated.
Regards,
Bryan