For several years I’ve wanted a dive (or at least dive style) watch, but I couldn’t decide what to get. Dating back to 2018 or so, I’ve gone back and forth between Orient Ray, Invicta 1953, and even the Casio Duro, but none of them were what I wanted.

At one point I actually bought a Timex Q Reissue, but I couldn’t stand how cheap it felt and returned it. I later realized the watch I really wanted was a Seiko SKX, but the ship had already sailed and the market exceeded what I wanted to pay for it. At quick glance, the SRPD/5KX watch looked okay, but the bezel was off putting and I missed the jubilee bracelet from the SKX.

Then Seiko released the SSK and I knew I had to have it. The cyclop was reminiscent of a Rolex and the hardlex bezel was beautiful and unique. Add in the jubilee and I was convinced, though I didn’t particularly care for the GMT feature.

Only 1 problem: the price. $475 MSRP was a lot for a Seiko 5. I decided to wait for a sale, but it never dipped below $350. Last weekend I finally saw a sale with a discount coupon to get the pre tax price down to $240. I immediately pulled the trigger and the rest is history.