5 Discontinued Seiko Watches We Want Back

Seiko SKX007Courtesy of EbayThe Seiko SKX007 was officially discontinued in 2019 after a hugely successful 23-year production run. And while Seiko has since revisited the formula with its modern 5 Sports models, the original still has plenty of fans asking: why did you stop making it? The appeal was simple. This was a proper mechanical dive watch without the intimidating price tag—around $350 when new. It had 200m water resistance, a screw-down crown, a unidirectional bezel, and Seiko's reliable 7S26 automatic movement.It also became a gateway watch for countless enthusiasts, thanks in no small part to its enormous aftermarket and customization potential. Sure, it had its flaws. Our rose-tinted glasses won't ignore those. The movement couldn't be hand-wound or hacked, and the Hardlex crystal wasn't exactly scratch-proof. But that was part of its charm.In three words: affordable, capable, and characterful. Today, a decent SKX007 will set you back around $300–$500 on the secondary market, with particularly clean or full-set examples creeping higher.SHOPSeiko SARB065 Cocktail TimeCortesy of SeikoLaunched in 2010 as part of a Japan-only trio inspired by cocktails, the Seiko SARB065 Cocktail Time was created in collaboration with Japanese bartender Shinobu Ishigaki.The star of the show is the dial. Its intricate sunburst finish catches the light from almost every angle, while the slender indices and heat-blued seconds hand give it a surprisingly sophisticated feel. Beneath it sits Seiko's 6R15 automatic movement, with hand-winding, hacking, and a 50-hour power reserve—a step up from the movement found in many of Seiko's more affordable watches.Why do we want it back? The Cocktail Time collection lives on in the Presage range, but the original SARB065 has a charm that's difficult to replicate.The SARB065 has gone from affordable curiosity to bona fide enthusiast favorite. Today, expect to pay around $500–$600 for a good example on the secondary market, with particularly pristine or full-set watches creeping towards $800.SHOPAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowSeiko SARB033Cortesy of SeikoProduced from roughly 2007 until 2018, the 38mm SARB033 became something of a cult classic among watch enthusiasts. Its restrained black dial, faceted applied indices, polished case, and compact proportions earned it the rather flattering nickname "Baby Grand Seiko."And you can see why. It had the confident look of a much more expensive watch, without any of the associated fuss. The 38mm case was small enough to feel elegant but substantial enough for everyday wear, while the combination of brushed and polished surfaces gave the otherwise simple design a surprising amount of depth. Inside was Seiko's 6R15 automatic movement, offering hand-winding, hacking, and around 50 hours of power reserve. Again, nothing revolutionary—but it was a package that made an enormous amount of sense for the money.The problem is that Seiko doesn't really make quite the same watch anymore. There are plenty of alternatives in the current Presage and Seiko 5 ranges, but the SARB033 occupied a particularly sweet spot: compact, mechanical, understated, and affordable.Today, a good SARB033 will generally cost around $600–$1,000 on the secondary market.SHOPSeiko SKX779/781 ‘Monster’Cortesy of SeikoIntroduced in 2000, the SKX779 and SKX781 quickly developed a cult following for their aggressive styling, deeply serrated bezel, oversized indices, and famously powerful lume. Where the SKX007 was cool and understated, the Monster looked ready to pick a fight. And that was the appeal.Its chunky case and industrial bezel gave it an unapologetic presence, while the highly legible dial and hands made it a genuinely practical dive watch. Beneath all that attitude was Seiko’s dependable automatic movement, making it a watch that was built to be worn rather than admired from a distance. It never tried to compete with expensive Swiss dive watches.It didn't need to. The Monster had something better: personality. Seiko makes plenty of dive watches today, but few have quite the same slightly bonkers charm. Modern models may be more refined and technically advanced, but that's exactly why we'd like the original Monster back. Today, expect to pay around $300–$450 for a first-generation Monster, depending on condition and whether you opt for the black Monster or its considerably louder orange counterpart.SHOPAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowSeiko SNK809eBayAnd finally, our wildcard: the Seiko SNK809. Small, simple, and gloriously unfussy, the SNK809 became one of the classic gateway watches into mechanical watch ownership. It was part of Seiko's hugely popular 5 range and paired a roughly 37mm case with a black military-inspired dial, Arabic numerals, day-date display, and automatic movement. Introduced in the mid-’90s, the SNK809 had the sort of straightforward field-watch design that made it almost impossible to wear incorrectly. Jeans? Obviously. Suit? Why not. Weekend clothes? Of course.For many enthusiasts, it was their first mechanical watch—the one that taught them that you didn't need to spend thousands to get something interesting on your wrist. It also had that old-school Seiko 5 charm. Just a small automatic watch that did the job.The SNK809 belonged to a particularly appealing era when you could pick up something this characterful for very little money. Today, a decent SNK809 will cost around $200–$300, depending on condition and where you buy it—which is rather more than the bargain-bin mechanical watch it once was. And we'd quite like that era back.SHOP