Chrono Wars: Citizen Cal 2100 vs Seiko 7L22
Being an owner of both the Citizen Promaster Eco Drive E2100 and Seiko Sportura 7L22 Kinetic chronograph, I thought a comparison between these two distinct yet similarly featured movements would make an interesting subject. 🙂
Why am I comparing these two movements? Well, for starters they are both quartz-controlled watches with unique, mechanically actuated chronograph functions. These two hybrid calibers are also mainstream calibers and both companies have manufactured numerous models based on them.
The most glaring difference between the Cal 2100 and the 7L22 is that the former is solar powered while the latter is a motion powered movement.
Let’s examine the merits and demerits of both animals. 🙂
Seiko SKX031K “Submariner” review
Watch History
- Date acquired: July 23rd 2004
- Production Date: Nov 2003
- Source: Chun Cheong Watch & Pen Store, Sungei Wang Plaza
- Price paid: MYR400 (approximately USD115)
- Status: In production
Background
Pop quiz folks – what resembles a Rolex Submariner watch, says “SEIKO” on the dial, has a screw-in crown and costs a fraction of the price of the watch that it pays homage to?
No prizes for guessing, it’s none other than the Seiko SKX031K – Seiko’s timeless tribute to the Rolex Submariner. The SKX031K has been around for over a decade (it debuted in 1996 with the introduction of the 7s26 automatic caliber) and sales of this model appears to be still going strong despite its age in the market.
Seiko SKXA49K Black Knight review
Watch History
- Date acquired: May 9 2005
- Production date: Dec 2004
- Source: Premierworld, eBay
- Price paid: USD101.50 (w/o shipping)
- Status: Possibly discontinued
Background
The SKXA49K, or affectionately known as the Black Knight is one of Seiko‘s contemporary design, true dive watches that broke into new grounds. It was designed to look more dressy than a serious tool-like watch. The case design itself is unique, having a streamlined, bulbous case that smoothly follows the bezel‘s curvature and lines.
The Black Knight was one of the watches that grew on me. I didn’t like it at first by merely looking at stock photos of it on the Internet. The SKXA49K is one of the three automatic 7s26-01X0 models that Seiko launched in January 2004. The other two were the SKXA47K and SKXA51K in silver/white and orange dials respectively.
The little known Seiko 7s55 caliber
When it comes to Seiko’s entry level automatic movements, most people will readily think of the well-liked and reliable 7s-caliber automatics that are found in the garden variety SKX and limited edition SKZ divers and of course, the popular Seiko 5 family of affordable watches.
The 7s26 is perhaps the most widely known movement in the 7s-family and is extensively used in the base line Seiko 5 model. The Seiko 5 Sports and Seiko 5 Superiors are adorned with the slightly upmarket 7s36 movement, which has 23 jewels – two more jewels than what the 7s26 has. Limited production run 7s-caliber divers such as the SKZ203K Yellow Monster and the SKZ201K Seiko 5 40th Anniversary diver’s watches also use the 7s36.
So what’s interesting about the 7s55?
Seiko Prospex SBDC001 Scuba 200m review
Watch History
- Date acquired: Apr 21 2007
- Production date: Mar 2007
- Source: Higuchi Inc, Japan
- Price paid: JPY47,000 (USD429)
- Status: In production
Background
When stock photos of the SBDC-series divers first appeared on the Internet in early 2007, it created huge ripples in the watch forum communities. It caused widespread excitement and speculation among the Seiko diver watch fans. This was the watch that Seiko enthusiasts had been eagerly anticipating for a very long time. It wasn’t just the fact that these were entirely new models, they were also the first Seiko divers based on the relatively new manual winding and hacking 6R15 automatic caliber.
An Interview with Higuchi Inc
This may be somewhat old news, but I thought it’s still a worthy mention in Quartzimodo’s Time Journal. 🙂
If you haven’t already read the superb interview at the GMT+9 blog, here’s the inside scoop on the man who has been highly instrumental in giving watch enthusiasts around the globe access to Japanese market Seikos that are normally not sold outside of Japan.
While there are several online watch vendors in Japan, unfortunately many do not sell to overseas customers, including yours truly. It’s most probably due to the English language barrier itself or a lack of interest in opening their online business to the outside world.