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Post by estrickland on Jun 27, 2013 9:08:04 GMT -8
I don't expect a 007 to become a collector's piece in 40 years. That is not an opinion I see too often, interesting. How long do you see them hanging on in watch boxes? What do you consider the factor(s) that will keep them from classic status? Don't get me wrong, I like the SKX007. I had one on a Super Oyster II. I can see them hanging around in boxes. Mine did for a few months before I gave it away due to not getting wrist time. For something to be a classic in the future, it needs to be significant in some way (historically, technically, stylistically, culturally...).The 007 is culturally interesting in the way it spurred the modding community, but I think this plays against its collectability. The biggest problem with the 007 becoming a classic is that it's an homage to the vintage cushion divers - it leverages Seiko's design language, it doesn't extend or elevate it.
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Post by seikoholic on Jun 27, 2013 11:59:16 GMT -8
I agree that the 007 isn't really anything new - but the things it takes from other models are solid. I'd argue that it is a classic. Not that you're wrong - this is just my opinion. Everything that follows is just my opinion too - I'm not saying anyone is wrong - this is just how I see it.
The 007 is a great combo and works on its own merits. I love mine. I bought one, and then stupidly sold it, and then bought another. As it stands now, I'll probably own one until forever. The 007 gets a lot of good press even today, which is pretty interesting given that it's a 17 year-old design now. I spend a lot of time on the watches forum at Reddit (I run the Seiko subreddit as well). Whenever someone says "hey, I'm looking for a mechanical auto diver >$200, suggestions?" there is a chorus of "007", every time. They're ubiquitous, robust, classically styled (thanks to borrowing many classic Seiko etc cues), and readily available for cheap. This also makes them one of the first watches that many people get - their first "real" automatic. Kids who now are buying these first watches (along with another watch that I swear will be a collectible - the SNK809) will wear them and probably love them. Years from now if they've moved on to serious watches and collections, and they've parted with their 007s, they might just turn around and look for a replacement.
There are numerous examples of common, inexpensive, ubiquitous items that become classics later on. People own them, use them up, and get rid of them. And then later say "damn I wish I had one of those again.". But by that point because so many were used up and ditched, there aren't that many of them, and even fewer in good shape. Case in point: the '55 and '57 Chevys. They were mid-range family cars, not super amazing, and the '57 especially sold less well than the competition in that year. Yet they're worth a serious amount of money now. Ditto for vintage VW Bugs. I used to be able to buy 50s and 60s Beetles for next to nothing. They were also ubiquitous, numerous, unloved, but none of those things are true anymore. This is not to say that every cheap & plentiful design will be desirable later on - far from it. But Seiko churns out a ton of stuff. Only a small percentage of their multitudes of designs are produced for long, and they switch up often, and very few of them are consistently worn, talked about, purchased, wished for. The 007 is however.
The 007 design is simple, stripped-down, basic, functional. Thus not really tied to one time and place. They're transcendent. Also, many people own and like them, but don't take particularly good care of them, so the available amounts are decreasing. They're not safe queens, box queens. They get used. Given the amount of good press they get now, chances are that they'll continue to be thought of favorably. And when they're finally discontinued, there's going to be a huge flurry of people trying to get the last NOS examples. They'll be able to be found for many years in good shape (we're still finding near-NOS 6309's, even today) but their value will rise.
This is a semi-disjointed series of thoughts on the 007, so feel free to rip it apart. Basically, I believe the 007 is a classic, has staying power, and will rise in value and collectibility in the years to come. But to each their own!
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Hobbes
Timekeeper
This one goes straight to the pool room.
Posts: 446
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Post by Hobbes on Jun 27, 2013 16:54:54 GMT -8
I agree that the 007 isn't really anything new - but the things it takes from other models are solid. I'd argue that it is a classic. Not that you're wrong - this is just my opinion. Everything that follows is just my opinion too - I'm not saying anyone is wrong - this is just how I see it. The 007 is a great combo and works on its own merits. I love mine. I bought one, and then stupidly sold it, and then bought another. As it stands now, I'll probably own one until forever. The 007 gets a lot of good press even today, which is pretty interesting given that it's a 17 year-old design now. I spend a lot of time on the watches forum at Reddit (I run the Seiko subreddit as well). Whenever someone says "hey, I'm looking for a mechanical auto diver >$200, suggestions?" there is a chorus of "007", every time. They're ubiquitous, robust, classically styled (thanks to borrowing many classic Seiko etc cues), and readily available for cheap. This also makes them one of the first watches that many people get - their first "real" automatic. Kids who now are buying these first watches (along with another watch that I swear will be a collectible - the SNK809) will wear them and probably love them. Years from now if they've moved on to serious watches and collections, and they've parted with their 007s, they might just turn around and look for a replacement.
There are numerous examples of common, inexpensive, ubiquitous items that become classics later on. People own them, use them up, and get rid of them. And then later say "damn I wish I had one of those again.". But by that point because so many were used up and ditched, there aren't that many of them, and even fewer in good shape. Case in point: the '55 and '57 Chevys. They were mid-range family cars, not super amazing, and the '57 especially sold less well than the competition in that year. Yet they're worth a serious amount of money now. Ditto for vintage VW Bugs. I used to be able to buy 50s and 60s Beetles for next to nothing. They were also ubiquitous, numerous, unloved, but none of those things are true anymore. This is not to say that every cheap & plentiful design will be desirable later on - far from it. But Seiko churns out a ton of stuff. Only a small percentage of their multitudes of designs are produced for long, and they switch up often, and very few of them are consistently worn, talked about, purchased, wished for. The 007 is however. The 007 design is simple, stripped-down, basic, functional. Thus not really tied to one time and place. They're transcendent. Also, many people own and like them, but don't take particularly good care of them, so the available amounts are decreasing. They're not safe queens, box queens. They get used. Given the amount of good press they get now, chances are that they'll continue to be thought of favorably. And when they're finally discontinued, there's going to be a huge flurry of people trying to get the last NOS examples. They'll be able to be found for many years in good shape (we're still finding near-NOS 6309's, even today) but their value will rise. This is a semi-disjointed series of thoughts on the 007, so feel free to rip it apart. Basically, I believe the 007 is a classic, has staying power, and will rise in value and collectibility in the years to come. But to each their own! Hear, hear! thunbsup.gif (or, as we used to say, "+1"!)
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Post by SpinDoctor on Jun 27, 2013 19:42:05 GMT -8
That is not an opinion I see too often, interesting. How long do you see them hanging on in watch boxes? What do you consider the factor(s) that will keep them from classic status? Don't get me wrong, I like the SKX007. I had one on a Super Oyster II. I can see them hanging around in boxes. Mine did for a few months before I gave it away due to not getting wrist time. For something to be a classic in the future, it needs to be significant in some way (historically, technically, stylistically, culturally...).The 007 is culturally interesting in the way it spurred the modding community, but I think this plays against its collectability. The biggest problem with the 007 becoming a classic is that it's an homage to the vintage cushion divers - it leverages Seiko's design language, it doesn't extend or elevate it. The 6309 will always be THE vintage classic collectible Seiko diver. As long as there are enough working examples to meet demand with reasonable prices I don't see the SKX007 making any in roads to that status. Most likely scenario is that Seiko will eventually release a replacement to the SKX007 with a better movement and then the SKX007 will fade to black. Monster OTOH is unique enough to carve out its own territory in the collectible market.
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Post by estrickland on Jun 27, 2013 20:59:04 GMT -8
Don't get me wrong, I like the SKX007. I had one on a Super Oyster II. I can see them hanging around in boxes. Mine did for a few months before I gave it away due to not getting wrist time. For something to be a classic in the future, it needs to be significant in some way (historically, technically, stylistically, culturally...).The 007 is culturally interesting in the way it spurred the modding community, but I think this plays against its collectability. The biggest problem with the 007 becoming a classic is that it's an homage to the vintage cushion divers - it leverages Seiko's design language, it doesn't extend or elevate it. The 6309 will always be THE vintage classic collectible Seiko diver. As long as there are enough working examples to meet demand with reasonable prices I don't see the SKX007 making any in roads to that status. Most likely scenario is that Seiko will eventually release a replacement to the SKX007 with a better movement and then the SKX007 will fade to black. Monster OTOH is unique enough to carve out its own territory in the collectible market. I agree with this (but I'd put the 6105 in with the 6309) - Monster added to Seiko's design language and I can see distinguished (1st series, limited/rare (like the Thai one everyone was hating on)) Monsters being very collectible in the future. I think the price for mint 007's will outpace inflation, but I don't see it running away like the vintage divers have.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2013 1:35:55 GMT -8
My current model Seiko's will one day become vintage , i think there are many Seiko's made today that will be future collectables e.g Stargate's , Sumo's , Alpinist's , MM300 , Katana case Ananta's , SKX007/009's , Monster's + many of the JDM's & Grand Seiko's e.g snow flake , 36000 Hi Beat , to name a few "my 2 cents" :-)
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