The humble Seiko SKX009J.  A beater for many, but for me a watch of memories and my first “collector” watch. The first day I wore it I enjoyed one of the nicest days of my life so far. I made it to scans on time without having to wait. I visited Pellegrini’s for the first time and bumped into my managers. Nino shouted me coffee and they got me lunch and dessert. I roamed watch shops and got talking with a couple of workers who spotted it on my wrist. I went to see a friend that runs a barber shop who gave me a cut on the house. The day was great and memorable. This immediately became my lucky watch. So you can understand why I wore it when I had open heart surgery in June 2019. For context; I was 24 years old, had a severely leaky aortic valve and an enlarged heart. When I woke up in ICU this was one of the first things I asked for. Before I even stood up I had this on my wrist. The bezel was handy for timing my walks around the ward!

Where the SKX models shone were in their value for money. An iconic watch, automatic with 200m water resistance and great lume to boot. The downsides were the options of a rattly jubilee bracelet or a rubber strap which can dig into your wrist. Prior to being discontinued, they could be found for less than $400. These models accommodate many a nato and have plenty of aftermarket bracelet options. They are a great intro to the watch world and frequent most “best first watch” lists. However, their 36 hour power reserve does call for daily wear. This watch has been with me through thick and thin. It was step one of my journey. I can’t see this Seiko SKX009J  ever leaving my possession, but that won’t stop me from enjoying it. I’ll take it on my travels, I’ll take it to the beach and I’ll proudly wear it to future watch events. Should you buy one yourself, go and make memories with it.