So looking at this Seiko 5 (when I get a credit at Amazon, it's not a good thing )

Japan made

https://smile.amazon.com/Seiko-Sports-M ... rel&sr=1-1

Malaysia Made

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00 ... ASKS&psc=1

Other than price and being gray market, is there really that much of a difference?

Good review here also

https://wornandwound.com/review/seiko-5-snzg-review/

This is the subject of fierce debate at places like WUS--which is unsurprising, since topics like "should I match my watch strap to the color of my socks?" fuels fierce debates there.

I've read that in some cases, the dial color might be slightly different between JDM and standard models, stuff like that. For entry-level Seikos like this, I personally couldn't care less where it's made--I'd go for the cheaper alternative.

conjurer wrote:This is the subject of fierce debate at places like WUS--which is unsurprising, since topics like "should I match my watch strap to the color of my socks?" fuels fierce debates there.

I've read that in some cases, the dial color might be slightly different between JDM and standard models, stuff like that. For entry-level Seikos like this, I personally couldn't care less where it's made--I'd go for the cheaper alternative.

That was my thought as well....a reviewer on the J model went on a long semi-tirade on how you should always go for the J model, but I wasn't buying most of his reasons

I knew nothing of this great debate until the other day. North Country asked about mine which it turns out is a SNZG011K. And I say that because the strap it came with is blue nylon. It's hard for me to tell the difference between the blue dial (mine) and the black variant. I've seen another green variant which also looks just like the black and blue to my eyes anyway. Love the watch, even more so when I consider how cheap it was. What is the difference between J and K? Who knows, I am considering buying another just to get the stainless steel bracelet. I attempted to buy one from creation watches, but the paypal payment would not go through. Has anyone ever bought from creation watches? Paypal told me there is nothing wrong with my account information so the problem is on creations end.

Mark wrote:I attempted to buy one from creation watches, but the paypal payment would not go through. Has anyone ever bought from creation watches? Paypal told me there is nothing wrong with my account information so the problem is on creations end.

I've heard good and bad about them...no personal experience, however I usually avoid someone who won't do PayPal (or has issues with it)

From what I've heard the J models are better if you're into flipping watches, but I'm not, so it doesn't really matter. I could not tell the difference between my SKX009k and my friend's SKX009j. And he paid $100 more for his.

Artman wrote:From what I've heard the J models are better if you're into flipping watches, but I'm not, so it doesn't really matter. I could not tell the difference between my SKX009k and my friend's SKX009j. And he paid $100 more for his.

Quite so. The "Japan" on the dial means something of a premium in This Thing of Ours. Of course, it's not a real good idea buying Seikos intending to flip them.

conjurer wrote:

Artman wrote:From what I've heard the J models are better if you're into flipping watches, but I'm not, so it doesn't really matter. I could not tell the difference between my SKX009k and my friend's SKX009j. And he paid $100 more for his.

Quite so. The "Japan" on the dial means something of a premium in This Thing of Ours. Of course, it's not a real good idea buying Seikos intending to flip them.

Conj:

Your comment "Of course, it's not a real good idea buying Seikos intending to flip them." got me thinking as I have flipped about 60 Seikos since I started collecting in 2006. If I never flipped any watches I would have over 400 watches in my collection. So I need to flip in order to fund something that I want to add to my collection.

I recently sold my SKX175 which is the same as the SKX009 except for some minor wording on the watch. A lot more were made of the SKX009 which is made for the world market vs the SKX175 which is made for the North American market. So there was a difference in the retail price. Not sure if this relates to "Japan" on the dial.

GeorgeH wrote:

conjurer wrote:

Artman wrote:From what I've heard the J models are better if you're into flipping watches, but I'm not, so it doesn't really matter. I could not tell the difference between my SKX009k and my friend's SKX009j. And he paid $100 more for his.

Quite so. The "Japan" on the dial means something of a premium in This Thing of Ours. Of course, it's not a real good idea buying Seikos intending to flip them.

Conj:

Your comment "Of course, it's not a real good idea buying Seikos intending to flip them." got me thinking as I have flipped about 60 Seikos since I started collecting in 2006. If I never flipped any watches I would have over 400 watches in my collection. So I need to flip in order to fund something that I want to add to my collection.

I recently sold my SKX175 which is the same as the SKX009 except for some minor wording on the watch. A lot more were made of the SKX009 which is made for the world market vs the SKX175 which is made for the North American market. So there was a difference in the retail price. Not sure if this relates to "Japan" on the dial.

Indeed, George, I've flipped plenty of Seikos myself, and pretty much lost money on each of 'em. One I really regret is a SARB059, which I bought new from Seiya-san, then sold a little later for $450 (I think I paid $525 or something for it.) I just saw one up for sale at watchrecon, asking $725. Alas, Seikos tend not to hold value well at all; the only ones that did were the old Monsters, and I still lost money on mine.

I know for a fact I took a beating on a quartz Tuna I think it was around 1100 when I bought it new and finally sold it at 675.

Conj:
"Indeed, George, I've flipped plenty of Seikos myself, and pretty much lost money on each of 'em. One I really regret is a SARB059, which I bought new from Seiya-san, then sold a little later for $450 (I think I paid $525 or something for it.) I just saw one up for sale at watchrecon, asking $725. Alas, Seikos tend not to hold value well at all; the only ones that did were the old Monsters, and I still lost money on mine."

I got 73% back on the 72 (including my wife's) Seikos I sold. That includes the eBay and Paypal fees. That's a little better than the 70% back on the 462 watches I have flipped. A lot better than the 70 Invictas I flipped that's for sure. There were several Seikos where I netted more than what I paid:
Black Monster SKXA43 101%
Diver Yellow Dial SKXA35 136%
Orange Monster SKX781 147%
Superior "Baby Tuna" LE SRP233K1 123%
Analog-Digital Two Tone SNJ018 131%
Samurai - White SNM031 159%
Samurai - White SNM031 141%
Samurai - Black SNM033 166%
Samurai - Black SNM033 107%
Titanium Chrono SNA139 136%