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Official BFK Owner's Club: post yours here!

55K views 283 replies 115 participants last post by  Hardscrabbler 
#1 ·
Yes, it's been around for a while, but I get the feeling there's still love for the mighty BFK out there, otherwise known as the 'Big Friendly Kinetic' (or whichever F-word you prefer). Seiko, in their boring way, call it the SKA371.



Like most of us, I can't pass a mall jewellery store without casting a quick eye over the watches, though there's rarely anything of interest there (A whole wall of Michael Kors? Really?). Even in the Seiko section, it's rare to see a non-quartz watch, and, well, quartz watches, ho-hum.

However, over a few weeks, I noticed that one watch stood out for me, and every store I went past, it was in the window, and every store I stopped and pressed my nose against the glass like a schoolboy to look at it. It's a striking watch, partly because it's just bigger than anything else in the window.

Well, I like big watches, and I cannot lie. Eventually I popped in to try one on, just for the fun of it. The weight of the thing is palpable. It's like strapping a polished steel brick to your wrist, and the hefty rotor spins loudly like a roulette ball ("No more bets!").



The bezel action is extremely smooth and positive, with a discreet but efficient click like an expensive socket set. The tank-like case with its gently curved lugs and alternating brushed and polished surfaces recalls the Sumo, while the aggressively cut bezel edge and 3 o'clock crown have a little of the Shogun about them.



Wrist test completed, I handed it back to the majestically uninterested assistant and left the store. But if you've ever had a watch sneak up on you, you'll know what happened next. First you look around at a few new prices on the web, then you start browsing eBay ads for used models. "I'll just put this on my watch list so I can see what it sells for," you tell yourself. "I'm just keeping an eye on the market."

Before you know it, the watch is turning up at your door, and you're giving your wife a pleading look as if to say, "It followed me home, can I keep it?"



The lume is excellent, as you'd expect from a Seiko diver, though the skeleton hands are hard to read at night. I find the best thing is just to look at the big blob of the hour hand and see where it is; the minute hand gets mixed up with the hour indices. I'm not surprised that a popular mod for this watch is to either change the hands, or fill them with lume. However, it does have a certain unique, quirky charm, and that's why I love Seikos.



Overall, it's a solid and high-quality watch, which of course keeps impeccable time thanks to the little flake of silicon inside. It's an attractive, if slightly brutal diver, with plenty of character. Not just a pretty face, either, as forum torturers will attest. They sell in the UK for about two hundred pounds, and with the possible exception of the new Monsters I don't know many better watches for the price.





I've shown you mine, now show me yours! Bonus points for lived-in BFKs, especially if it looks like you use it to hit rocks on a regular basis.
 
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#186 · (Edited)
Lifting thread and joining the club thanks to my wife. Excellent birthday gift! Eyed this piece years ago but never pulled the trigger. Love it. Though the original Seiko strap is comfier than other Seiko rubber I'm thinking Isofrane or similar. Any tips here? :)

View attachment 5482873
I believe it's the same as the strap on the sawtooth, could be wrong.

If it is the case, you will be hard pressed finding a more comfortable strap.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#196 ·
Mine pepsi on a leather nato... Strange couple but i like it!



I love this watch...

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#198 ·
As my first post here on WUS, I'd like to share my BFK that I had received about two weeks ago. I'm becoming a big fan of this watch and the idea behind Kinetic, even though it doesn't seem to be too well received here. I love the depth of the dial and the multiple layers from the bezel down to the dial. It's not as large as I had expected but the size is just about right for my tiny 6.5" wrist. A little bigger and it would be perfect.
 

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#208 ·
Here's my SKA369 Pepsi BFK...just got to changing out the original clasp with one that doesn't have an extension. Now it's comfortable as can be.
A little bit bigger than the SKX007, but the case shape flows flawlessly into the bracelet, making it appear smaller than it really is. Actually, thought it was just the same size as an SKX007 until placed side-by-side.

Also, the bracelet was sized down just one link to fit my large wrist, BUT what a pain it was. I accidently dropped the collar in the middle of the link, and took hell of a time to figure out why the pin was just loose in there when the bracelet was reassembled. Under magnification, I only saw one possible spot to fit the collar. Can anyone tell me if there is only one collar per pin per link, or am I missing another piece? Thanks in advance.
 
#209 ·
Just grabbed a SKA371 from Big River. I had been watching the prices fluctuate over the last few months, I almost pulled the trigger on one at $226 and decided to take a chance on a LNIB "Warehouse Deal" the seller disclosed "small scratch on case and scuff on bracelet and damaged packaging" It showed up a few days later in completely flawless condition complete with perfect blue Seiko Box with tags & manuals all for $135 shipped. Score!!
I'm really happy with the piece, even more pleased that it fits under most of my dress shirt cuffs. It took nearly 4 days of constant wearing (and shaking) to get the power reserve beyond the 5 second mark, It is at the 20 second mark now. C'mon 30!! Next up a rubber strap and perhaps a Zulu...
 
#216 · (Edited)
Bought this sbcz011 on a trip to Japan. Here are a few shots:

The shop in Kokura


Breakfast in Yukuhashi


Matcha and purple yam icecream cone at Sengan-en in Kagoshima


Amazing garden trees


Lush garden setting


Sakurajima


On the ferry to Yakashima


Aoshima island in Miyozaki


On the Shinkansen


At a train station


From hotel in Shin-Kobe


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#219 ·
Rob does a great job. I have been a customer of his for a little while now and I currently have 2 watches stuck in the post on the way to him as we speak.
Just bought my first BFK (SKA577P1) and it arrived today in time for my birthday tomorrow. Why did I wait so long to get one of these beast? I want another now, that illusive yellow dual BFK would be very nice indeed.
Pics tomorrow after I've adjusted the bracelet.
Mike.
 
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