Tale of 3 Pepsies...

[Deyn Man]

Fairly new to this Seiko madness. Bought my very 1st Seiko last February 2010 (Black Monster). As with most Seikoholics, I immediately got hooked!

And after reading lots of threads in the different fora, I knew I wanted the very elusive SKX401 -- apart from it being rare, it was right within the budget but it would be something most collectors would drool over despite having more expensive pieces in their stable!

While searching high and low for the 401, I ended up getting a NOS 7002-700A in one of my trips outside of Manila. Was fairly new then to this Seiko Madness and wasn't quite sure what model it was. I had to do more research first before I was able to pull the trigger -- lots of consults from Poseidon Jim and of course, reading up on references (imagine having print outs of reference materials while at the AD ).



The 7002 was nice, at the very least it was a still part of Seiko history, somewhat a transition from the old divers to the divers we have today -- they did experiment using plastics in the movement, partly due to costs I guess, but also because they wanted to reduce wear and tear on the parts (I don't know if I read about the last bit I just wrote and really can't remember from what article or reference material I got that from, but I must have read it somewhere... ). Sadly, it still didn't satisfy my lust for the 401.

I am not a really big fan of ebay and seldom log on. But one faithful night, I just did a random search for "SKX401" and KABOOM! Miraculously, there was 1 from the Philippines in immaculate condition!!! In the end, I was able to get it! Wasn't really sure it was a 401 when it arrived since I didn't have a black dialed diver at that time to compare the dial to. I had to go all the way to an AD and put it side by side a 399 to confirm it was a 401! And VIOLA! CONFIRMED!




the grail at last! Ordered a Super Oyster II from Wjean and I was a happy boy.


Happy ending right? Nope. At least not yet...

Something kept bugging me. Not really about the 401, but more on the 7002 that I got. Somehow, I had to justify its existence. It was definitely not a beater anymore --- it's already a 17 year old watch and most likely, seals are well past their useful life (I may be wrong). Lume, as with all 7002s, are shitty at best. The only way to justify it is to get a 6309-729A! It would then fit right back in the collection as part of a trio of Pepsies, from each generation of divers

And when an opportunity came to get a 6309 Pepsi, obviously, I could not pass up.
it's not in the best of shape, but I will let the masters work their magic on it


and all 3 Pepsies together...
6309-729A -- slimmed down case -- made between 1982 - 1988
7002-700A -- made between 1988 - 1996
SKX401 -- with 7S movement made from 1996 - until today



notes:
1. A few have argued that there existed a 1st gen 6309 Pepsi (cushion case) but no reference material on that one. Maybe Seiko never came out with that Pepsi and some people simply changed the black bezel insert into a Pepsi. So earliest automatic Seiko Diver that came with a Pepsi insert would be the 6309-729A.
2. There is also another 7002 Pepsi that came after the one I have -- 7002-703X: same 7002 movement, date only, but rated up to 200m already (previous 7002s and 6309s were rated only up to 150m). Maybe I will hunt that one down next!

Thanks for looking!

[mariod]

Congratulations to your great trio of Seiko pepsi divers! Great post! It would be interesting to know which was the earliest Seiko Pepsi Diver, the 6309-729A or maybe the 7548-700F/B? AFAIK the 6309-729A (as well as the orange 6309-729B) were produced from 1982 on, while the production of the 6309-7290 (black bezel) started later in 1985 (I have never seen an earlier example). AFAIK the black bezel 7548-7000 started its life in 1978, while the pepsi 7548-700B or -700F came later. The earliest pepsi 7548 I have seen was produced in 1983. However, I am a big fan of vintage Seiko Pepsi Divers, so please allow mine to say hello

[Deyn Man]

great Pepsi collection you have there mariod!!! loving your 6309s!!! makes mine look like turd!!!!
now you got me second guessing myself... not really sure now which pepsi diver came first... have edited my post to say the 6309-729A would be the 1st AUTO Seiko Diver... hehehehe!
i'm sure others could chime in!

[mars08]

Fantastic that you were able to find a NOS 7002! There's wouldn't be many of those around!

I got my SKX401 from a vendor in the Philippines. It's in good shape. Just with the 200m script was a bit less faded. In any case, I'm very please with it.

[James Gond]

My only Pepsi.... old and full of loves.... (cause my SKX009 and 7002-700J already sold...)

[aznhomer16]

Great trio of divers. The Seiko divers with pepsi bezels surely have a place in diver history.
I like the applied indices on the skx401. What a looker.

[Poseidon-Jim]

Hi Dean,

You've got yourself some real cool & refreshing Pepsi's there!


Well, I'm aware of the old debate of an 6309-704X Pepsi, and my thoughts and knowledge says they never ran a production in the large full size cushion cased diver as the other pepsi models that I've ever seen in hand or in photographic form.

I will say this though,
I was privy to a possible production run of divers with various changes at one time in the early to mid 1990's, and one that was pictured in this flyer sent to JC Penny jewelry reps was our out of production cushioned case 6309-7049 with dark blue tint dial and pepsi insert.
I mentioned this flyer which I had come across years ago on another seiko forum a few years back, and got a few rather nasty remarks in disbelief or jealousy in reply, though I have no idea why?
But it doesn't change the fact that the flyer existed and I had a copy of it, since I went with a girl for a few years who was a large pennies jewelry dept. mangaer for years.
There's no doubt in my mind, that Seiko Corp. was going to possibly re-release the cushion cased 6309 in a pepsi colored model. But probably didn't get the feedback needed to put the photo mock-up model into production the way I see it.
You see, these photo flyers many times are not actually real watches when the studio photo was taken, but sample cases with various dial/bezel configurations for marketing feedback from there retailers.


Thats my take on the flyer at that time which my brother & Dad saw in person as well. Since I've been into the seiko 6309 since 1979/80, as well as many other vintage seiko divers; I felt that I had to write Seiko JP a letter asking them about that model shown in the flyer and reluctantly put the flyer into my letter for there reference, and the reply I got was basically as I mentioned for feedback promotional marketing purposes & that at this time there was no watch as shown in the flyer and no plans have been made to produce one. Needless to say, they neglected to return my flyer back to me in there reply letter, and I made my desire known to buy the watch pictured when ever it would produced since I was on fire for these cushioned cased 6309's then as I still am today.

There you have it, its a shame really as it's the watch I and many more feel very fond of like no other watch in the world. Maybe one day Seiko will see there way, to revive our beloved 6309-704X grail in the pepsi version for real.


Pepsi's, well I've had many of them over the years and kind have lost count. Here's a few of the most recent examples I've had that went on to another collector and loving home to be enjoyed. I wish I would have held onto the rare Zodiac GMT Master 11, only have seen 2 of these in many years one being the one I had.

The 7C43 200m Pro


The 7002-700A


Zodiac GMT Master 11


Cheers Dean,
Jim

[Deyn Man]

Fantastic that you were able to find a NOS 7002! There's wouldn't be many of those around!

I got my SKX401 from a vendor in the Philippines. It's in good shape. Just with the 200m script was a bit less faded. In any case, I'm very please with it.

nice! congrats! they are very hard to find now! good thing everything worked out fine!

[Deyn Man]

My only Pepsi.... old and full of loves.... (cause my SKX009 and 7002-700J already sold...)

nooooooooooo! i don't want to get started on seiko chronos!!!!!!!!!!!
hehehe! gorgeous watch!

[Deyn Man]

Great trio of divers. The Seiko divers with pepsi bezels surely have a place in diver history.
I like the applied indices on the skx401. What a looker.

thanks!