Why isn't the Seiko (5) Atlas (SKZ209, SKZ211) more popular?

[DaveInLA]

aka the Land Shark
Here's a link with the watch (lifted from someone else's site)

http://pictures.zsebehazy.com/seiko/...ark/index.html

I just bought one used in blue for $100, but new, they cost roughly the same as an SKX007 but with more bulk. I've noticed that almost nobody has it or nobody talks about it. Why is that? Is it because the gimmicky compass? The unmetered bezel (that's a real bear to turn, mind you)? Really, why?

[snoopy.com]

Dave,
I realized that too but I always like the look of this Land Shark. Kindly post pic when you get it. Enjoy your watch. :)

[DaveInLA]

The one thing that I don't like is that the color is a VERY dark blue, almost black. I've got enough watches with black dials, I thought it would be a little lighter. In anything but the brightest light, the watch looks black.

[mrkool]

The SKZ211 has always been my favorite. I bought it several years ago and still wear it quite often.




I also got the 209 but haven't worn it yet. Same reason as Dave said...



Another one of my favorite is...



Finally...


Sorry for the big pictures.

[GunWale]

I have one of the newer Atlas's, but I've always passed the older model by for some reason. Maybe because I've heard that the compass crown loosens too easy while on the wrist (not sure if this is true) and the bracelet doesn't look too impressive in pics. But after someone told me that the bezel has clicks (unlike the new models btw), I decided to pull the trigger and it should be in soon and I'll compare it against the newer version.

[Krovas]

Ah, "Land Shark". I didn't know that was the nickname.

I own an SKZ211. I've always thought they were very good looking, and I've never had a problem turning the bezel. The compass chapter ring may sound "gimmicky", but it does actually work; you can find north in the northern hemisphere if you can see the sun (although once you know the trick you can find it with any analog watch face set to the correct time, the ring just makes it a little easier and more accurate). The compass ring is soft and has a tendency to turn against your wrist, which is a little annoying for anal-retentive types such as myself, but does not affect the function. The band is sedate, but made from solid machined links instead of the somewhat cheap looking (IMHO) folded ones. I like the chunkiness factor, it's a pretty big hunk of steel, but that's always appealed to me in a watch. Other than that, it's what you'd expect from a 7s36 movement: mine runs about +6 seconds a day. I like this watch so much that I've held off buying the Kinetic I've been considering simply because I know I'll probably favor the Land Shark most of the time.

[Joram]

Dave,

I posted the same question on a dutch forum. I saw a picture of a Seiko Atlas an fell in love with it. But the fact that its not populait makes me hessitant to buy one. i know, I'm a big baby...But there has got to be a reason for it not to be populair....

[gerrylb]

What exactly do you mean by popular? When the Seiko Landshark/Atlas first came out a few years it caused quite a stir, being the first (I think, please correct me if I'm wrong) in the Seiko 5 line to have 200m WR. A whole bunch of Seiko enthusiasts (me included) rushed out and bought one. The black faced model with yellow hands (SKZ211) was particularly popular. A lot of the buyers (again, me included!) later expressed disappointment with the unlockable compass crown. But it's retained a pretty good following. If you do a search for atlas or landshark on this forum you'll find quite a few discussions centered on this particular watch.

IMHO, it's a hell of a watch for the money. Tough looking, well-built, a real eye-catcher. I far prefer it to the mapmeter with all that plastic sticking out of the case.

Here's mine in the company of a couple of similarly hefty cousins;

[GunWale]

EDIT: From what I've gathered after Searching the old threads, sounds like it has a 120 click bezel.

[Krovas]

EDIT: From what I've gathered after Searching the old threads, sounds like it has a 120 click bezel.

Heh, anybody care to count them?