2026-04-28
Best Straps for the Seiko SKX & Prospex
Best Straps for the Seiko SKX & Prospex
The Seiko SKX is the most democratising watch in the history of dive watch collecting. Discontinued by Seiko in 2019 after more than two decades of production, the SKX007 and SKX009 remain among the most actively restrapped, modified, and collected watches in the world. Their successors — the Seiko 5 Sports SRPD series and the Prospex range — continue the same 22mm lug width tradition and attract the same enthusiastic strap-changing community.
If you own an SKX or a Prospex and you have not yet changed the strap, you are missing the single most cost-effective upgrade available to you.
Seiko SKX and Prospex Strap Sizes
The vast majority of Seiko dive and sport references use 22mm lugs — making the Seiko dive watch community one of the most active buyers of 22mm straps in the aftermarket.
SKX007 — 22mm. Drilled lugs, standard spring bars.
SKX009 — 22mm. Same case as the SKX007, different bezel colourway (Pepsi red/blue).
Seiko 5 Sports SRPD series (SRPD51, SRPD55, SRPD57, SRPD59 etc.) — 22mm. The direct SKX successors, same lug width.
Seiko Prospex Turtle (SRP777, SRPE93, SRPF02 etc.) — 22mm.
Seiko Prospex Samurai (SRPB51, SRPB99 etc.) — 22mm.
Seiko Prospex Monster (SRPD25 etc.) — 22mm.
Seiko Prospex Sumo (SPB101, SBDC061 etc.) — 20mm. The Sumo is the exception in the Prospex range — its more refined, dressy character is matched with the narrower 20mm lug width.
SKX013 — 20mm. The smaller-cased SKX variant uses 20mm lugs, not 22mm.
If in doubt, measure. The gap between your lugs will be unambiguously 22mm or 20mm.
Why the SKX Community Changes Straps
The SKX has a uniquely strap-enthusiastic owner community for three reasons.
The drilled lugs make strap changes easy. The SKX007 and SKX009 have drilled through-lugs — the spring bar tool can be inserted from the outside of the lug rather than having to wedge between the strap and case. First-time strap changers find the SKX significantly easier to work with than watches with blind lugs.
The watch is genuinely versatile. The SKX's classic 1960s dive watch proportions — bold dial, chunky case, strong indices — suit everything from military nylon to vintage leather to FKM rubber without the combination looking incongruous. The watch does not impose a specific strap direction the way a more refined piece might.
The price point invites experimentation. An SKX owner who spent £250–£400 on their watch is more likely to spend £25 on a strap experiment than the owner of a £5,000 piece. The result is a community that buys straps frequently and discusses combinations actively on forums and social media.
Best Nylon Straps for the Seiko SKX
Nylon single-pass is the most natural strap for the SKX — the watch's tool watch character and its ISO 6425 dive certification make the operational, water-resistant nylon strap an entirely appropriate choice in every context.
Single-pass nylon — Original at 22mm is the starting point. The CNS solid buckle provides spring bar security backup and water resistance appropriate to a certified dive watch. The most appropriate SKX nylon colourways:
- Black — the most operational. Solid black on an SKX007 or SRPD55 reads as purposeful and correct for any context.
- Olive drab / khaki — for the military-grounded presentation that suits the SKX's tool watch heritage particularly well.
- Black and red — for the SKX009 Pepsi and SRPD references with red bezel or dial accents. The red nylon accent picks up the bezel colour directly.
- Navy — for the SKX009 blue bezel references. Navy nylon creates tonal coherence with the blue bezel.
- Orange — for the Prospex Turtle Orange and other references with orange accents. A striking monochromatic combination.
Ribbed nylon at 22mm — the corded texture variant. Slightly more visual interest than flat nylon and suits the SKX's bold aesthetic proportionally.
Z strap at 22mm — the five-ring hardware construction. The most overtly military nylon option for an SKX, with the solid buckle providing maximum security.
Marine Nationale elastic at 22mm — the braided cord elastic strap. Navy or black for the most coherent SKX combination. The elastic construction is the most comfortable single strap for all-day SKX wear — the 22mm case width and 42.5mm diameter make for a substantial watch that benefits from the elastic's continuous wrist adjustment.
Paratrooper elastic at 22mm — the CNS founder-designed exclusive. Lower profile than the Marine Nationale, with sliding metal adjustment. The most comfortable daily-wear option for a heavy dive watch like the SKX.
Best Rubber Straps for the Seiko SKX
The SKX is rated to 200m — FKM rubber is the correct material for water use and the most practical active choice.
Classic FKM rubber in black at 22mm — the most direct upgrade from the factory rubber. Fully waterproof, lightweight, and appropriate for everything from beach to pool to open water.
Tropical style FKM in black or brown at 22mm — the collector choice. The basket-weave and honeycomb surface patterns reference original 1960s dive watch rubber and give the SKX a vintage-inspired character that the flat factory rubber cannot provide. Brown tropical style on an SKX007 creates a warm, characterful combination that reads as if the watch has been worn and loved for decades. This is one of the most widely photographed SKX combinations in the collector community.
Cut-to-size FKM with deployant at 22mm — the most premium rubber option. Precision-trimmed to wrist length, deployant closure. Suitable for an SKX worn in smart-casual contexts where excess tail is unwanted.
Best Leather Straps for the Seiko SKX
Leather on a dive watch is not a practical choice for water use — but it is an excellent choice for daily wear in dry contexts, and it transforms the SKX's character from tool watch to casual dressy in a way that rubber and nylon cannot.
Vintage two-stitch calfskin in tan or cognac at 22mm — the most widely recommended leather combination for the SKX in the collector community. The warm leather tone against the SKX's steel case and black dial creates a contrast that reads as casual, characterful, and deliberately considered. Particularly effective on SKX007 references with original or aftermarket domed dials where the vintage character of the watch is emphasised.
Dark brown padded calfskin at 22mm — the most substantial leather option. The padded profile suits the SKX's 42.5mm case and 13mm+ case thickness proportionally.
Classic black calfskin at 22mm — for an SKX worn in smart-casual and office contexts where rubber or nylon would look too sporty.
Suede in tan or dark brown at 22mm — the most casual leather option. Suede on an SKX suits weekends and relaxed contexts where the soft texture and matte surface complement the watch's unpretentious character.
Recommended Combinations by Reference
SKX007 (black dial, black bezel) — black nylon for operational daily wear; cognac vintage two-stitch leather for casual dressed; brown tropical style FKM for vintage rubber aesthetic.
SKX009 (black dial, Pepsi bezel) — black and red nylon to reference the bezel; navy Marine Nationale for the most comfortable option; black FKM rubber for active use.
SRPD55 (black dial, black bezel) — same as SKX007 — black nylon or tropical style FKM.
Prospex Turtle — olive drab nylon for the military dive watch character; black FKM rubber for active diving.
Prospex Samurai — black or navy nylon for the angular case; dark brown leather for casual dressed.
The Seiko SKX and 22mm — Why It Matters
Most buyers searching for SKX straps assume they need 20mm because that is the most common strap size. The SKX007 and all the Prospex references listed above need 22mm. A 20mm strap on an SKX will show the spring bars on both sides of the strap end — visually incorrect and mechanically less secure.
CNS stocks the full strap range at 22mm including the complete nylon, rubber, leather, and elastic collections. This is less common than it should be — many strap retailers stock limited colour ranges at 22mm compared to 20mm. At CNS the full collection is available at both sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size strap does the Seiko SKX007 take? The Seiko SKX007 uses 22mm lugs with standard spring bars and drilled lugs for easy fitting. Order 22mm — not 20mm. The SKX013 is the exception with 20mm lugs.
What size strap does the Seiko SKX009 take? The Seiko SKX009 uses 22mm lugs — the same as the SKX007. Both share the same case.
What size strap does the Seiko SRPD take? The Seiko 5 Sports SRPD series (SRPD51, SRPD55, SRPD57, SRPD59 etc.) uses 22mm lugs — the same as the SKX it replaced.
What is the best rubber strap for the Seiko SKX? Brown tropical style FKM at 22mm is the most admired rubber choice in the SKX community — the vintage basket-weave texture gives the watch a warm, characterful look that the flat factory rubber cannot provide. Classic black FKM for active diving.
Does the Seiko Prospex Sumo take 22mm? No — the Seiko Prospex Sumo (SPB101, SBDC061) uses 20mm lugs, not 22mm. Most other Prospex references including the Turtle, Samurai, and Monster use 22mm.
What leather strap suits the Seiko SKX? Cognac vintage two-stitch calfskin at 22mm is the most widely recommended leather combination — the warm tone contrasts with the steel case and black dial, and the period-correct construction suits the SKX's 1960s-inspired design.