The Seiko 5 Sports Collection Relaunches with 27 New Watches

For many watch enthusiasts, Seiko 5 represents the introduction to a world of mechanical watches. Not only are they made by a brand with one of the most iconic names in the watch world, but they’re inexpensive while still being well-made, widely available, and offer an incredible amount of variety. Seiko 5s come in all flavors, from modern to retro, sporty to dress. Today, we’re focusing on the official relaunch of the Seiko 5 Sports line. With a new logo and collections within the collection, there’s a lot going on here, so let’s get to it.

Seiko 5 Sports

• Case Material: Stainless steel (with various coatings and finishes depending on the model)
• Dial: Various 
• Dimensions: 42.5mm
• Crystal: Hardlex
• Water Resistance: 10 bar 
• Crown: Push/pull
• Movement: 4R36
• Strap/bracelet: Various, including stainless steel bracelets, nylon, and silicone 
• Price: $295-350
• Expected Release in America: October 2019

As a refresher, Seiko 5 was always intended as a sort of introduction or gateway to Seiko’s larger world of mechanical watches. The “5” in Seiko 5 represents the core attributes that all models within the line should have: an automatic movement, a day-date display, water resistance, a recessed crown at the 4:00 position, and a case built to be durable. For decades, Seiko has churned out watches that meet this criteria that have been embraced by collectors and the general public alike. The Sports line within the Seiko 5 category has offered customers a number of upgrades over standard Seiko 5s, including additional water resistance, generous lume, and higher quality materials. These are true go anywhere, do anything watches, and have always represented an exceptional value.

The new generation of Seiko 5 Sports watches are inspired by the colorful, youth-embracing watches of the brand’s past. While there are a huge variety of watches in the collection (27 references in all) they are brought together by a few common factors, including use of the hacking and hand winding 4R36 movement, and a sporty case and general design that bears more than a passing resemblance to a certain iconic Seiko diver. 

The collection is divided into several distinct sub-collections:

SPORTS

(References SPRD55K3, SRPD57K1, SRPD59K1, SRPD55K1, SRPD55K3, SRPD57K1, SRPD59K1, SRPD61K1, SRPD63K1, SRPD65K1, and SRPD65K4)

SUITS

(References SRPD65K2, SRPD67K1, SRPD69K1, SRPD71K1, SRPD71K2, SRPD73K1, SRPD73K2, and SRPD75K1)

SPECIALIST

(References SRPD55K2, SRPD65K3, and SRPD76K1)

STREET

(References SRPD79K1, SRPD81K1, and SRPD83K1)

SENSE

(References SRPD77K and SRPD85K1)

Each of these mini collections brings its own unique vibe to the larger Seiko 5 Sports world — there’s truly something for any style. The Sports style is the most traditional – these watches resemble references that will be familiar to many Seiko fans, including the SKX007 and its many brothers, sisters, and cousins. You could almost mistake these for watches that Seiko has already produced if you didn’t notice the lack of “Divers 200” on the dial. The Sports style allows for broad choice within the realm of what a basic dive watch looks like, with a variety of colorways to choose from, whether you’re into bold orange, or the more traditional Pepsi or basic black. The Suits style, as the name suggests, is slightly more formal. These watches feature a Milanese style mesh bracelet (or silicone strap), and subtle but attractive vintage cues. Some include faux-patina lume, and use the rehaut as a contrasting color element. The watches in the Specialist and Street lines include case treatments to give the watches a unique look that sets them apart from other styles in the collection. The Street pieces in particular are ultra modern in appearance and provide an interesting counter to the more traditional watches of the other styles. The Sense style is also unique in that it offers watches with dials that have been treated to give the appearance of texture. Available in shades of green and a maroon-brown, these references have a level of detail that are unique in the collection, and represent yet another volley by Seiko in their continuous push to bring exacting and interesting dial work to watches in all of their collections, and all of their pricing tiers. 

The new Seiko 5 Sports collection will make its debut in October, and pricing in the US will range from $295-350. This is a major product refresh for Seiko, and includes a dizzying amount of new references and new looks, but even a brief browse through the collection at a high level makes it clear that Seiko is sticking to the formula that has always made Seiko 5 special: variety, value, good design, and ultimate accessibility. Seiko 5 Sports