Introducing The New Seiko 5 Sports SRPE With Smooth Bezels

Seiko continues to expand the 5 Sports range with updated models that might look quite familiar to you…

Seiko is known for having a dedicated audience of watch enthusiasts who have loved their value for money, the variety offered and execution of a product for decades now. It makes sense, Seiko offer watches that are vertically integrated in house hitting all price points from £100 all the way up to six figures.

 

It’s not a secret that the Seiko SKX is a hugely well-loved (and well documented) watch in their line up. The 007 and 009 specifically have been around since the 90s remaining unchanged. However, the latest Seiko 5 Sports are here to update the affordable icon that sits in so many watch boxes around the world.

Last year we saw the first most obvious step towards this in the shape of the Seiko 5 Sports SRPD. Nicknamed the '5KX' by the community, 27 models all with rotating bezels, familiar colours, a case design closely resembling the SKX and an eclectic mix of standard watch straps all being presented. This was pretty big for Seiko and the community. This felt like a huge appreciative acknowledgement was thrown in the direction of the Seiko community, the same community who had spent the last 20 years modifying their SKX’s to look almost unrecognisable as a Seiko in some cases.

And now in 2020, Seiko has just a little more acknowledgement to throw at the community with new additions, this time dive bezel-less. The new Seiko 5 Sports now rock a completely smooth bezel, dropping the overly sports and practical rotating bezel. The other change that is noticeable is a slight shift in hands used as the minute hand is now a little slimmer with a more compact arrow tipping the hand. Colours and options remain a big selling point of the newest Seiko 5 as we see a large variation available right from launch.

It is just another part of these new watches that are hard to ignore as we see greys, blues, greens, blacks, two-tone models both rose gold and yellow gold-coloured now available. Seiko is not messing with these new 5 Sports.

Stats:

Dimensions: 40mm

Lug Width: 20mm

Movement: Seiko 4R36

Case Material: Stainless steel

Crystal: Hardlex

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Crown: Not screw down

Strap/bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet or nylon

Price: £230 – £290

Availability: June

Final thoughts

 

I only see these new watches as a positive for not just Seiko fans, but the watch community as a whole. Many of these additions are clearly inspired by the work the Seiko modding community has completed over the years. Last year was the first sign of this, but this year is where we are starting to see real change to this range. With the case remaining at 40mm wide, these newer slightly less sporty models inject some slightly more varied style options for the sub £300 mark when it comes to Seiko. For years the only few hundred pounds Seiko to own as a beater / first watch has been a diver (SKX, Sumo, Samurai etc). But now a Black Bay 36/41 like example is born.

With a selection of colours and styles to suit all manner of wrists and a price point that has remained sensible, these proven formula watches from Seiko are bound to fly.

To find out more about these new Seiko 5 Sports model click here.