Old seiko 5 automatic watch8/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Meanwhile, SKX devotees were enraged that Seiko had taken their dive watches away, swapping them out for some poor excuse with a display case back, no screw-down crown, and a mere 100 meters of water resistance.įor us at home playing armchair corporate strategist, it all seemed to make sense: take away the budget SKX and force us to pony up for something from the more expensive Prospex line if we wanted a true diver. Last year when Seiko released its new Seiko 5 Sports line, I practically begged it to release a smaller version with no diving bezel. Seiko 5 Sports SNK line: Out-of-production (but still available on Prime!) Seiko 5 Sports SRPD line: Diving bezel, released in 2019 ![]() The Seiko 5 Sports SRPE line: Smooth bezel, released in 2020 Let’s take a look at three of the most important Seiko 5s: But older versions of the Seiko 5 can also still be found around the internet, signified by references beginning with SNK. The new Seiko 5 Sports lineup has references beginning in SRPD (with diving bezel), and SRPE (smooth) bezel. It’s a bit of a souped-up version of the older line: larger, more water-resistant, a bit more expensive. In 2019, Seiko revamped the Seiko 5 lineup, re-christening it the Seiko 5 Sports. As such, it’s important not only for Seiko, but for the entire watch industry, that the Seiko 5 lineup remains strong. For many (myself included), the Seiko 5 line is like the Playboy Magazine that a young teen finds under dad’s bed: it represents an introduction to a vast, often confusing new world. Over the half century since, Seiko has churned out dozens of beloved models that meet these criteria: true value proposition, everyday, go-anywhere, do-anything watches worthy of the many internet listicle spots you’ll certainly see them on. In this case, the rules stand for the principle that anyone should be able to afford a robust, durable sports watch to strap on their wrist for life’s adventures. Putting forth a set of rules that dictate how a watch should be made is very Seiko, but we should look beyond the set of rules to understand what the brand is actually trying to accomplish. ![]() The “5” is a reference to the attributes that any Seiko 5 watch would offer, i.e., automatic winding, a day and date display, water resistance, a recessed crown at 4 o’clock, and a durable case. Quickly, let’s jump back to 1963, when the original Seiko 5 was launched. Basically, it’s the perfect watch: affordable, reliable, loved by enthusiasts young and old, available on Prime (I mean, just search Seiko 5 on Amazon and you’ll see the variety of forms the line takes). I’ve written a number of laudatory articles about the lineup over the years. ![]()
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