On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Seiko 5 Sports range, the essential Japanese house unveils 4 new watches featuring the design and compact dimensions of an emblematic piece well known to aficionados of the brand!
A sense of déjà vu…
When in 2018 Seiko made the decision to discontinue its famous line of SKX divers to launch the new SRPDs with their 42.5 mm case, many watch fans were disappointed to find that the field of small watches waterproof and affordable had been deserted by the Japanese manufacture.
Because if the SRPD replaced the SKX007, SKX009 and SKX011, the smaller SKX013 disappeared at the same time as its 38 mm diameter case.
Their case takes up the historic lines of the diving models released in the 1980s and offers compact dimensions that will please all those who appreciate comfortable and discreet timepieces!
Colorful dials!
If the SKX013 was only available with a black dial, the new SRPK references are now available in different colors and leave you the choice on that side!
If the Seiko SRPK29K1 and Seiko SRPK31K1 respectively sport a classic color black and a brighter tan graythe Seiko SRPK33K1 and Seiko SRPK35K1 references will appeal to those looking for an original piece thanks to their dial turquoise And bright orange.
Decorated with a beautiful sunburst finish, the dials now reflect each of the rays of light and discreetly change color according to your gestures. The indexes are also more elaborate, they are no longer content to be painted and are applied. A chrome strapping finishes the whole thing and gives these parts a look that appears gentrified in comparison to that of the old SKX013.
At 12 o’clock, the brand logo is also embossed and is complimented by the new emblem of the Seiko 5 line. On the lower part of the dial, we note the disappearance of the words “Diver’s 200m” which gives to an “Automatic” inscription written in the most refined typography.
Pleasant on a daily basis, these additional details bring an additional visual depth that brightens up each of these recent models.
Those with a keen sense of detail will also notice that the set of needles used on these new models is very similar to that used by the Japanese brand for these old SKX in 42.5 mm and current SRPD. The style therefore differs slightly from that of the SKX013 which was fitted with hands with softer, rounded lines.
A movement brought up to date
The caliber that powers these new pieces is none other than the Seiko 4R36A automatic movement Japanese displaying a comfortable 41-hour power reserve and beating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz).
By taking the base of the aging Seiko 7S26 mechanism that fitted the SKX013 while modernizing it with new features, the 4R36 is a modern model that is both reliable and interesting.
Retaining the useful complication day-date (day date), it is now embellished with a stop-second as well as a practical manual winding and clearly plays in another category by giving you a more enjoyable watch experience. The most perfectionists will be delighted to be able to adjust their tocante to the nearest second thanks to the crown cleverly located at 4 o’clock for maximum comfort!
The bottom of the case is no longer solid, it is covered with a glass window allowing you to see each of the cogs that make up the mechanism. A real good point for neophytes in particular for whom this timepiece will represent a gateway to the watchmaking world!
A sporty steel bracelet
On the bracelet side, the Japanese brand has chosen to abandon the flexible 5-link jubilee in order to make way for a more sporty model made up of a minimalist row of three links.
With its fully brushed finish, the new bracelet in stainless steel which equips all the 4 models presented takes up the style and general look of the so-called “oyster” models popularized by the famous brand with the crown.
Both sober and robust, it will easily take the small knocks and shocks of everyday life while accompanying you in all of your adventures. Equipped with a double safety closure, its branded folding clasp ensures a fine adjustment thanks to 2 micro adjustments.
The 20 mm between lugs and the pierced lugs will delight people who like to change the strap of their watch from time to time in order to customize it or adapt it to their different outfits.
A daily adventurer!
With a tightness given for 100 meters and its unscrewed crown, these reissues are not considered true professional divers. They are therefore no longer certified by the ISO 6425 standard as the SKX013 could once be. But have peace of mind for your holidays! All are fully capable of accompanying you during your swims by the sea.
Without a luminescent bead at 12 o’clock, their 120-click rotating bezel displays a precisely graduated timer over the first 20 minutes and offers you the typical look of diving watches.
Generously applied to the indexes as well as the hour, minute and second hands, the much appreciated luminescent paste Lumibrite developed by Seiko offers you an excellent level of readability, whatever the conditions offered by the ambient light.
Also developed in-house by the Japanese firm, the mineral glass Hardlex is designed with a view to effectively repelling scratches.
With a diameter of 38 mm and a thickness of 12.10 mm, these new Seiko SRPKs are offered in completely unisex compact dimensions. These colorful proposals will therefore appeal to both men and women looking for a small size model and enthusiasts looking for a vintage-looking reference.
