When I first saw this watch announced and saw the 40mm case size, I knew I was going to like it. I already enjoy the SKX case and had a feeling it would be pretty hard to screw it up by making it smaller. The fixed bezel looks fantastic when combined with all the other elements on the dial. Seiko nailed it. If they simply refreshed the SKX with the 4R36, people would have been ecstatic. Source: WatchReviewBlog The watch is equipped with a Hardlex crystal. This is not as tough as sapphire crystal, and it would be nice to have one but sapphire crystals for a watch in this price range do not always come as standard. In addition, the Hardlex crystal has still proven to be much more resistant and durable against scratches than regular mineral glass.

As a matter of fact, this little Seiko 5 started a complete shift in the way I enjoy watches. The more "simple" and "subdued" styling has started to appeal to me more and more. The SRPE67 is kind of the embodyment of what I'm wanting in a watch. A rugged, tool watch with a design I like and a case that wears like a dream on my wrist. Oh, and looks great on a variety of natos. Reference Number: SRPE51, SRPE53, SRPE55, SRPE57, SRPE58, SRPE60, SRPE61, SRPE63, SRPE65, SRPE67, SRPE69 The “Turtle” case design is one of the most popular and longest-lived concepts in the history of Seiko, appearing in countless guises across the brand’s lineup for decades since the release of the original 6309 dive watch in 1976. Like so many beloved Seiko nameplates from the “Pogue,” to the “Willard,” and the “John Player Special,” the “Turtle” moniker was never an official designation from the brand, but grew up organically from the brand’s robust fan community. For over 40 years, then, Seiko has always tacitly accepted the name, but never officially allowed it to influence the long-running cushion case design. The Japanese giant finally breaks this streak in 2021 for a good (and thematic) cause: raising awareness for the Oceanic Society environmental group to help preserve the world’s seven species of sea turtles with a trio of high-spec “King Turtle” variants. These three Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition models — the Seiko Prospex SRPH55, the Seiko Prospex SRPH57, and the Seiko Prospex SRPH59 – go beyond simply aiding the turtles, though, and spotlight some genuinely spectacular dial finishing capabilities at a remarkably affordable price point. The lug-to-lug distance is comparable to the SKX/5KX at 44mm. Even though that dimension hasn’t changed much, the wearer wouldn’t notice too much of a difference because the SKX/5KX case had a relatively short lug-to-lug to begin with. The crown guards have been carried over and have always been one of my favorite things about the SKX case. The bottom crown guard has a little swoop to it that adds some flair. The SKX007 just has way more mod parts that are available for it compared to the newer Seiko 5 Sports series. We think this might be due to the fact that there were only 2 SKX007 variants when it was released, making it the perfect canvas for Seiko modders to exercise their creativity and customise one to their liking.Friend we’d recommend it to first: Seiko enthusiasts looking for a statement diver, or those passionate about ocean conservation. Another good thing about it is not about the watch itself, but the community it fostered. For many, the SKX007 was the affordably priced gateway watch into the world of watch modding and collecting, bringing hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people together through a hobby. And that, modfam, is just beautiful. namokiMODS does have a few parts available for SRPE modding already, starting with the case. If you don’t wish to buy a brand new watch just to take it apart and build a new one, you can always start with a bare modding case, like our Polished SRPE Pilot Case . It already comes with a matching bezel and crown to make it easier to work with!

The words instant classic get thrown around a lot when it comes to watches. I don’t want to outright say that this watch is an instant classic, but it has all the makings of one. It’s affordable and has styling and wearability we haven’t seen from Seiko in recent years. Seiko has been pushing upmarket for the last few years and it is starting to appear that the new line of Seiko 5 watches is what consumers in the affordable space have been clamoring for from the brand. The markers and hands are filled with Seiko’s LumiBrite lume and will glow just as fantastically as any other Seiko you have seen. If you’re not familiar with Seiko lume, it will glow brightly at the slightest touch of light and last for hours. The specified accuracy of the movement is +45 / -35 seconds per day, but owners have reported a much better accuracy from this movement in practice. Seiko is a business. It’s actually, like… a really BIG business. Thus, it makes sense that Seiko makes big-business decisions. At the end of the day, big-business decisions consider only the bottom line. Although the game is sometimes long, and sometimes short, it’s always played to increase the figure at the bottom. So, when Seiko announced that it was (finally) discontinuing the beloved SKX, it should not have surprised anyone that it would do something to fill the void. It’s our fault, not Seiko’s, that we fully expected Seiko to replace the SKX with yet another Cinderella loss-leader. While the new Seikos are available on bracelet or a NATO strap, the SRPE51 comes with the former. The bracelet on the whole is quite jangly, unaided by hollow endlinks that don’t fit the watch perfectly. On the plus side, the sizing links are secured with simple split pins, making adjustments a snap. At the end of the day, I don’t need that much out of a bracelet, other than to size well and stay closed. This does both. And if you need more, I’m sure the aftermarket hordes will come out with some sturdier alternatives.The Seiko 5 SRPE57K1 is built as a clean and elegant everyday timepiece, but very evidently, it is inspired by Seiko’s previous SKX diver and the current, Seiko 5 sports SRP. In its design, it is very similar to a dive watch, however, it is missing one crucial element – the unidirectional rotating bezel. There’s not a lot to dislike here. It’s highly legible, has moderate water resistance, great styling, and is eminently wearable. It’s not a go anywhere, do anything watch, but it can go most places and do most things. While not everyone actually takes their watch diving in deep waters, knowing that your watch is capable of 200m was a bragging right. Much like how computer GPU brands brag about how much VRAM their newest model has, or how many megapixels Samsung phone cameras can shoot, the water resistance rating was a big talking point for dive watches. The SRPD and SRPE lines are more appealing to the new generation of watch collectors, with their more sleek and minimalist constructions and variety of OEM designs, not to mention the collaborations with other pop culture brands. They have a clear vision and demographic in mind for the Seiko 5 Sports, and we believe it can succeed despite the persisting demand for the SKX. You can describe the SRPE as being simple, but well-executed as a watch. It still has a presence on the wrist, though not as overt as its diving predecessor. The non-rotating bezel is minimalist, making it almost like a field watch in appearance, especially the ones that come standard in a NATO strap.

The case combines polished and brushed elements and is actually quite well-made and finished. The top of the lugs is satin-brushed, whereas the bezel is polished. In contrast, the sides of the case are polished, too. These small yet important details really enhance the watch’s feeling and impression of quality. It shows that Seiko has really gone above and beyond with the details of this watch. Seiko is widely appreciated by watch enthusiasts and others for the fact that the brand makes watches that offer great value for money. This watch looks and feels more like the Seiko 5s I have been accustomed to over the years with a few welcome upgrades. The 4R36 movement and larger crown are the biggest upgrades from previous generations of Seiko 5 models. The push/pull crown also feels more at home on this model than it did on the 5KX. There were droves of Seiko fans who went ballistic over the fact the 5KX had a push/pull crown. They wanted an SKX replacement and the inaugural Seiko 5 launch wasn’t it. If Seiko had started with this model and introduced the 5KX later, I think fans would have been more lenient on Seiko (although knowing Seiko fans this is somewhat doubtful). The 5KX would not have come across as an SKX downgrade but rather an evolution in the line. Everett’s Take on the Seiko 5

Authenticity

In 2019 and 2020, Seiko presented a ton of new watches in its Seiko 5 sports collection. In addition, its loved and appreciated SKX dive watches were all discontinued and replaced by a brand-new collection.

Unfortunately, the bracelet that is fitted inside this 20mm lug width is somewhat of a letdown. The Oyster-style bracelet itself is about what you would expect from a previous Seiko 5 generation. It is a little stiff and squeaky. The clasp is awful. My biggest gripe isn’t that it is stamped; it is that it only has 2 micro-adjust positions. This is unacceptable when Seiko has entire catalog of 3 micro-adjust position clasps. Whenever the inevitable aftermarket bracelets come out, I will be first in line. Why not soften the blow with a watch that isn’t pretending to be a dive watch? Give us a watch that is not a just a pretender, but a sensible variation. A watch with perfect proportions (40 and 20, say what??), without any natural claim to a screw-down crown, or an ISO rating. Give us a watch that just… makes sense? When I first saw this watch announced I thought it was simply a bezel-less 5KX. That is not the case (pun intended). Seiko made an entirely new case for this model. While it is undoubtedly SKX/5KX-inspired, there are a few differences. The hands and dials are extremely legible, and the simple chapter ring complements it quite nicely. The sideways 5/S logo is featured prominently under the main Seiko brand. The case is a mix of polished and brushed to help lessen the glistening effect which can be distracting for a sports watch. It still features Seiko’s good ol’ hardlex crystal, which is now mounted right on the bezel instead of within it. A welcome change to the case is the 20mm lug width. I was never a fan of the 22mm lug width of the SKX case; it never looked right to me. 20mm fits perfectly here and looks great with the rest of the case dimensions. Drilled lug holes have been carried over from the 5KX.

For this watch, Seiko decided to remove the rotating bezel and replace it with a polished one instead. This makes for a very clean and refined look which results in a much more classy and sleek timepiece, yet with sporty elements. This makes this watch much more versatile and suitable for all kinds of occasions. Both formal and casual. Seiko 5 SRPE57K1 movement There’s not much to compare between the SRPE and SRPD watches because they are all under the Seiko 5 Sports mantle. Aside from the watch being mounted on the bezel, these two are pretty much the same. I've enjoyed wearing this so much that I even took it on a two week trip to Puerto Rico and ended up wearing it as much as my SLA057. Ironically enough, it even came snorkeling with me more than the SLA did. Because it has 100m of WR, it was the perfect little companion for jungle and beach hikes and even for those times where I'm doing things like jumping off a pier and swimming with sea turtles! While legibility is beyond reproach on this watch, for the sake of clarity and reading accuracy, the seconds hand should feature a more traditional lollipop, on the proper end, so when you’re reading the watch in the deep recesses of your parents basement after a 12-hour Fortnite marathon, you’ll be able to tell exactly what time it is, without confusion—or math. For the SRPD and SRPE watches though, they have so many variants that they had to separate them into 5 other categories: Sports, Suits, Specialist, Street and Sense. Not to mention the many collaborations that Seiko is using this line with, which brought us the Seiko Street Fighter watches , the Seiko Naruto watches, and more.