Seiko 5 Sports

Since their introduction in the early 1960s, the wristwatches in the Seiko 5 Sports collection have impressed with their high-quality workmanship, attractive design, and outstanding value for money. Prices remain in the low to mid-hundreds, despite each model being equipped with an automatic in-house caliber.

A typical feature of these movements is the day-date display at 3 o'clock. The designs are sporty and range from pilot's and military watches to diving watches. Thanks to a water resistance of up to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), many models are suitable for swimming and snorkeling.

Along with three-hand watches, the collection also offers models with a second time zone. The line also offers numerous limited editions that are especially popular with collectors.

Reasons to Buy a Seiko 5 Sports

• Sports watches with automatic in-house movements
• Outstanding value for money
• Water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft)
• Scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal
• Particularly popular pilot's and diving watch designs

You can purchase a Seiko 5 Sports in unworn condition for about 220 USD. This level of investment will get you a classic pilot’s or field watch.

Diving watches in the Seiko 5 Sports collection change hands on Chrono24 for roughly 280 to 340 USD in mint condition. Prices can quickly climb to between 500 and 1,000 USD for special editions.

If you’re interested in a Seiko 5 Sports with a second time zone, plan to spend between 425 and 500 USD for an unworn example.

Diving watches make up a large part of the Seiko 5 Sports collection. The design of the watches is very similar to the popular ref. SKX007, which was part of the Seiko range from 1996 to 2017. Key features include a 42.5-mm stainless steel case with a crown at 4 o'clock, a unidirectional diving bezel, a day-date display at 3, and large luminescent indices and hands. The watches are also water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft).

Seiko equips current models with the automatic caliber 4R36, which offers a power reserve of 41 hours as well as a stop-seconds function and optional manual winding. In older watches, you’ll usually find the caliber 7S36 with a power reserve of about 38 hours. You’ll also have to dispense with manual winding and stop seconds with these models.

A wide range of design options are available. Designs range from watches with a black dial and black bezel insert to models with blue, green, or orange dials and versions with a blue and red “Pepsi bezel” or a black coated case. Timepieces with gold-plated cases or a bronze look are also available.

Limited-Edition Seiko 5 Sports Divers

In addition to the standard models, the Seiko 5 Sports collection offers numerous special editions. Interesting models from the recent past include the 5 Sports Bruce Lee Edition(SRPK39), the 2024 Special Edition(SRPK67) and the 55th Anniversary Ultraseven Limited Edition(SRPJ79). If you like a colorful watch, take a look at the two-tone 55th Anniversary COIN PARKING DELIVERY Limited Edition(SRPK02) or 5 Sports Super Cup dedicated to the Honda moped of the same name.

Fans of watches with a retro design will appreciate the 55th Anniversary re-creation of the first 5 Sports watch Limited Edition ref. SRPK17. The case shape and dial design of this watch correspond exactly to the first Seiko 5 Sports from the 1960s.

The Seiko 5 Sports collection also includes a number of sporty dress watches. The dial and case design largely correspond that of the diving watches. Here, however, Seiko has omitted the diving bezel.

Seiko offers these models in sizes of 28 and 40 mm. In both cases, the selection ranges from simple stainless steel watches with textile straps to two-tone watches and models with a black PVD coating. In addition to black and white, available dial colors include blue, silver, anthracite, and beige.

The Seiko 5 Sports collection also has plenty in store for lovers of pilot’s and field watches. Both are available with a diameter of either 36.4 or 39.4 mm. The watches can be worn on a stainless steel bracelet or on a textile or leather strap.

The dial design of the pilot's watches is based on the “Baumuster B” used in the 1940s. Characteristic of these dials are the pilot's triangle at 12 o'clock, a minute scale at the edge of the dial, and a second scale at the center for reading the hours. The hands are tapered sword hands. Dial color options include black, blue, green, and champagne.

The field watches also feature two scales on the dial: you can read the morning hours from 1 a.m. to noon at the outer edge, and the afternoon and evening hours from 1 p.m. to midnight at the center. The watch features slender baton hands. Dial color options include black, beige, and various shades of blue and green.

Watches with a GMT function are a great option for people who want or need to keep track of two time zones at the same time. Seiko has offered this function in the 5 Sports line for about two years now. You can choose between divers or field watches. These models differ from other three-hand models in three ways: there’s a 24-hour scale on the bezel, an additional hand, and a date-only display.

One example of a field-style Seiko 5 Sports GMT is ref. SSK023 with a satin-brushed stainless steel case and bezel and a matt black dial. If you’d prefer a completely black watch, take a look at ref. SSK025.

Diving watches with GMT function are available with a black, blue or orange dial. The first two versions have two-tone bezels in black and gray and black and blue, respectively. The bezel of the orange version is black with orange-beige numerals. These watches bear the reference numbers SSK001, SSK003, and SSK005.

How durable are Seiko 5 Sports crystals and what are they made of?

Seiko fits its 5 Sports watches with the company’s own Hardlex glass. This is a special mineral glass that is slightly softer than sapphire crystal, but similarly scratch-resistant.

What are the Seiko 5 Sports cases and bracelets made of?

Seiko 5 Sports watches have stainless steel cases. You can choose between stainless steel bracelets or textile, leather, or rubber straps.

How water-resistant is the Seiko 5 Sports, and is it suitable for diving?

Watches in the Seiko 5 Sports collection are water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). This makes them great for a dip in the pool or snorkeling. However, the watches should not be used for extended dives or saturation diving.