Photo: Brandfield
Seiko 5 Sports srpd51k1 Automatic Watch review
The new Seiko 5 sports collection took the world by storm and introduced a large range of new watches. One of the watches in the model collection is the Seiko 5 Sports srpd51k1 automatic watch. This is an affordable yet durable model that won’t let you down, and can take a beating.
The Seiko 5 was actually first released by the brand in 1963. As sports watches became more popular and people wanted watches that were suitable for swimming and handling harsh conditions and treatment.
So what does the Seiko 5 srpd51k1 have to do with 1963, you ask? Well, in 2019, Seiko introduced a new, revamped ”5” collection with an array of new watches. As you probably, know, the 5 stands for: automatic movement, a day-date display at the three o’clock position, water resistance, a recessed crown at the four o’clock position, and a case and bracelet (or strap) built for durability.
Let’s look closer at one of the Seiko 5 Automatic watches – especially the srpd51k1.
Seiko 5 sports srpd51k1 Automatic watch review
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What is interesting about the new Seiko 5 sports collection is that Seiko says that they are looking back on the last 5 decades of its Sports watches, combining both new and classic elements and design features. For the new collection line, Seiko also presented a new logo for the collection, which can be interpreted as either a 5 or an S. This is of course a very clever logo for the Seiko 5. The logo is also shaped like the Seiko 5 shield.
Case
Moving on to the case, there’s no doubt that it is rather classic. The case is made of stainless steel and has a diameter of 42.5mm. The thickness is 13.4mm which isn’t too bad, but it’s certainly not the slimmest dive watch out there. The height is however not something most people will consider as disproportional.
The case has a length (lug-to-lug) of 45.7mm. Bear in mind that the Rolex Submariner 116610 has a lug-to-lug of 50.54 mm.
If you have worn the predecessor, amongst others the SKX007, the srpd51k1 will feel familiar on the wrist as it is very similar. The crown is placed at 4 o’clock which not only looks unique but also helps with comfort so it doesn’t dig into the hand. Furthermore, the case combines polished with brushed elements.
The Seiko srpd51k1 has a water resistance of 100 meters, 330 feet, or 10 bar. This means that you can wear it when swimming, but it’s not the ideal watch to wear if you are going deep diving. But at the same time, nowadays only very few people go deep diving with their dive watches.
As a dive watch, it has a unidirectional rotating bezel. Specifically, the srpd51k1 has a blue aluminum bezel insert.
The case has a mineral crystal (Hardlex). No, it’s not a sapphire crystal, likely to keep the cost down, but the mineral crystal will do the job well also. It is placed in between a Sapphire crystal and a regular glass crystal. It won’t get scratches from regular usage, but if you accidentally hit it against a hard object, it will naturally be more prone to scratches than a sapphire crystal.
The watch has a see-through glass case back which allows you to see the movement beating inside. This is a nice touch according to some, but unnecessary for a sports watch to others. Either way, it doesn’t bother you in any way as it will be hidden when you wear it.
- Thickness: 13.4 ㎜
- Diameter: 42.5 ㎜
- Length: 46 ㎜
The watch is fitted on a stainless steel bracelet, but more on that further on.
Photo: Watchlounge
SEIKO SPB101J1 Dial
Moving on to the dial, the srpd51k1 has a dark blue dial with a sunburst brushed effect. It has applied markers with circular dots and a triangle at 12 o’clock as well as oval shapes at 6 and 9 o’clock. The hour markers have applied luminous material for improved legibility in darkness. Seiko calls this luminous material Lumibrite. It is a three-handed watch with seconds, minutes, and hours. Both the hour and minute hand have applied luminous material.
On the outer ring of the dial, we have the minute markers, which allow the dial itself to appear as more clean.
At 3 o’clock, we have a window for the date and the day.
Bracelet
The srpd51k1 has a three-link composition and a folding clasp with a secure lock and push-button release ensuring that it sits locked and secure on the wrist. It is made of stainless steel.
The bracelet is solid and feels rather robust, but naturally, at this price point, you can expect some rattle.
Bezel
The watch is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel. The blue aluminum insert has indicated minute markers until 20 minutes. After that, every five minutes is indicated. The bezel is easy to operate in order to time various things.
Movement
Moving on to the heart of the Seiko srpd51k1, we come to the movement.
The watch is equipped with the 4R36 automatic movement. This movement is a huge step-up and improvement from the previous generation. Unlike the predecessor, this movement has hacking seconds (the seconds hand stops when you pull out the crown, for more accurate time-setting). The movement can also be manually wound with the crown, instead of having to shake the watch after it had stopped, which was the case for the prior generation.
If the movement has gone into rest mode, it only needs a few seconds of movement before it starts again. The movement offers a power reserve of about 41 hours and has 24 jewels.
The Seiko 5 Sports srpd51k1 is available to order on Amazon.
Seiko 5 sports srpd51k1 specifications
- Power reserve: 41 hours
- Caliber: 4R36
- Jewels: 24
- Functions: Day/Date display, Stop second-hand function, hours, minutes, seconds
- Thickness: 13.4 mm
- Diameter: 42.5 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 46 mm
- Luminescence: Lumibrite on hands and indexes
- Water-resistance: 10 bar/100m/300 feet
- Screw-down case back
- See-through case back
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
