Seiko 5 SRPD75 Review & Complete Guide
This Seiko 5 is part of the collection that is the follow-up to the legendary 5KX series which is loved by enthusiasts around the world and produced in millions of examples. One of which is the iconic SKX007 which is considered one of the best (and most popular) entry-level automatic dive watches ever made.
But discontinuing iconic and popular models is always sensitive…
How do you go about changing, and even improving an already winning concept?
Seiko’s answer is the new Seiko 5 collection which upon its launch consisted of 27 new models. One of which is the Seiko 5 SRPD75 automatic watch, which is the timepiece we are going to look closer at in this article.
Seiko 5 SRPD75 Review
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The new Seiko 5 collection was released in 2019 and it actually proved to be well-received by the public. Yes, some people still argue that the original is better, but the SRPD75 is a great watch and technically a huge improvement from the predecessor. The good news is of course that today, you have both the original and the new collection to choose from.
Design and visual appearance can always be debated, but if you ask us, the new collection, including the SRPD75 are great-looking watches. Seiko succeeded in capturing the essence of the originals but refined and updated its design to look more modern and contemporary.
In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko 5 SRPD75.
Seiko 5 SRPD75 case
The SRPD75 has a 42.5mm stainless steel case. The case shape is very similar to the original and has a design that is iconic of Seiko. The watch has brushed lugs and polished sides. Positioned at 4 o’clock, we have the screw-down crown which is protected by pointy crown guards. It has a lug width of 22mm and a thickness of 13.40 mm. The lug-to-lug measures
The watch is quite thick so sits quite tall on the wrist. This is nothing new, as it was also the case for the previous generation. Some people enjoy it as it adds to the bulky tool-like sportiness, but it does make it ever so slightly more clumsy. It’s not a huge issue and I’m undecided if this is negative or positive. But the overall impression is that it is not insanely thick. There’s not much to complain about when it comes to the finishing of the case. The lines between polished and brushed are sharp and well-made, and the texture of the brushing is nice.
Sitting on top of the case is a Hardlex crystal. It’s not as hard as sapphire crystal, which would have been nice to see (but naturally would have increased its price), but it is still harder and more scratch-resistant than regular mineral glass.
The watch has a unidirectional rotating bezel with a green aluminum insert. The bezel has knurled edges which allow for a better grip when operating it. The green color is more of a brownish, military-inspired green and matches the color of the dial perfectly. This brings us to the next point…
Seiko 5 SRPD75 dial
The watch has a striking military green sunburst dial with a lovely brushed finish. It has a chapter ring that is made in a cream color on which the seconds markers are printed in black.
The hands and applied markers have an applied luminescence, which is Seiko’s Lumibrite. This has been made in a slightly cream color. It’s not brown/cream enough to be considered faux patina, but it does add warmth by not making them completely white. The applied markers have a metal ring around them. Both the hour and minute hand have arrow-shaped tips. The hands are brushed which is a nice touch as it prevents glare and gives it more of a tool watch look. The seconds hand is simple but has a contrasting red tip which adds a bit of color to this watch. The second has a luminous dot on the other side of the tip in order to be read in the dark. The luminescence of this watch is rather good and glows brightly in the dark as you would expect.
The green dial is really something else and catches the light beautifully.
At 3 o’clock, we have the now-iconic date and day window. Not much to say about this, and exactly what we expect from this timepiece considering the predecessor it is replacing.
This watch keeps the dial printing at a minimum with ”Automatic”, the Seiko logo, and the Seiko 5 logo.
Seiko 5 SRPD75 bracelet
The Seiko SRPD75 is fitted on a stainless steel mesh bracelet with a straight fitting against the lugs. The choice of steel mesh is an interesting one. The first thing that comes to mind is the Breitling Superocean, which of course is a perfect reference to a watch with a marine heritage. Mesh is a type of bracelet that splits opinions but we think it looks great. It is more affordable to make a mesh bracelet that feels qualitatively compared to a regular bracelet since you can avoid the common rattle and feeling of low quality. With that said, it was a wise move of Seiko to use a mesh bracelet for this one because it does indeed feel qualitative and is very comfortable on the wrist.
The good news is that for those who dislike the look of mesh bracelets, this watch also looks exceptionally well on a NATO strap.
Seiko 5 SRPD75 movement
Beating inside is the Seiko Caliber 4R36.
This is an automatic mechanical movement with 24 jewels and beating at 21600 BPH.
The movement is the biggest improvement from the predecessor as it has two key functions that the predecessor did not have. This includes manual-winding functions and hacking seconds. These are two great functions to have in a movement which makes this watch substantially more attractive to watch enthusiasts like ourselves.
The movement can be seen through the see-through case back. This movement is not meant to be well-finished and decorated to the max. Instead, it reflects the watch’s ethos of being a tool watch. This means sturdy, robust, and industrialized. But despite not being decorated, it’s still nice to be reminded of the mechanical piece of craftsmanship beating inside.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42.50 mm
- Power reserve: 41 h
- Jewels: 24
- Water-resistance: 100m/330 feet/10ATM
- Frequency: 21600 bph
- Lug width: 22 mm
- Diameter: 42.50 mm
- Thickness/Height: 13.40 mm
- Caliber: Seiko Caliber 4R36
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko 5 SRPD75 is a watch that offers great value for money. Seiko really succeeded well in making a reissue of the legendary SKX. This watch is sporty, robust, and well-finished for the price.
With its new movement, it is technically much better than its predecessor, and the Seiko Caliber 4R36 is also a movement that has proven to be a workhorse.
With its green dial and bezel, it certainly has its own look and style and is the perfect watch for someone who is looking for a sporty tool watch that can take a beating, but also has a unique design.
With this watch, you really cannot go wrong.
The Seiko 5 SRPD75 is available to order on Amazon.
