Seiko 5 SRPD79 Review & Complete Guide
If you are looking for a sporty all-black timepiece, the Seiko 5 SRPD79 may just be the watch for you. All-black watches are definitely not for everyone. But they are different, bold, and have great personalities.
Seiko is known and appreciated all around the world for offering qualitative watches at affordable prices. Few brands in the same price range as Seiko are able to offer the same value, quality, and finish.
With that said, regardless if you are looking for a durable beater or for your first automatic wristwatch, Seiko is a great option. And if you are in turn looking for a sporty all-black watch, the Seiko 5 SRPD79 is a great alternative.
Seiko 5 SRPD79 Review
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All-black watches certainly do not speak to everyone. Its design only speaks to some, but either way, it’s safe to say that the design is very bold and sporty.
Having said that, it does limit the legibility of this watch. Since everything is black, it provides no contrast at all, and therefore results in a poor legibility.
Seiko 5 SRPD79 case
The watch has a PVD black-coated stainless steel case with a diameter of 42.5mm. The case has a lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm. The lug width is 22mm.
In standard Seiko 5 fashion, the crown is positioned at 4 o’clock and protected by crown guards which seamlessly extend from the case. The crown is also black PVD treated to seamlessly blend into the case.
The watch offers a water resistance of 100M/10ATM. This is enough for swimming and diving, but not deep diving. What is interesting is the fact that the predecessor, the SKX had a water resistance of 200M. Part of the reason for this is that the SRPD79 has a push-pull crown whereas the predecessor has a screw-down crown. A reason for the reduced water rating could be the fact that the vast majority of people do not need a water resistance of greater than 100m anyways. Most people never go deep diving with their watch, and only go swimming at max. And in these cases, a water resistance of 100m is more than enough.
Sitting on top of the case, we have a black bezel with knurled edges for better grip. The bezel has a matte black aluminum bezel. The 60-minute graduation markers are printed in grey.
Photo: Monochrome Watches
Seiko 5 SRPD79 dial
The dial of the SRPD79 is essentially all black. The dial has a matte black background and a chapter ring around the outer edge of the dial which provides a sense of depth.
At 3 o’clock, the watch has the Seiko 5 classic day and date window. The background is black, and the printing is silver.
The watch has applied markers with Lumibrite applied to them. The metal frame has been PVD treated in order to blend in with the all-black look. What is especially interesting is that the luminous mass has also been made black instead of white. This makes for a really cool look, but bear in mind that even though it is black, the Lumibrite offers a bright and long glow.
The hands have also been PVD-treated and have a black luminous mass. A nice detail is the minute and hour hand has a brushed finish which really enhances the perception of quality and shows that Seiko has really paid attention to the details. The only exception is the seconds hand which has a white tip in order to help the wearer keep track of the elapsed seconds.
However, it still helps with the fact that the minute and hour hands are big and broad. However, we want to point out that the legibility of this is not non-existent, but the legibility is definitely compromised in favor of the design and look.
Seiko 5 SRPD79 movement
The watch is equipped with the Seiko caliber 4R36. There are two key improvements to this movement compared to the predecessor. These two improvements include a hand-winding function as well as hacking seconds. These were two functions that people missed in the previous movement, so it was well-received when Seiko finally decided to implement this in their SKX predecessor.
The movement has a specified accuracy of +45 to -35 seconds per day, however, in practice, owners have reported a much better accuracy than that. In addition, you can also have the movement regulated by a watchmaker in order to improve its accuracy.
The movement beats with a frequency of 21600 BPH and has 24 jewels.
It is certainly not the most beautiful movement as it is not finished nor decorated, but that is not the purpose of this movement, either. In fact, the watch is built to be sporty, robust, and durable, and the movement is built according to this. It is known as a workhorse as it has proven to be able to continue ticking for decades without needing a service. Still, the movement can be seen through the screw-down case back with a Hardlex window which is appreciated amongst enthusiasts as it allows people to be reminded of the mechanical piece of craftsmanship
Seiko 5 SRPD79 strap
The watch is presented on a black NATO strap to match the black theme of the watch. The buckle and loupes are PVD plated in order to remove any and all metal.
There is not much to say about the NATO strap. It’s simple, clean, and comfortable. NATO straps, as you know, have a close history with the military, and therefore, the fact that it is presented on a NATO strap adds to the sportiness and military look of the watch.
Of course, if you want, you can easily change to a different strap thanks to the drilled lugs.
Specifications
- Accuracy: +45 to -35 seconds per day
- Power reserve: 41 hours
- Thickness: 13.4mm
- Diameter: 42.5mm
- Lug-to-lug: 46mm
- Lug width: 22mm
- Caliber: 4R36
- Case: Stainless steel with hard PVD coating
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Water resistance: 100M/10bar
- Weight: 335 g
- Jewels: 24 jewels
- Case back: Hardlex
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko 5 SRPD79 is a sporty and robust timepiece that offers exceptional value for money. With a price of under 300 USD, there are few watches that are as well-built and qualitative as the Seiko 5 SRPD79.
This watch is equipped with a robust and workhorse automatic movement, has an exceptional finish that punches well above the watch’s price, and has a unique but also classic design.
Due to its all-black look, it’s not a watch for everyone, but for those who like this type of style, it’s a great watch. The all-black look is sure to stand out from the crowd and attract a lot of eyes because of its bold look.
The Seiko 5 SRPD79 is available to order on Amazon.
Main photo by: Monochrome Watches
