Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” Review & Complete Guide

Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” Review & Complete Guide

In 2019, Seiko presented a new collection. This was the SRPD dive-watch-inspired sports collection of watches that would come to replace the legendary and appreciated SKX.

The Seiko SKX was in production for more than two decades – and for a reason. It was one of the most popular automatic entry-level sports/diving watches in the world.

The Seiko SKX has long been the go-to watch for novice collectors to dip their toes into the horology space. But the question is: how do you actually go about upgrading an icon?

How do you improve on an already winning concept?

The answer to that question is already quite sensitive because when discontinuing an iconic model, people lose out on this watch. At the same time, the successor has very big shoes to fill. Plus, if the successor is too different from the original, it will likely not be well met as people focus on what they have lost, not what they have gained.

But the good news is that Seiko’s new collection proved to be well-received. Seiko succeeded with this by creating a model which stayed true to the original, but focused on refining and improving it instead, and putting the main focus on the technological performance, finish, and quality.

For the release of the new model line, Seiko presented 27 different watches in different styles, colors., and materials. The Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” is one of them.

Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” Review

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Already at first glance, it is evident that this watch is different.

Its case design is very familiar with its 4 o’clock crown, unidirectional rotating bezel, crown guards, and dial layout. But what stands out about this watch is its unique green-colored dial with a very interesting texture.

The nickname that this watch has already acquired is evident where it comes from.

If you are looking for a sporty and robust timepiece in a classic dive watch design, but with a unique twist, the Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” may just be the watch for you. In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at this timepiece.

Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” Dial

Obviously, we need to talk about the dial of this watch first. If you are getting bored of the industry-standard black dial watches, this dial stands out as a black sheep amongst white. But due to its unique color and texture, it is something completely different.

The watch has a dark green textured dial which is very reminiscent of avocado peel. Both the color and texture are spot on, but it is also very unique, and something that surely will be a conversation starter.

Around the outer edge of the dial, the watch has a green chapter ring made in the same color as the dial, on which the seconds markers are printed. Being a Seiko 5, it features the signature day and date window at 3 o’clock. It has a white background with black printing.

The dial features applied metal markers with a generous amount of Lumibrite applied to them. The markers have a metal frame around them and the luminous material of this watch has been made slightly yellow/cream-colored.

As a contrast, the watch has an orange seconds hand that stands out brightly against the more or less all-green dial. An interesting detail about this watch is that the metal on both the hour and minute hand are painted green in order to blend in against the dial. The Lumibrite on the hands, however, is completely white.

What can we say other than that this dial truly is something else and certainly very special?

Seiko 5 SRPD77 case

The Seiko 5 SRPD77 is presented in a 42.5mm stainless steel case with a dark gunmetal finish. It has a lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm and a thickness of 13.4mm. The lugs of this watch are relatively short which allows the watch to sit ”planted” on the wrist. But due to its bezel, it also sits quite tall on the wrist. Bear in mind that this is a sporty dive watch that is meant to have a sporty and robust presence on the wrist.

Positioned at the Seiko 5 standard 4 o’clock, we have the crown which sits protected by crown guards which seamlessly extend from the case. Unlike the predecessor, this is not a screw-down crown. Instead, Seiko uses a push-pull crown. This is part of the explanation to why this watch has half of the water resistance of the previous generation.

Whilst the old SKX had a water resistance of 200M, this one only has a water resistance of 100M. At the same time, this watch is only meant to be a divining-inspired watch and not a full-on dive watch. Seiko has other professional dive watches in its collection for that job.

Furthermore, Seiko may have reasoned that the vast majority of people do not need a greater water resistance anyway. Few people go deep diving to depths that require more than 100M water resistance from watches, so, therefore, it is not a huge issue.

Being a dive watch, It features a unidirectional rotating bezel with a knurled edge. The bezel also has a gunmetal finish. It has a black aluminum insert with silver markers.

Sitting on top of the crystal is Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal. It would have been nice if Seiko would have used sapphire crystal instead, but at the same time, this would likely increase its price. Plus, Hardlex is not a bad crystal as it has proven to be much more scratch-resistant and durable than regular mineral glass.

Photo: Worn & Wound

Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” movement

The SRPD77 is equipped with the automatic mechanical Seiko caliber 4r36. This movement has two key improvements from the predecessor, which involve hacking seconds and manual winding functions.

The movement is not made to be the most beautiful or decorated, which can be seen through the see-through case back. Instead. the movement is made to be durable, robust, and long-lasting. In fact, this movement is known for being a workhorse that can continue ticking for years without a service.  The catch, however, is that when fitted on a NATO strap, the movement is hidden behind the strap.

The movement has 24 jewels, beats with a frequency of 21,600 mph, offers a power reserve of approximately 40 hours, and is made in Japan.

The movement is perfect for the job as it goes very well with the sporty nature of this watch. In other words, it is built for the purpose.

Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” strap

The watch is presented on a green nylon NATO strap with a gunmetal buckle and catchers. There’s not much to say about a NATO strap. The color of course matches the watch very well, but there are certainly better-quality NATO straps on the market. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the most premium strap.

 The good news is that if you wish to change to different nato straps, you can do so easily without using tools. And if you wish to change to a different strap or bracelet, you can easily do so thanks to the lug holes.

One thing I do want to mention is that when it comes to affordable watches, the bracelet is often compromised. They often have things that harm the impression of quality which includes hollow end links, hollow links, rattle, and play.

By fitting the watch on a NATO strap, Seiko can avoid this feeling and impression of low quality and therefore enhance the impression of the watch.

Specifications

• Diameter: 42.5mm
• Water resistance: 100m/10ATM
• Lug width: 22mm
• Lug-to-lug: 46mm
• Thickness: 13.4mm
• Crystal: Hardlex
• Jewels: 24
• Frequency: 21,600 VPH
• Case back: Screw-down and see-through

Conclusion

All in all, the whole new Seiko 5 collection which replaced the legendary SKX has proven to be a great success. The SRPD77 is a less classic and simple watch and instead dares to be bold and unique. The green color together with the very special ”Avocado” textured dial makes this watch very different yet appealing. It still keeps its sporty profile and build quality, but adds a different layer in the form of gunmetal on the steel case and bold colors.

It’s no news that the Seiko 5 diver SRPD offers exceptional value for money, and the SRPD77 is no different. It is equipped with a sturdy and robust movement, is well-finished, has a timeless design, and has much better quality than the vast majority of dive watches in this price range. You really cannot go wrong with this watch.

The Seiko 5 SRPD77 ”Avocado” is available to order on Amazon.

Main photo by: Monochrome Watches