Seiko 5 SRPD85 Review & Complete Guide
Seiko’s 5 Sports collection is one of the most popular ranges of watches amongst watch enthusiasts. Their price point makes them exceptionally great entry-level timepieces whilst still being qualitative and powered by sturdy and reliable automatic movements.
The Seiko 5 Sports collection includes a wide array of different timepieces – from casual timepieces to serious dive watches, so you can be sure to find one that suits you.
Within that range, one of the most popular watches is the SKX. The SKX has established an almost cult following and legendary status in the watch world as one of the best choices for an entry-level sporty timepiece that offer great value for money.
After more than two decades of production, Seiko discontinued the SKX. The model started to get slightly outdated in terms of design and technology, and Seiko found it appropriate to replace it with something new, refreshed, and improved.
But replacing an iconic and popular model is always a sensitive topic, and there is always great pressure in producing a successor that is similar to the original in design, and one that at the same time is improved in different aspects.
Seiko’s answer was the new SRPD line which was released in 2019. The line consists of 27 different watches to suit all tastes and preferences. At their core, the watches are very similar, and the differences lie mostly in the use of colors.
One of the 27 watches is the Seiko 5 SRPD85.
Seiko 5 SRPD85 Review
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The Seiko 5 SRPD85 is based on the classic SKX design and has a clear dive-watch-inspired look, but the fact is that it is anything but ordinary. In fact, it has a very unique and bold design. This is certainly not a watch for everyone, but due to its different look, we can definitely see that It appeals to people who want something different.
The theme of brown colors is not something we see frequently on watches, but that is also what makes it so special. It’s certainly not the most appealing color, but the way the color is used for this watch works and goes quite well together.
In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Seiko 5 SRPD85.
Seiko 5 SRPD85 case
The Seiko 5 SRPD85 features a 42.5mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 13.4 ㎜ and a lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm. These dimensions are identical across all of the 27 different iterations. The case is nicely finished for the price with a circular-brushed finish on the top and polished sides.
What is particularly special about this timepiece is the fact that it has a hard-coated stainless steel case. In Seiko 5 fashion, it has an offset crown positioned at 4 o’clock. The crown is in turn protected by crown guards which extend from the case. The crown is a push-pull crown and not a screw-down like on the predecessor. This of course affects the water resistance of this watch. The watch has a water resistance of 100M/330 feet which can be compared with 200M/660 feet on the SKX.
This is a big step down in terms of technological performance, but actually not a big deal. Seiko likely reasoned that most people who wear this watch will not come anywhere near water anyways. And with a 100M water resistance, it is suitable for swimming and diving. Just not deep diving with. Having said that, Seiko has many other watches that are more suitable for these types of activities.
The new Seiko 5 SRPD collection is not meant to be a full-on dive watch. Instead, it’s meant to be a sporty and robust tool-watch with a dive-watch design.
Moving on to the bezel, this watch of course has a unidirectional bezel with knurled edges for better grip. The bezel sits relatively tall on the watch which makes it easy to grip and operate the bezel. The bezel has a brown aluminum insert with 60-minute graduation markers printed in silver.
For the glass, the watch uses Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal. This is much harder than regular mineral glass but not as tough as sapphire crystal. It would have been a nice feature to have a sapphire crystal, but this would result in a higher price, so the question is if it is worth it even if the price is higher.
Seiko 5 SRPD85 Dial
The dial of this watch is definitely what stands out the most and makes it special.
The watch has a chestnut-red-colored dial with a very interesting and unusual texture. Seiko has made a different version of this watch with reference SRPD77, but the difference is that this watch has a green textured dial. For that reason, this watch has gotten the nickname ”Avocado”.
But the SRPD85 has a brown dial with the same texture and therefore, it doesn’t have a direct reference to anything other than that it looks unique. Perhaps we could call it brown avocado because the texture of the dial is very reminiscent of the peel of an Avocado.
In standard Seiko 5 fashion, the watch has a day/date window positioned at 3 o’clock. The window has a white background and the days and dates are printed in black. Like the rest of the collection, it has applied hour markers with a rich amount of Lumibrite. An interesting touch about this watch is that the minute and hour hands have been painted brown in order to match the dial, but they still have Lumibrite on them which provides a nice contrast and allows for good legibility.
The Lumibrite glows long and bright in the dark.
The watch has very little dial printing in order to keep it clean. At 12 o’clock, there is an applied Seiko logo, and beneath it the new Seiko 5 logo. Beneath the center of the hands, the text ”Automatic” has been printed.
Around the outer edge of the dial, we have a chapter ring with the seconds markers printed in silver.
Seiko 5 SRPD85 Movement
If you turn the watch around, you’ll be able to see the movement ticking inside through the screw-down see-through case back.
The watch is equipped with the in-house Seiko caliber 4R36. This is an automatic mechanical movement that beats with a frequency of 21600 BPH. The movement has two substantial and important functions that people were lacking in the predecessor, which makes this a great improvement.
These features are manual wind function and hacking seconds. In addition to this, the movement has 24 jewels.
Looking at the movement, it’s not decorated or finished. This may be perceived as a downside, but it’s really not. In fact, the Seiko 5 SRPD85 is built as a sporty and robust watch, and the goal is therefore to use a movement that is robust and durable. For that, the 4R36 is a perfect choice. It is known as a workhorse since it will continue to tick for years without needing a service.
As mentioned, it’s certainly not the most beautiful movement, but it is built for the purpose.
Seiko 5 SRPD85 strap
The SRPD85 is presented on a nylon strap (NATO strap), of course, brown, in order to blend in with the theme of this watch. There’s not much to say about this NATO strap. It’s comfortable and durable as a NATO strap should be.
The good news is that if you want to change straps, you can easily do so via the holes in the lugs.
The issue with a lot of affordable watches is often that they compromise on the bracelets and therefore have a very low-quality build quality. This often means hollow end links, folded links, and poor build quality with rattle. This naturally has a negative effect on how the watch is perceived. A low-quality bracelet will harm the impression of the watch, and therefore, it was a good idea for Seiko to use a NATO strap for this watch.
Specifications
- Thickness: 13.4 ㎜
- Diameter: 42.5mm
- Water resistance: 100M/10BAR
- Lug-to-lug: 46mm
- Jewels: 24
- Power reserve: 41 hours
- Movement: Seiko caliber 4R36
- Crystal: Hardlex:
- Lug width: 22mm
- Frequency: 21600 BPH
Conclusion
All in all, the Seiko Seiko 5 SRPD85 is a watch that offers exceptional value for money. As a predecessor of the legendary SKX, the Seiko 5 SRPD85, it stays true to its roots but improves both technology, build quality, and finish. At its core, it is a very reliable timepiece, but in its design, this exact watch is one that will stand out from the crowd. Its use of the color brown together with its original dial texture makes for a unique timepiece that certainly won’t appeal to everyone. But for those who are looking for a high-quality timepiece that has a different look and design, the Seiko 5 SRPD85 may just be the watch for you.
Regardless if you like the design or not, in terms of build quality and finish, this watch certainly won’t disappoint.
The Seiko 5 SRPD57K1 is available to order on Amazon.
Main Photo: Hodinkee
