Seiko 5 Sports Mens Automatic Watch with Stainless Steel Bracelet SRPE55K1

Product Information

The size hits a sweet spot of 42.5mm too, which is a great size for most wrists and doesn’t look overly large - a common theme with diving watches. A small detail to mention is the crown position at 4, making it more comfy to wear as the crown and crown guard will not directly hit your wrists. Here’s where the earlier criticisms of the watch industry come in: When viewed like this, the Seiko 5 starts to seem like an amalgamation of Seiko’s greatest hits. Like someone fed data to an algorithm (or, just a large corporation), and out popped this watch, perfectly designed to be inoffensive and have broad appeal. The Seiko timepiece collection features the iconic logo across a multitude of designs, from chunky masculine automatic watches to futuristic technological designs, slim and delicate ladies' bands to sparkling fashion pieces and much more. For a watch that guarantees accuracy for everyday use to a gorgeous yet practical occasion accessory, Seiko's attractive designs will complete your look no matter what your personal taste or style. We’ve spent quite a bit of time here at Worn & Wound documenting the relaunch of the Seiko 5 Sports line (see news of the original announcement here , and Ed Jelley’s in-depth review here ). With so many new models coming to the market, as well as the implications of what it means to replace the beloved SKX007 and related models, this release was easily one of the biggest of the year in terms of its importance on the market as it relates to the watches we cover here. Now, almost a year after we first learned of the new Seiko 5 Sports series, we’re seeing the first new additions that represent the first move away from the very obvious diver aesthetic we’ve come to know. Think: Seiko 5 Sports, but without the bezel, and you have a pretty good idea of what’s in store. Reference Number: SRPE51, SRPE53, SRPE55, SRPE57, SRPE58, SRPE60, SRPE61, SRPE63, SRPE65, SRPE67, SRPE69

To add a touch of sportiness, the bracelet is satin-finished. In terms of quality, the bracelet is ok. There is of course room for improvement in this price range, but there are far worse bracelets out there. Plus, if you want to change to something different, its lug holes make it very easy to change, and its 20mm lug width means you have a ton of straps to choose from.

Combining reliability and precision with style is second nature to Seiko. Founded in 1881, the brand's name is synonymous with quality and their timepiece collection includes a variety of fetching designs for men and women of all tastes. For us at home playing armchair corporate strategist, it all seemed to make sense: take away the budget SKX and force us to pony up for something from the more expensive Prospex line if we wanted a true diver. Unfortunately, the bracelet that is fitted inside this 20mm lug width is somewhat of a letdown. The Oyster-style bracelet itself is about what you would expect from a previous Seiko 5 generation. It is a little stiff and squeaky. The clasp is awful. My biggest gripe isn’t that it is stamped; it is that it only has 2 micro-adjust positions. This is unacceptable when Seiko has entire catalog of 3 micro-adjust position clasps. Whenever the inevitable aftermarket bracelets come out, I will be first in line.

You see, I’ve always tended toward cleaner watches, even with my divers (like my Mido Ocean Star and Omega SMP 2254.50, the latter which I’ve described as a ‘dress diver’). So how could I have been so surprised when the new, fixed-bezel Seiko 5 SRPE51 came along? How did I not anticipate the love? You can describe the SRPE as being simple, but well-executed as a watch. It still has a presence on the wrist, though not as overt as its diving predecessor. The non-rotating bezel is minimalist, making it almost like a field watch in appearance, especially the ones that come standard in a NATO strap.The Seiko 5 SRPE55K1 keeps all of the sporty and iconic design traits of the dive watch but has had the rotating bezel removed and replaced with a polished bezel instead. The result is a sporty dive-inspired watch that is more versatile, classy, and suitable for everyday wear. It is classy enough to be worn on formal occasions, but also sporty enough to be worn on casual occasions too. After spending some time with this watch, I concluded that if Seiko were going relaunch the Seiko 5 line, they should have started with this watch and not the 5KX. This watch makes so much more sense in the Seiko 5 line than the 5KX. Not that the 5KX doesn’t belong in the Seiko 5 line; Seiko has always included dive-style watches in the 5 line. It doesn’t make sense to start with the 5KX. While legibility is beyond reproach on this watch, for the sake of clarity and reading accuracy, the seconds hand should feature a more traditional lollipop, on the proper end, so when you’re reading the watch in the deep recesses of your parents basement after a 12-hour Fortnite marathon, you’ll be able to tell exactly what time it is, without confusion—or math.

The applied markers are simple yet slightly decorative at 12, 6, and 9. Those familiar with Seiko divers like the SKX will recognize their shape immediately. The triangle with an elongated point at 12 and the two elongated circles at 6 and 9 allow for instant orientation and add a touch of flair to the dial. As one would expect on any Seiko 5, a day/date complication is present at 3. The hands and dials are extremely legible, and the simple chapter ring complements it quite nicely. The sideways 5/S logo is featured prominently under the main Seiko brand. The case is a mix of polished and brushed to help lessen the glistening effect which can be distracting for a sports watch. It still features Seiko’s good ol’ hardlex crystal, which is now mounted right on the bezel instead of within it. The Seiko 5 SRPE55K1is presented on a Rolex Oyster-style three-link bracelet that looks sporty yet elegant. The bracelet goes very well with the design of the watch. A basic model of an athlete’s response to training can be estimated from data collected as part of the TL monitoring process [ 1, 5]. Specifically, the difference between “fitness” (positive) and “fatigue” (negative) functions can be quantified with internal or external TL variables as training impulse [ 1, 5]. The genesis of this basic TL model stems from the work of Bannister [ 5]. A recent simplified extension of this work has been the development of the acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR) [ 12– 14]. TL monitoring and in particular the ACWR has been readily adopted (especially in open skill sports) to inform training practices to minimize the likelihood of injury [ 1]. The ACWR has also been used as a tool to systematically progress injured athletes’ rehabilitation and to quantify acceptable levels of injury risk prior to an athlete returning to competition [ 14, 15]. The research on the ACWR suggests values above or below ~0.8–1.3 are associated with an increased risk of injury [ 12– 14]. However, the level of evidence for this recommendation is not yet well developed and it is typically not advocated that practitioners completely avoid ranges outside ~0.8–1.3. These ranges may be practically impossible or undesired in certain situations like early rehabilitation and tapering. Practitioners should instead be cognizant that a higher injury risk may be present and combine this with other factors to make decisions. The SKX007 just has way more mod parts that are available for it compared to the newer Seiko 5 Sports series. We think this might be due to the fact that there were only 2 SKX007 variants when it was released, making it the perfect canvas for Seiko modders to exercise their creativity and customise one to their liking.

Seiko 5 SRPE55 In Motion

The movement has a specified accuracy of +45 / -35 seconds per day. This is not too bad, but owners have reported a much better accuracy in practice. In addition, if you want even better accuracy, it is possible to have a watchmaker regulate it.