Seiko 5 Sports “Suits Style” Blue Ref. SBSA069

It comes as no surprise that Seiko 5 watches come with an incredible value proposition and are arguably praised as being one of the most affordable automatic watches available on the market. More than 50 years ago, Seiko unveiled their first Seiko 5, the “Sportsmatic 5” in 1963 which brought specifications and innovations to the watch industry that rivals many of their Swiss counterparts, this also marked Japan’s first ever mechanical watch with a day-date complication. The number ‘5’ represents five core attributes that a Seiko 5 watch has to possess: A self-winding automatic movement, water resistance capabilities, a day-date complication, a recessed crown at the 4 o’clock position, and a durable case.

 In 2019, Seiko revitalized and relaunched their Seiko 5 Sports collection adding an astounding 27 new watches to the collection that was essentially based on the extremely iconic Seiko SKX007, the quintessential beater dive watch for many watch enthusiasts that was recently discontinued since its production in 1996. The latest generation of Seiko 5 Sports watches brought an array of vivid colours and youthful designs carrying the upgraded caliber 4R36 as well as the new Seiko 5 logo.

Joining the many exciting variations of the revamped Seiko 5 Sports line of watches is the Seiko 5 Sports “Suits Style” Blue Ref. SBSA069, retaining the classic case and handsets from the famed SKX007 while bringing contemporary upgrades with a refreshing new appearance that will not fail to impress.

The case dimensions remain unchanged from its predecessor with a 42.5mm case diameter and a thickness of 13.4mm. The watch wears compact and smaller than its diameter suggests due to the stubby lugs measuring a mere 46mm from lug to lug, allowing for a comfortable fit for a wide range of wrist sizes. Even though this new line up drops the ISO certification and 200m of water resistance present in its predecessor, the watch still holds a water resistance of 100m which still provides ample protection against splashes.

Finishing is meticulously executed with a good contrast between satin brushing on the top of the lugs and a high polish at the side of the case. The satin brushing carries down to the supplied 22mm stainless steel mesh bracelet which greatly elevates the dressy vibe of the watch, looking amazing with a suit and tie. One of a subtle but significant upgrade from the SKX007 is the addition of drilled lug holes, allowing the bracelet to be conveniently swapped out to your favorite choice of straps with ease.

Even at this affordable price point, Seiko delivered a stunning dial that shimmers with radiance. The Seiko 5 Sports “Suits Style” Blue Ref. SBSA069 flaunts an immersive sunburst ice blue dial which catches the light elegantly in different angles. For enhanced legibility, the hour, minute and seconds hand are treated with a rich dark blue finish, creating contrast against the sunburst dial. Indices and hands are coated with Seiko’s proprietary Lumibrite luminous paint, widely recognized to glow like a torch in the dark. Protecting the dial is Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal with anti-reflective coating.

The overall aesthetic of the Seiko 5 Sports “Suits Style” Blue Ref. SBSA069 unequivocally leans toward a dressier appeal. Nevertheless, the foundation elements of a dive watch still stands with a 120-click unidirectional rotating diving bezel. The bezel is fitted with a deep blue aluminium insert with a 60-minute graduation scale for measurement of elapsed time underwater. Overall, all the elements of this piece perfectly complements each other with a dark blue bezel insert that matches beautifully with the hands on the dial.

The Seiko 5 Sports “Suits Style” Blue Ref. SBSA069 runs on the ever reliable Seiko’s in-house caliber 4R36 automatic movement. This long awaited upgrade features hacking and hand-winding capabilities, which were much desired by many Seiko fanatics as the Seiko SKX007 utilized the caliber 7S26 which were lacking in these aspects. The 24 jewel movement has a beat rate of 21,600 beats per hour with a power reserve of about 40 hours. Additionally, the movement houses a date and day calendar at the 3 o’clock position with a choice of either English or Japanese Kanji characters.

The revamp of the Seiko 5 line up definitely brings excitement for those who are yearning for an affordable, fully in-house automatic watch with a wide variety of designs to choose from. The combination of a classic Seiko diver design, traditional watchmaking heritage and a stylish appeal makes the Seiko 5 Sports “Suits Style” Blue Ref. SBSA069 a wonderful daily companion that matches your own unique style. The legacy of the famed SKX007 is preserved in this new Seiko 5 line up, upholding more than 50 years of exceptional quality - A perfect value-driven choice for new or seasoned Seiko enthusiasts.

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