It’s been quite a year so far for Seiko, with releases that have been both retro-inspired and innovative. The latest Speedtimer iteration paid homage to the 1969 original, while the Japanese brand revived the fan-favorite SKX in a new way with the Seiko 5KX GMT. Now the watchmaker is having some fun with its collaboration with popular Japanese collage artist Kosuke Kawamura for another new take on the sports watch.
The Seiko 5 Sports Kosuke Kawamura Limited Edition blends touchstones of the brand’s past for an aesthetic that’s decidedly modern. First, the color choices and transparent dial, which reveals the day-and-date wheel underneath, echo Seiko’s Time Sonar from the ‘70s, while the checkered bezel and orientation of the minutes scale are firm nods to the ‘60s-era Seiko 5s. For the days of the week, both English and Kanji versions of each are displayed.
There are two versions of the watch, but aside from the dial color and edition number, they’re essentially identical. The black and teal variant (Ref. SRPJ43) is limited to 500 pieces, while the orange and teal (Ref. SRPJ41) is limited to 3,000. Both timepieces have 42.5mm stainless steel cases and move with a Caliber 4R36 automatic movement with manual winding capability and a 41-hour power reserve, visible through a see-through, albeit tinted, caseback, which is engraved with Kawamura’s signature as well as the serial number.
Each watch comes in a collector’s box with a stainless steel bracelet equipped, with the SRPJ43 having an additional black nylon strap option. The Seiko 5 Sports Kosuke Kawamura Limited Edition will be available soon, with the SRPJ43 retailing for $490 with an expected release in September, while the SRPJ41 should arrive in October for $440.
