Seiko Faithfully Reissues a Space-Era Cult Classic Watch for Under $500

We often cover watches (or odes to watches) that have been to space, the Moon, and everywhere in between, serving well the astronauts who put them on. But sometimes the men and women behind the scenes — and their watches — deserve just as much credit as the ones who strap up inside a spaceship.

Gene Kranz never went to space himself but served as NASA’s Chief Flight Director on legendary missions such as the Apollo 11 Moon landing and helped rescue the crew on the nail-biting Apollo 13 (and is played by Ed Harris in the 1995 movie). Kranz was also known for wearing the Seiko 6119-8460 during those missions, earning the timepiece the eponymous title, and without ever needing to leave the Earth’s atmosphere to do so.

Debuting in the late ‘60s, the “Gene Kranz” has now been reissued by Seiko in the form of the silver-dialed SRPL91 (our personal favorite) and the black-dialed SRPL93. 

The Space Program Connection

When it first came out, the original 6119-8460 was one of the first models in Seiko’s groundbreaking 5 Sports line which aimed to deliver a desirable sports watch without breaking the bank. While it wasn’t a true professional diver, its 70m of water resistance and versatile cushion case made it perfectly fine for day-to-day wear. More importantly, it caught the attention of someone whose job required split-second timing decisions with lives on the line.

The white-dial variant that Kranz wore has become the more collectible of the two original colorways, though Seiko produced both white and black dial versions during the original production run back in the day. Finding a decent example today means paying inflated vintage prices and perhaps having to put up with the exhaustive restoration process afterwards, which is why brand reissues serve an actual purpose — as long as they’re executed faithfully. 

Faithful Form Meets Modern Function

Seiko’s approach here demonstrates why they’ve become masters of the heritage reissue. The 38.2mm stainless steel case dimensions mirror the original exactly. Likewise, the cushion-shaped profile with its integrated crown guard at 4 o’clock remains unchanged, as does the bi-directional rotating bezel with its metallic insert and 60-minute timing scale.

The reissue also marks the return of the classic shield-style “5” logo at 12 o’clock, which has been absent from recent 5 Sports models, as well as the paddle-tipped seconds hand and dual-curved Hardlex crystal for the vintage dome profile. You also get a cool split-color day-date window that keeps the original’s quirky white day, black date setup that was rare even then. 

The only major difference made by Seiko is the extra line of text, splitting the water resistance rating across two lines instead of one. Also, the addition of drilled lugs allows for more third-party strap options to enter the fray.

Movement Upgrade Done Right

Under the hood, the reliable 4R36 automatic movement replaces the vintage 6119C caliber, bringing a hacking seconds function and manual winding capability to your wrist. You also get a respectable 41-hour power reserve. Numbered up to 9,999, the closed caseback keeps things period-appropriate. The five-link steel bracelet is also rather faithful to the original design, with a brushed finish and compact folding clasp that feels very ‘60s-like. 

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Launching this July, the Seiko 5 Sports SRPL91 and SRPL93 will have a retail price of $440. Production will be limited to 9,999 each, giving you a good chance of nabbing one of these for yourself.

Recap

Seiko 5 Sports SRPL91 & SRPL93

NASA’s Chief Flight Director Gene Kranz wore a Seiko 6119-8460 watch during both Apollo 11 and 13 missions, which has now been faithfully resurrected for the 5 Sports line.

Learn More: Seiko