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Want a rugged, robust, simple and ultra affordable tool watch with a military vibe? Those are qualities watchmaker Seiko is often known for, and they also might describe field watches in general. So when Seiko makes a field watch, is it perfect synergy?
A sub-collection within the Seiko 5 Sports line recalls one of the brand’s past classics, an ultra affordable field watch that’s become both celebrated and memed. We tested a couple models which bring a similar concept into the fold the the brand’s modern standards and positioning with a solid automatic watch for $275. Expect all the bang-for-buck and quirkiness the Japanese brand is known for.
If you just want an eminently value-packed automatic field watch with solid Seiko quality, this is it. If you’re a brand fan and wanted to see the the classic SNK field watch get modern Seiko’s upgraded treatment, this is pretty close. However, the bottom line is that the Seiko 5 Sports field watch series (SRPG, SRPJ, etc.) is a hell of a fun watch for the price. It’s a prime example of the type of bang for buck that Seiko can offer, with a solid automatic movement along with the sizing and aesthetic appeal of a classic field watch.
Zen Love
It’s recommendable for just about anyone
This is one of those watches that should simultaneously appeal both to total laymen or newbies as well as to seasoned enthusiasts. The reasons that it can appeal to someone interested in a first mechanical watch are obvious: affordable price, approachable size/design/style, and a maker known and trusted for its quality and value. It’s an easy choice for those drawn to Seiko, to field watches in general or simply to the general aesthetic.
Watch collectors and enthusiasts, on the other hand, might first be drawn in by curiosity: the dirt-cheap field watch in the old Seiko 5 line (the SNK) is legendary, and this is the the modern brand’s rendition of it. This is no one-for-one remake, but just as with so many other Seiko products, experienced watch wearers will no doubt appreciate the value it offers.
It brings a beloved line of watches into the modern era
The Seiko 5 collection was born in 1963 and was long known for its extreme affordability, surprising value and vast variety. As the brand became a global sensation more recently, it began refining its image and moving upmarket and the Seiko 5 seemed to fade from production — though it still remained available online and close to the hearts of many collectors who got started with something like the venerable Seiko 5 SNK series of field watches.
Many old-school fans worried that Seiko was leaving its roots by focusing on higher price brackets, but in 2019 the Seiko 5 Sports collection relaunched to fit the modern brand’s image. As the new entry point for mechanical Seiko watches, it began with a dive-style watch based on the SKX and expanded very quickly. Soon, multitudinous variations in every combination of colors imaginable were joined by sub-collections offering different sizes and features. But the field watch that many think of as synonymous with the words “Seiko 5” remained conspicuously absent.
Zen Love
That Seiko 5 field watch would be the SNK series. When the brand finally released a new field watch in the Seiko 5 Sports collection in 2021, they based it on a different, lesser-known archive model called the SNZG. Those had a more traditional field watch dial design (a là the Hamilton Khaki Field), straight hands and a quite large 42mm case. The modern SRPG as reviewed here is based on those, though its diameter has thankfully been reduced to 39.4mm.
The old SNK had a dial design based on Flieger Type B pilot’s watches (we still consider it a field watch) with leaf-shaped hands and a 37mm diameter. The brand eventually delivered a smaller diameter version at 36mm in a series it calls the Midfield (usually the SRPJ series), as well as expanding dial options to include the Flieger favorite.
Older Seiko watches are nostalgic, but modern ones are of better quality
In the end, this offers the general appeal of a field watch with all the quality and value modern Seiko can cram into a sub-$300 package. The brand has evolved from the days of the old Seiko 5 line and generally offers more refinement and better, more modern movements. The old Seiko 5 watches usually had automatic movements that were so basic they lacked a couple features that modern watch wearers are mostly accustomed to: they could only be wound by shaking them around — i.e., you couldn’t wind them by hand. Further, the seconds hand didn’t stop (“hack”) when setting the time.
These aren’t a huge deal, but the new watches with hand winding and hacking movements feel significantly more modern and convenient. They feature the — yes, in-house — 4R36 movement, which is the same engine that powers the venerable and well respected Turtle watches and others in the Prospex collection costing a couple hundred bucks more. That means it’s reliable, reasonably accurate (typically more accurate than Seiko’s own conservative claims) and has a power reserve of 41 hours. (You can get a look at it through the watch’s display case back.)
The Seiko 4R36 automatic movement powers may watches in the Seiko 5 Sports and even higher-tier collections. Zen Love
I’m still waiting for the perfect version
While the old Seiko 5 SNK was small-wearing at 37mm and the SNZG was big at 42mm, the SRPG sits right between them in terms of size at 39.4mm. Like many Seiko watches, however, they wear more prominently than their diameter would suggest thanks to a 13mm thickness that’s only further pronounced with the bulk added by a NATO strap. We found the SRPG models as tested to wear larger than ideal for this type of watch, but the 36mm Midfield hits the mark just right (depending on the size of your wrist).
With the larger SRPG model, the overall effect veers toward the modern and sporty despite that field watches naturally have a throwback military look. The fat hands and bold Arabic numeral hour markers add to that. While the numerals themselves aren’t lumed, the pips and hands provide plenty of low-light readability, as Seiko is always good for some strong lume — and a surprise can be found on some models in which the hands use a different color than the indices’ pips, resulting in a colorful effect.
Seiko still doesn’t make the exact modern version of this watch that I personally want (that would be a Midfield featuring a Flieger dial with a matte finish rather than the shiny sunburst style) — which is basically like the old SNK. Even better would be the crown at 4 o’clock like most of the rest of the Seiko 5 Sports line, though that’s not a deal-breaker. Seiko is constantly upping its game and offering increasing variety and options, so I’m okay to wait. If you simply want a great value in a fun and modern automatic field watch, however, ignore my ramblings: You can hardly do better for the money than a Seiko 5 Sports if a field watch is what you’re after.
Seiko’s own brand of lume is called Lumibrite.Zen Love
Seiko 5 Sports Field Watch: Alternatives
You hear over and over again that Seiko offers quality well above its price point. It’s true in general as well as for the watches reviewed here, but there’s a range of sub-$500 field watches out there, as their generally simple nature tends to keep field watches relatively affordable. Seiko offers its own look and proven robustness, but if you want the field watch style, and $275 is too expensive, you can get yourself the likes of a Timex or Bertucci.
For around double the price, the basic but beloved Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical ($595) beckons with its Swiss manually wound movement, sapphire crystal and historical ties. Of course, Seiko itself offers some alternatives with the good ol’ automatic (though without hand-winding or hacking) Seiko 5 SNK still available on Amazon (though not as cheap as it once was). Then there’s the rest of the current Seiko 5 Sports line that offers different styles but much of the same appeal and pricing.
Amazon
