The Seiko 5 Sports collection of watches first appeared in the late 1960s, and since then, the Japanese-made timepieces have earned a reputation for being reliable, stylish workhorses at a nearly unbeatable price. Because of this, they’re also something of a gateway drug for watch collecting. Now, Seiko fans have another reason to love these hard-working timepieces: the Seiko 5 Sports GMT collection, a series of 5 sports watches equipped with a GMT function for telling the time in two time zones at once. Whether you love to travel or just love the novelty of tracking the time in multiple locations, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
The first time a GMT watch has appeared under the 5 Sports umbrella, the watch features a 42.5mm stainless steel case with an overall design borrowed from the Seiko SKX, another beloved series by the brand. Three dial colors are available: black (SSK001), navy blue (SSK003), and pumpkin orange (SSK005). All three have a separate GMT hand to indicate additional time, and the bezel has a subtle two-tone design to help differentiate between day and night time.
The black and blue dial versions have bright red GMT hands, while the orange dial version has a black GMT hand; both colors help it stand out from the dial. Additionally, the GMT hands, as well as the indexes, hour and minute hands, are coated with Lumibrite for improved legibility in the dark. All dials feature a date window at 3 o’clock, and a magnifying glass makes for easy reading.
Finally, these watches are paired with a beautiful five-row stainless steel bracelet (also borrowed from the SKX) and feature polished middle links for a contrasting look that adds an extra touch of style.
Flip one of these watches over and the transparent case back reveals the innovative Seiko caliber 4R34, developed specifically for these models. Amazingly, the case design is only 0.1 mm thicker than the existing 5 Sports models. It offers a 41-hour power reserve, as well as an automatic winding movement for perfect precision and reliability in everyday use. Even better, the 5 Sports GMT is water resistant to 100 meters, so splashes and even the occasional swim won’t be a problem.
Quality, style, great functionality and an affordable price – the new 5 Sports GMT proves that for Seiko, affordable doesn’t mean cheap.
