We’re So Back! A Pair Of Seiko 5 Sports × Wind Vintage × Rowing Blazers Divers Arrives
Today’s new watches are likely to please fans of fun, funky divers. That’s because Rowing Blazers is back with a brace of cool new Seiko 5 Sports Watches. Naturally, our friend Eric Wind of Wind Vintage has lent a hand in the design. Let’s have a look at these cool new numbers.
It must be love because our article focuses on a pair of watches that mark the fourth time Rowing Blazers, Seiko, and Wind Vintage have come together. Yes, the colorful but preppy clothing brand from New York City also dabbles in marketing seriously fun watches. In fact, prior debuts were usually snapped up within moments after release. As we’ll see, the latest pieces add different colors to a prior edition, but there’s more at hand. This time, two case sizes are available.
The Seiko 5 Sports × Wind Vintage × Rowing Blazers Divers
The triumvirate returns with a pair of bold “5KX” Seiko 5 Sports divers. One model, the green SRPM21, features a 38 × 44.2 × 12.1mm stainless steel case, while the second reference, the blue SRPM19, sports a 42.5 × 46 × 13.4mm exterior. The shape of each is familiar and traces its roots back to the quartz reference 7548 of the late 1970s. More famously, though, when the current Seiko 5 Sports line debuted in 2019, it replaced the beloved SKX007. Of course, because these are Seiko 5 models, the focus is on affordability, reliability, and fun. Therefore, the depth rating for each is 100 meters.
What’s different about these watches?
The dark green 38mm model features aged Lumibrite on the indexes and hour and minute hands, while the sweeping seconds hand has red-and-silver barber-pole striping. As usual, the Rowing Blazers logo sits on the lower half of the dial. As we exit the Hardlex mineral crystal, the signature feature is a green-and-silver checkered rally bezel. This detail takes its name from a desirable and popular series of sports divers made by Seiko in the late 1960s. You can read more about one of my favorite models here. Moving on, the crown is in the requisite position just above 4 o’clock.
Inside, we find the familiar automatic Seiko 4R36. It’s visible through a screw-in display case back. The mineral-glass lens depicts the Rowing Blazers Bath Club motif, specifications, and notes the association with Wind Vintage.
Regarding accessories, the 38mm piece is delivered on the brand’s well-known Oyster-style bracelet with a push-button folding clasp, with a contrasting blue NATO strap also part of the package. Seiko will produce 2,500 examples of this model, with each featuring its individual number on the case back. Pricing is set at US$495.
The 42.5mm Seiko 5 Sports SRPM19
For those who enjoy greater presence, perhaps the SRPM19 will be more appropriate. This watch follows a path similar to its smaller sibling, but it switches up the color scheme. Instead of green, this model opts for an attractive shade of blue. Yes, it’s fair to say that this one is love at first sight!
The dial also uses Lumibrite with an aged tone. However, it appears lighter due to the crisp, bright blue background. Perhaps it’s also the classic blue rally bezel that endears me. It reminds me of some of the silver-dial vintage Rally Divers.
Regarding the inner workings, the same 4R36 movement carries over from other Seiko 5 Sports models and today’s aforementioned 38mm reference. Similarly, the watch also ships with a steel bracelet but, in this case, a green NATO strap. Once again, production is capped at 2,500 pieces, and pricing is listed at US$495.
Availability and final comments
The Seiko 5 Sports × Wind Vintage × Rowing Blazers Divers will go on sale today at 11:00 AM EST. These watches will be available at the Rowing Blazers flagship in New York City and on the brand’s website. Additionally, the Seiko USA website will offer both watches. Overall, I expect these watches to find success, as prior releases did. They’re attractive, relatively affordable, and fun. Plus, the production runs seem large enough to avoid an instantaneous sell-out, which is a nice change of pace. These collaborations have proven quite popular in the past. What do you think of these latest models?
