Seiko SRPE53 Review

I had a gap in my collection, because I had lost a Seiko Kinetic with a blue dial due to some stupid error on my part. (Let's not talk about that.) But in any case, I wear plenty of blue dress shirts, and a dark blue semi-formal watch was something I was trying to replace. 

So I ordered an SRPE53 from Long Island Watch (#longislandwatch ), and the watch arrived in perfect condition 2 days ahead of the delivery date.

After a short inspection I found no QC issues, and started to size the bracelet, which is the standard bracelet for Seiko 5s. At least I can size it without thinking, as I have adjusted the standard bracelet many times before. Talking about familiarity, if you are familiar with Seiko 5s, this watch is not much of a departure. My own feelings toward the watch can be described as a pleasant comfort, rather than excitement. The dial size remains the same, and the movement is the 4R36 you know well, and yes, this is a Hardlex crystal. 

What is however new, at least to me, is the case. It's sized differently from the SRPD, with a polished bezel on top, which makes the watch just a tad more "blingy", compared to the brushed surfaces on an SRPG, for example. Otherwise the case is polished on its sides, and brushed on top. The case size is 40mm, a fraction of a mm larger than the SRPG, but the watch feels smaller, probably due to its smaller lug-to-tug distance, and the traditional 28.5mm dial size. You will notice the this watch less on your wrist, and that's not necessarily a bad thing regarding the unobtrusive nature of this watch. 

I had originally thought that I would mod this watch a little, but so far both bezel and crystal are not a concern. It is definitely a keeper for me, as I'm sure it will fit its intended role well.

Seiko SRPE53 Review

4.6
Yes No
5/5
5/5
4/5
4/5
5/5
  • Not just an SRPD without a rotating bezel
  • Simple yet pleasant dial
  • Wears small due to the 44mm lug-to-lug distance
  • Price point (affordability)
  • Price point (compromises)
Reply
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decent GADA watch 👍

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Is the case a SKX without a rotating bezel?

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jason_recliner

Is the case a SKX without a rotating bezel?

No, it is not. While the crown is in the 3.8 position, the lug-to-lug is shorter compared to the SKX, for example. (You could say that it is a very slightly scaled-down version.) I know that bezel and crystal are advertised separately for the SRPE by modding sites.

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Just a quick update:

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The SRPE has seen a decent amount of wrist time, and it has settle in on around +2 to +3 seconds a day. Even though I liked the original bracelet, I have installed an aftermarket bracelet from Long Island Watch.

The added weight of the new bracelet balances out the watch a little bit, making it slightly heavier overall. I do like the look, it just gives it somewhat of a retro vibe, and makes it distinct from all the other watches I own. Quite happy, so far.