Black and gold Seiko 5 for 159 quid: a step down once you've grown up (until I changed my mind)
Not again
I've just finished reviewing one of these and now I'm doing another. It's the last one, but I have to get the job done for the sake of Steve. Is it for the beach? No, I don't think so. I didn't particularly like the last one. I think I like this one even less.
RRP is £280. Goldsmiths are selling it for £159, which is £10 cheaper than the other one. One hundred and fifty-nine quid, come on, bros.
My folded link spectrometer has been activated
I'm told these links are definitely not folded. But they've got these funny lines on them, and I've seen that before. Just shut up, Seiko. Stop lying to us. You're not lying, but I hate you. But I love all your twerps. Even these little ones.
Black, gold, and a few upgrades
A black and gold dial. Is he quite pretty? He is quite attractive, I'm not going to lie. Lovely black dial. Gold. Everyone likes gold. Real 24 karat solid gold, obviously. It's a Seiko 5, it's not an SKX, and it's not an ISO professional dive watch.
The 4R36 is an evolution of the 7S26, which didn't hack or hand-wind, which was extremely irritating. This one hacks all day long. But does it screw down? Not even once, bros. It's a 100 metre splashproof twerp. You get drilled lugs, hollow end links, a Hardlex crystal, 41 hours, 24 jewels, a display back with a redesigned five-and-S logo, and an undecorated movement.
Bezel and bracelet
Bezel action: can you hear that? I don't want to turn this. Alignment, though, is pretty good. Nine o'clock looks good, three o'clock looks good. The bracelet is a three-piece, all brushed with polished flanks, and the case finishing is excellent as always. The clasp is a Seiko 5 fold-over twin trigger with four micros. Milled swing arm, solid platinum, extremely expensively done. Obviously not. It's a Seiko 5 for 159 quid, I can't really take the piss.
Verdict
Steve, you are a true twerp connoisseur, so I won't doubt your expertise. But in Gethin Christian's opinion, this watch is best left to the newcomers. If you'd never had an automatic, this would be a great starting point. There's nothing wrong with these. It's just that when you've grown up, it's a step down. For the rest of us, get rid of it.
Now, conflict alert. In the 5KX video I loved the gold-accent one: best bezel of the bunch, just about perfect, gold applied logo, I love that one. And in the extravaganza, out of the little Seiko 5s, the SRPD57K1 was one of my two favourites, the ones I would buy. I love this one. Nicest bezel on a daily. You can't go wrong. Not even once. So: lukewarm on its own, rad in the company of its mates. Never give up.
