The three Seiko releases of 2025 that actually mattered

Borna Bošnjak

Having such an adoring fan base is surely a blessing and a curse for Seiko. When they get it right, the watches become overnight successes, often selling out in quick succession, sparking plenty of online commentary, and pretty much guaranteeing views for us media outlets. But when they do something the most dedicated devotees don’t approve, you can be sure that they’ll be kept accountable. Even with a healthy mix of both, Seiko has had plenty of wins in 2025, and I really do believe the three watches I’ve outlined below represent the essence of the brand: excellence across a huge price range.

Seiko Marinemaster Professional SLA081

You’ll forgive me for not titling this watch with its full name – that would be the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition, as well as a cheeky attempt at padding out the word count. Luckily for the Marinemaster SLA081, fluff isn’t really necessary, thanks to both its imposing dimensions as well as a downright decent set of specifications.

The case is 45mm across, 16mm thick, and 50mm lug-to-lug, but thankfully made of titanium, as is the chunky bracelet; otherwise, this behemoth would be ponderous even on larger wrists. Indeed, the SLA081 balances its muted, muscly, monobloc case with a dial that combines form and function in a really unexpected and beautiful way.

For starters, the indices are pressed out of the dial rather than applied, which improves their resistance to shocks, but still gives them a legible dimension. The dial texture is where the SLA081 really shines, however, sporting multiple coats of lacquer over an embossed wavy finish, stacked so tall that its transparent layers cover even the protruding indices. It reminds me of resin artwork, where all the shapes and undulations are hidden beneath a smooth, shiny surface.

Apart from the dial being a surprisingly delicate and well-executed affair in something that is so clearly a tool watch, the SLA081 reminds me of Seiko’s earlier dive watch efforts that focused on excellent build quality and out-and-out performance, rather than overly relying on the nostalgia factor of its back catalogues. It’s even got something for the movement nerds, courtesy of the 8L45 automatic calibre, the same as you’d find in the new King Seiko VANAC. What it really is is a Seiko-branded Grand Seiko 9S68 movement, and a significant upgrade from the preceding Seiko/GS calibre, the 8L35. A few hundred words really aren’t enough to fully cover this one – make sure you read my full review and watch our YouTube video above.

Seiko 5 Sports SRPL91 and SRPL93 “Kranz Junior”

We go from a watch that built upon Seiko’s legacy with new, impressive specs, to one that pretty much just tugged at the heartstrings. But oh, can Seiko play with our feelings or what? The “5 Sports” logo that was long relegated to its oft-sub-$100 pieces returned with this duo, while also reviving a Seiko superfan deep-cut, the 5 Sports Diver 6119-8460.

Worn by Apollo 13 flight director Gene Kranz, the Sports Diver had a cult following among vintage Seiko enthusiasts for its rotating bezel and (for the time) decent water-resistance, with the usual Seiko quirk or two you’d expect, such as the bi-colour day/date wheel. The SRPL91 and SRPL93 re-editions bring back pretty much all the charm of the original, going as far as matching its exact case dimensions, though upgrading the executions where it matters, the most notable being case finishing and movement.

While the Kranz Juniors (I’m sorry, that’s just what I’m calling them now) aren’t revolutionary by Seiko’s modern standards, they show that Seiko can do a decent job at a re-edition (although we already knew that). Most importantly, both watches were priced at A$695 at launch, which is exactly where a watch like this should be priced, even in the echochamber of price increases that seem to have affected brands across the board. Now, just apply the same thinking to an SKX reissue, pretty please?

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SPB513 (or SPB517, if you can find one!)

The name “Speedtimer” should immediately bring about memories of tonneau cases, clicky pushers, and the 6139 – but Seiko clearly thought that needn’t always apply, releasing the dual-crown, non-chrono Speedtimer earlier this year. The excuse here is that the rotating inner bezel could be used as a countdown timer for all manner of racing, but I honestly don’t really mind how the brand is choosing to explain its nomenclature. I think it’s Seiko doing what they do best, relatively affordable, well-specced watches that have just a bit of a quirk to them that could just make them that much more collectable in the future.

The new three-handed Speedtimer also brought some new case touches, with a wide, sharp lug facet, as well as a cool bracelet design brought back from the archives and modernised in a surprisingly decent fashion, considering that this is an area that Seiko doesn’t always fully commit to.

And if we’re talking new Speedtimer, I just have to mention the Datsun limited edition. Released as part of a trio, I find the SPB517 to be one of the coolest collab watches in recent memory, with that big, bold Datsun logo sitting proudly at 6 o’clock. The rest of the colourway with that off-white lume and minute track and interchanging red and off-white on the outermost track are just stunning, and I’m honestly a bit miffed I missed out on this one while it was still available from new.