Seiko | Featured Brand at Time+Tide Watches

16.01.2021
Nick Kenyon

VIDEO: King Seiko is back (baby) after almost 50 years and it was definitely worth the wait

Seiko didn’t exactly have a slow 2020, but they might just have saved one of the best for last. Or did they drop the ball in the final yard? In their final release of last year, we saw the all new King Seiko KSK SJE083, a reissue of a watch from 1965 that is highly collectible – the King Seiko ref. 44-9990. The 1960s is a decade of the Japanese watchmaker’s history that isn’t as widely known as it should be, and that is one of the things that makes this release compelling. Because while you almost certainly know the present day behemoth that Grand Seiko is, you might not have heard of King Seiko before. King Seiko was established in 1961, the year after Grand Seiko, to create competition within Seiko as they pursued mechanical watchmaking perfection. That’s right, King Seiko and Grand Seiko competed against each other within the organisation, as well as on the world stage at various chronometry competitions. After the advent of the first quartz watch, however, (also a Seiko achievement), both King Seiko and Grand Seiko were put on hold as the firm focused its attention on the new technology they had pioneered. This… Read More

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11.01.2021
Thor Svaboe

Our sexiest watch shots of 2020 plus five tips to take better watch pics yourself

OK, honesty time: I’m a self-confessed dial obsessive. Don’t get me wrong, the hypnotic ballet of a tourbillon still tugs my heartstrings so much it hurts. But have that poking out of a masterful dial and I’m ready to sell my BMW. The dial is the face, the first impression and, for me, the absolute numero uno. A beautiful movement or a delicate brushed white-gold bracelet, somehow they don’t do anything for me without an equally stunning dial. So here goes. These are my favourite shots of watches Time+Tide published in 2020 and they include one of my own with a few tips. Dial-centric, moi? Yes, guilty as charged … Japanese hypnotism: Grand Seiko SBGH267 Admittedly, this dial might not originate in 2020, but the story does, so technically I’m in the clear, plus you’ll forgive me anyway with that dial. One of my all-time favourite beauties from the Japanese dial wizards at Grand Seiko, it draws you in like a deep ocean whirlpool. Like all Grand Seiko dials it looks radiant even from a distance, but get closer and be prepared for a massive involuntary jaw drop. Yes, those are the GS initials and the Japanese Suwa symbols (Suwa… Read More

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03.01.2021
Thor Svaboe

The watches I wore the most in 2020: The Seiko Prospex SPB083J1, Sinn 104 and Lorier Neptune

Sooo difficult! This has been a bastard year, in which one of the few ways to cheer yourself up in the Home Office has been to keep the collection in rotation and flip some unworn wrist machines. But still, within my changing collection, there are a handful of watches that have stuck with me. I wanted to pretend that my favourite two watches were also the ones I wore the most – namely my Holthinrichs Ornament or the inky black Grand Seiko SBGR053. But even as I enjoy reading about scratched-up Subs and dented Daytonas, my OCD tendencies demand a safety-first approach to my wristwear. As a result, my best pieces tend to stay mollycoddled as, God forbid, I should scratch a hand-finished bespoke case or sully the name of the mirror-like Zaratsu. But, like WOW, did watches cheer me up in lockdown. Safely protected from the elements, what better pieces to wear (again and again) than an adventure-inspiring diver’s watch named after a mysterious natural phenomenon known as The Great Blue Hole (the Seiko Prospex SPB083J1), the pilot’s tool watch Sinn 104 and the Lorier Neptune? Numero Uno for wrist time, the Seiko Prospex SPB083J1 The one I wore… Read More

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16.01.2021
Nick Kenyon

VIDEO: King Seiko is back (baby) after almost 50 years and it was definitely worth the wait

Seiko didn’t exactly have a slow 2020, but they might just have saved one of the best for last. Or did they drop the ball in the final yard? In their final release of last year, we saw the all new King Seiko KSK SJE083, a reissue of a watch from 1965 that is highly collectible – the King Seiko ref. 44-9990. The 1960s is a decade of the Japanese watchmaker’s history that isn’t as widely known as it should be, and that is one of the things that makes this release compelling. Because while you almost certainly know the present day behemoth that Grand Seiko is, you might not have heard of King Seiko before. King Seiko was established in 1961, the year after Grand Seiko, to create competition within Seiko as they pursued mechanical watchmaking perfection. That’s right, King Seiko and Grand Seiko competed against each other within the organisation, as well as on the world stage at various chronometry competitions. After the advent of the first quartz watch, however, (also a Seiko achievement), both King Seiko and Grand Seiko were put on hold as the firm focused its attention on the new technology they had pioneered. This… Read More

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30.12.2020
Nick Kenyon

VIDEO: The Street Fighter x Seiko Ryu edition hits you like a judo chop to the throat (in a good way)

If you’re a regular reader of Time+Tide, you’ll know we’re big fans of the Seiko 5 Sports x Street Fighter V Editions. We first took a look at the full collection, before zeroing in on the Blanka green machine and the Ken red rocket models, and now we’re going to take a closer look at the Ryu edition. It’s an interesting watch, not just because of its Street Fighter connection, but because it’s probably the most wearable/least bonkers watch in the entire collection. When you strap the Seiko 5 Sports SRPF19K Ryu to your wrist, you’re getting a more subtle nod to the fight game franchise and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Consistent with the rest of the collection, the case measures a tidy 42.5mm in diameter and offers the same 100m of water resistance and houses the automatic 4R36 movement within. But the stark white of the textured dial, that matches the white fabric strap, creates the perfect textile canvas for the bold black and red “Coke” bezel. The white of the dial and strap are said to be inspired by Ryu’s Judo uniform and works a treat as an “if you know, you know” reference to his… Read More

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28.12.2020
Nick Kenyon

VIDEO: This Seiko 5 Sports collab delivers knockout appeal with Street Fighter’s Ken

The Seiko 5 Sports x STREET FIGHTER V Editions were one of the feel-good highlights of 2020. Taking the tried-and-true template of the 5 Sports collection and combining it with one of the most successful fighting game series in history proved a winning combo – both for watch collectors and fans of the combat franchise. Seiko released six different references, each a nod to one of the main characters in the game: Blanka, Ryu, Chun-Li, Guile, Zangief and, of course, Ken. The Ken edition is a particular eye-catcher with a fully black case that contrasts well with the gold crown, outer bezel, and hands, that reflect the character’s distinctive blonde hair. In a nod to his uniform, the textile strap is bright red, matching the dial and bezel highlights, making the watch a coherent tribute to the muscle-bound warrior. To further deepen the connection to the character, Ken’s special move “Shoryuken” is also printed on the caseback. With 100m of water resistance, and powered by the automatic 4R36 movement, the 42.5mm case size is thoroughly wearable and would make for a reliable if slightly flamboyant daily watch. Seiko 5 Sports SRPF20K Ken price and availability: The Seiko 5 Sports SRPF20K… Read More

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26.12.2020
Nick Kenyon

VIDEO: Street Fighter’s green machine inspires the bad-ass Seiko 5 Sports Blanka

Seiko has by no means had a quiet year, but there was one collection that demanded attention. The all new Seiko 5 Sports x Street Fighter V Editions turned heads for all the right reasons, taking inspiration from the legendary fighting game, and turning six of the main characters into watch designs. These fighters included Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Zangief and, last but certainly not least, the green machine himself, Blanka. Like the rest of the collection, the Blanka edition uses the typical Seiko 5 Sports template as a starting point, measuring 42.5mm in diameter, housing the automatic 4R36 movement and offering a solid 100m of water resistance. Where this edition stands out from the rest, however, is the bright green and orange lashings found across the watch that match Blanka’s larger-than-life character. The streaks of electricity running through the bezel (and the whirlpool dial) are a nod to Blanka’s special move, “Electric Thunder”, while the hour markers are inspired by his razor-sharp teeth. The edges of the strap and the minute track are both bright orange, in reference to his almost fluro hair. What a fighter, and what a watch to honour him! Seiko 5 Sports SRPF23K1 Blanka price… Read More

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