Seiko 5 Sports SRPD95 Review: Silicone Milanese Strap On Steel Watch

The Seiko SRPD95’s Case

The Seiko 5 Sports reference SRPD95 possesses what has now become an iconic case profile that is best described as the Seiko SKX case. It’s dimensions consist of:

• 42.5mm in diameter (9 o’clock to 3 o’clock)
• 46mm lug-to-lug
• 13.4mm in thickness
• 22mm between the lugs (AKA the strap size)

As all Seiko SKXs that came before it, the SRPD95’s case possesses an attractive dual-finish theme throughout.

This theme consists of a case and lugs that are brushed on their top surface and mirror-polished on the flanks. Between the two contrasting finishes is a light bevel, one that often must be viewed from close to be admired.

Bezel Details

The SRPD95 has a traditional 120-click, unidirectional diver’s bezel. Cradled inside the knurled steel bezel is an insert with a silver diver’s scale on a black background.

There is a slight bit of imprecision between the clicks on the bezel. This is to say, the bezel can be nudged slightly without clicking it forward, however this is to be expected with a watch of this price point.

If you come to rely on the SRPD95 to time your underwater dive, and the imprecision of the bezel becomes a matter of life and death, you likely made some poor decision elsewhere in that process.

5 Sports SRPD95 Dial Details

When it comes to the SRPD95’s dial, it’s not absolutely clear exactly what color it is. I’ve referred to it as off-black in the past, though I think I’ve finally settled on anthracite. That’s because depending on the reflection of the light, the dial can look darker or a bit lighter.

As a comparison, we’ve previously reviewed other Seiko 5 Sports watches with guaranteed black dials and I can definitely tell that the dial on the SRPD95 is not identical to those. Additionally, the SRPD95 has a sunray texture that is also highlighted in the proper light and which I found very appealing.

When it comes to the hour indices, the SRPD95 possesses applied, polished plots with tons of lume. In this case, the lume is a beige tone, similar to the patina lume encountered in modern vintage-inspired releases. The hands at center also possess this same lume, and they themselves have a brushed finish that I found to be a widely overlooked and very endearing detail.

[NOTE: I couldn’t find this detail mentioned anywhere online, but the LumiBrite on this SRPD95 is Blue, a stark contrast from the Green LumiBrite I encountered on most other Seiko 5 Sports watches]

Surrounding the entire dial is a raised minute track in an off-white color with black minute markings. It provides significant contrast from the rest of the dial while also bringing the entire face of the watch together handsomely.

Silicone Milanese Strap

I think this SRPD95 is a beautiful watch, regardless of what strap it’s on. That being said, I was absolutely surprised by the quality of the silicone Milanese strap on which it was delivered.

You may be familiar with other rubber watch straps. Those are not this. This Seiko silicone mesh strap is incredibly pliable and light. It molds around the wrist quite comfortably. It also seems to have a bit of give that elevates the level of comfort, allowing the watch to move slightly even while it’s perfectly secured on your wrist.

Lastly, the strap is accompanied by a brushed steel tang buckle and matching silicone keeper that wrap up the entire package concisely.

If you’re interested in changing the phenomenal silicone strap on this piece, note that the watch possesses lug holes. These will allow you to remove the current strap with rudimentary tools and without risking a scratch.

SRPD95 Automatic Movement

Unlike its predecessor, the SRPD95 is powered by Seiko’s updated 4R36 movement. The 4R36 is a self-winding (automatic) caliber with a 41-hour power reserve. The finishing on the movement is basic but nonetheless attractive and can be admired through the watch’s see-through caseback.

You likely already know that the movement has a day-date complication. It also has stop-seconds functionality and can be wound through the crown, two aspects that older Seiko movements did not possess. As far as accuracy, the 4R36 movement clocks in at +45s/-35s per day.

Seiko 5 SRPD95 Review: On-the-Wrist

Overall, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with the SRPD95. This being the first Seiko 5 Sports that I trialed, it had big shoes to fill as I was already well-acquainted with the model it was intended to replace, the SKX.

Nevertheless, while the bar was set pretty high by the SKX, I think the Seiko 5 Sports and this SRPD95 specifically have surpassed it wholeheartedly.

The watch boasts numerous mechanical improvements that establish it as a modern watch. Then there are the vintage-inspired details such as the patina lume indices, which I think Seiko paired beautifully with the sunray dial and textured hands. It’s truly the perfect combination of a vintage look with a contemporary feel (or wear.)

Lastly, the new silicone strap is magnitudes better than the stiff rubber “wave” strap encountered on so many SKXs.

There are some who will say that the 100m water resistance of the SRPD95, reduced from 200m due to the absence of a screw-down crown, has ruined the model line. Worst of all, they likely say this and have never taken their own SKX 50m below the surface. You could not be more wrong.

This SRPD95 is proof that this new watch platform, the 5 Sports collection, provides plenty of runway for Seiko to spring off of. There’s seemingly no combination of styles that this line can’t pull off – if you don’t believe me, the endless varieties on the Seiko website will back up this claim concretely.

If you’re considering this SRPD95 or any Seiko 5 Sport, I can highly recommend them. Just take some time to find the [case material+dial color+bracelet type combination] that’s right for you and then take the plunge. I’m convinced you won’t regret it.

Further Reading

Did you enjoy our review? What do you think of the new Seiko 5 Sports or this SRPD95? Let us know in the comments! Otherwise, check out some of our other popular watch pages below:

• Bespoke Unit’s Other Watch Reviews
• Intro Guide To The Seiko 5 SKX
• The First Seiko Watch – Seiko Brand History 
• Comparing The SKX007 And The SKX009
• Watches Homepage