Confessions Of A Late Seiko Convert: I Bought The Seiko SRPL93 ‘Gene Kranz’
After years of skipping over Japan’s greatest watchmaker, I finally gave in. Now I can’t take it off.
I have to start with a confession. I recently bought a Seiko. That isn’t the whole confession. This is my first Seiko. I know, I know, how could that possibly be? Somehow, through my long and winding (pun intended) collecting journey, I skipped right over Seiko. I subconsciously and unfairly associated the brand with cheaper, mass-market watches. I never truly understood its role in watchmaking history or appreciated just how much Seiko has done for timekeeping in general.
Like many collectors, I was taught early on that “Swiss Made” was the ultimate mark of legitimacy and quality. Anything else on the dial felt lesser. Honestly, it could be argued that Seiko has done more for watches and their global popularity than almost any other brand, maybe second only to Rolex, and I would happily make that argument now. But collecting is a lifelong education, and as your tastes evolve, so does your understanding of what really matters.
For years, though, Seiko did not fit my profile. Most of the models I liked were simply too big for me. I could tolerate the size of my Speedmaster because, well, it is a Speedmaster, but otherwise I have always stayed under 40 millimeters. The Seikos that caught my eye were thick, bulky, and often over-styled. The recently released Seiko Prospex 62MAS, perhaps my favorite modern Seiko, was tempting but a little too rich for me to justify as my first step into the brand.
So early in my collecting journey, I skipped right over Seiko and Citizen, jumping straight to Hamilton and Frédérique Constant instead. I did once own an Orient Mako II, which I later sold to fund a Super Bowl bet on the Patriots, the wild times of my youth.
Since joining The 1916 Company nearly five years ago, I have learned a lot, to say the very least, including a genuine appreciation for Seiko and their place in the watch world. Much of that came from one of their biggest advocates on the planet. You can probably guess who I am talking about.
That said, I needed to have a moment of reflection regarding my first Seiko now that the honeymoon phase is over. The rush of unboxing and that fleeting retail-therapy high have subsided. Because a very unexpected twist of fate has come from the slightly impulsive purchase. The watch has simply become a part of me. It has worked its way into my daily rhythm and my wardrobe, right there with my 511 Levi’s, my W.kleinberg belt, my Topo Design hat, my Uni-qlo black hoodie, and my Flint and Tinder chore coat.
And I think the utilitarian beauty of the watch is what has done it. Luxury is luxurious, sure, but sometimes I just want a true and honest accessory. No frills. Like a car without a computer jammed in the dash. Sometimes it is just nice to have something that just works and becomes a part of who you are. I think we sometimes forget how refreshing that can be. I wear it constantly because I don’t have to worry about it, yet it still manages to speak to me every time I glance at it.
How This Came To Be
I had that itch. I needed to buy a watch. It had just been too long. But first, I needed to try and narrow down the search. There were a few boxes I wanted to check. I knew I needed to finally own a Seiko, otherwise Jack may fire me. It had to be under 40 millimeters. It had to have some history. And it needed to be a proper sports watch, something meant to be worn, not babied.
I’d browsed the Seiko catalog countless times, but most models felt too generic. I wanted something with personality, something that told a story. After all, the objects we choose to keep say as much about us as the stories we leave behind.
Then, as often happens in life, it just appeared: the Seiko SRPL93. The newest edition to the Seiko 5 line.
A Deep-Cut Tribute
The SRPL93 is part of the Seiko 5 Sports lineup, originally launched in 1963 as the Sportsmatic 5 and revived in 2019. This version brings back the original 1960s “5” logo, a perfect nostalgic touch, and offers a choice between white and black dials. That detail alone feels like a window into a fascinating era of design and watchmaking.
The 1960s marked a turning point in industrial design across every category from furniture, to architecture, to automobiles, and of course, watches. The mid-century modern philosophy was defined by clean lines and functional beauty. Gone were the ornate flourishes of earlier decades. Instead, design became democratic. It was the era of Eames chairs, Braun electronics, and space-age optimism.
In watchmaking, this shift gave rise to the sports watch as we know it. Tool watches became objects of everyday wear, bridging the gap between utility and style. The 1960s saw Rolex perfect the Submariner, Omega send the Speedmaster to space, and Seiko carve its own lane by creating reliable, mass-produced mechanical watches that anyone could afford.
Seiko’s Sportsmatic 5 line embodied that spirit. The “5” stood for five promises: automatic winding, day-date display, water resistance, a recessed crown at 4 o’clock, and durable case construction. It was forward-thinking and functional, built for the postwar generation who were moving faster, traveling farther, and living more active lives.
Its design is based on the reference 6119-8460, a deep cut, the kind of thing true Seiko fans nod at knowingly. The model is nicknamed “The Gene Kranz,” after the legendary NASA Flight Director who wore the original during the Apollo era. Kranz oversaw missions from Mercury through Apollo 11, helping guide the first moon landing. I first met him, or rather Ed Harris playing him, in Apollo 13, one of those iconic sick-day movies from childhood, right up there with Space Jam, Shawshank Redemption, Hook, 3 Ninjas, and The Sandlot.
As a Speedmaster owner, I couldn’t resist the poetry of it, owning both the Moonwatch and the watch worn by the man who helped us get there. I went with the black dial instead of the white Kranz original, it just fits my vibe better.
The Watch Itself
The SRPL93 is classic 1960s Seiko: a cushion-shaped case measuring 38.2 millimeters across and just 44.7 millimeters lug to lug, which is the most underrated measurement in watch ergonomics. It’s about 13 millimeters thick, brushed on top with polished flanks, and features that signature Seiko crown tucked at 4 o’clock.
One of my two major gripes is that recessed crown. It’s a pain to pop out and set. That, and the lack of micro-adjustment on the bracelet. Otherwise, the proportions, comfort, and finishing are exactly what you hope for at this price point.
The SRPL93 is equipped with a bi-directional bezel featuring a metal insert and an engraved 60-minute scale, paired with 100 meters of water resistance, which is more than enough for everyday wear. The crystal is box-shaped rather than curved, a subtle but satisfying nod to the acrylic crystals of the 1960s. Around back, the caseback is solid steel and screw-down, keeping with the character of the original Sportsmatic line.
Seiko also included a few charming retro details that make the watch feel authentically period correct. The calendar display mirrors the layout of the vintage model with an inverted color scheme, the day shown in white and the date in black, a small design quirk that gives the dial real personality. The raised, polished hour markers and hands are generously filled with LumiBrite.
Inside beats the automatic Caliber 4R36, a movement that powers many of Seiko’s entry-level mechanical watches. It runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour, holds a 41-hour power reserve, and includes both hacking seconds and manual winding.
Rounding it all out is a steel bracelet that channels the charm of vintage multi-link designs. It is fully brushed and appears more intricate than it is. The clasp closes with a secure push-button release, completing the package with the same dependable functionality that makes the rest of the watch so easy to live with.
The Unboxing and the Bond
The unboxing was about as anticlimactic as you would expect for a sub $500 watch. It scratched my retail therapy itch for my 35th birthday, but there were no champagne toasts, just me, a screwdriver, and a crying baby in the background. I might have told my wife it was for a story. If she is reading this now, surprise, the story came after the watch.
Adjusting the bracelet turned into a small saga. The pin and collar system fought me every step of the way, but once it was sized and on my wrist, I knew I had a keeper. It was only the second watch I had ever bought sight unseen, but sometimes when a watch calls to you, you just answer.
From that day on, I wore it constantly, watching the lume charge in the summer sun and glow every time I reached into a dark closet. I wore it to the beach, to the bar, to work events, and even while bathing my son. It fit with everything, athletic wear, jeans, or a blazer, and never felt out of place.
The SRPL93 had everything I had been looking for. It carried real history, a connection to an important moment in watchmaking. It was utilitarian, with no unnecessary embellishments, just honest design and a movement built to last. It was affordable enough to wear freely and versatile enough to fit my lifestyle. And more than anything, it was different, a watch that stood apart from everything else I owned yet somehow felt entirely like me.
Now, a few months in, the Seiko feels less like a new acquisition and more like an extension of who I am. It is durable, versatile, and quietly personal. The honeymoon may be over, but this is one of those rare relationships that only gets better with time (pun intended again).