Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Ultraseven L.E. SRPJ79
A special tribute to 70 years of Ultraseven broadcasting, a spin-off from the original Ultraman TV Series
The Seiko 5 Sports range is probably one of the most eclectic collections by the Japanese manufacturer. Using the beloved platform of the 5 Sports, Seiko regularly plays around with colours and designs to provide an immensely broad spectrum of low-budget yet solid and fun diving watches. And with an unbridled pace of production, Seiko now presents a rather amusing limited edition dedicated to Ultraseven which is a spin-off of the iconic Ultraman TV series. Dressed up in the formal colours of the Ultra Guard, the Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Ultraseven Limited Edition SRPJ79 pays homage to the cult show and 55 years of Ultraseven.
Ultraman, and its many spin-offs including Ultraseven, originate from the late 1960s and aired on Japanese television for years. This live-action TV series is known as a Tokusatsu show, which relies on practical special effects, including giant city-destroying monsters, alien invasions and more. Hugely popular between 1966 and 1987, this superhero character visiting earth from Nebula M78, became a true cult icon. Even today, the character remains popular within Japanese culture, and beyond. The Ultraseven spin-off first aired in 1967, now 55 years ago.
Seiko uses the colours of the uniforms of the Ultra Guard Terrestrial Defence Force for this whimsical watch. That means we have a steel case of 42.5mm in diameter, topped with a black diving bezel and insert. The dial is finished in sunray-brushed silver and features applied hour indices, grey markers in between them, and a black sloped outer flange. The hour and minute hands are black, with LumiBrite inserts, and the central seconds hand has a red tip and LumiBrite lollipop counterweight. The day-date window at 3 o’clock is framed. Hardlex crystal covers both the front and back of the watch.
Inside we find the Seiko Calibre 4R36 which we know from previous editions of the Seiko 5 Sports collection. This entry-level Seiko movement has a frequency of 21,600vph and a running time of 41 hours when fully wound. It can be (vaguely) seen through the special crystal in the caseback, decorated with a depiction of Ultraman in red and white. And to be honest, with the industrial level of finishing the 4R36 has, the crystal makes it all the more interesting to look at the backside of the watch!
The Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Ultraseven Limited Edition SRPJ79 comes on a nylon NATO-style strap in the colours of the Ultra Guard uniforms and with the “Terrestrial Defence Force” written down the white centre line. Presented in a special edition box, it is limited to 3,400 pieces. No price is communicated as of yet, but expect it to be around the EUR 500 mark.
For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com
