The Seiko 5 Sports Bamford Limited Edition SRPL95

While all of us are now pretty familiar with the Seiko 5 Sports collection, and in particular the SKX series (an accessible aquatic-like watch inspired by the cult SKX007 of the past), there are also dozens of cool limited editions and bold collaboration models based on this platform. The latest in line, which will once again expand the collection, is made with London’s luxury custom watch brand Bamford. Based on the idea of a journey to “paradise”, a world of freedom and refreshment away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and even featured in a dedicated comic, the Seiko 5 Sports Bamford Limited Edition SRPL95 is a bold and fun new watch.

Bamford Watch Department, the London-based watchmaker founded in 2003 by George Bamford, initially specialised in customising luxury watches before expanding its involvement with brands and releasing dedicated limited editions – a considerable number of them, to be honest. Bamford’s latest transformation uses an accessible yet beloved model as a base, the Seiko 5 Sports SKX Series. Adding colours, transparency, and luminosity to the equation, the result is this SRPL95, a watch that feels both retro and futuristic at the same time. But mostly playful.

Let’s start with the basics. This new limited edition with Bamford relies on the well-known architecture of the SKX Series, meaning a stainless steel case inspired by the neo-vintage and cult SKX007, using an identical shape with the crown at 4 o’clock and curved sides. It measures 42.5mm in diameter and 13.4mm in thickness, but keeps things short with a 46mm lug-to-lug. Despite being modelled after one of Seiko’s most famous dive watches, the SRPL95, like all other 5 Sports, isn’t a proper dive watch but a timepiece with aquatic capacities – mostly, it doesn’t have a screw-down crown and is water-resistant to 100m, yet compensates with a unidirectional bezel. A Hardlex crystal tops the watch.

Most of this edition’s singularity comes from design elements on the bezel and dial. The insert is unique to this piece, and recreates a classic Seiko archive design, combining blocky markers, 5-minute digits and a luminous sector in orange. The dial is slightly special too, as it uses a translucent blue plate, revealing the day-date discs underneath – the central one being lumed too. This is a concept we’ve seen already in the 5 Sports Time Sonar, but here the applied markers and hands rely on an angular design once used in the 1980s SKX series.

Turning this SRPL95, the transparent back with BWD logo partially reveals the in-house calibre 4R36, a classic automatic movement found in most watches from this accessible collection. The watch is secured to the wrist by a nylon NATO-like strap with blue and orange stripes – the latter being lumed.

A limited edition of 2,025 pieces available exclusively from Seiko boutiques, the Seiko 5 Sports Bamford Limited Edition SRPL95 is priced at EUR 480 or GBP 400. For more details, please visit seikowatches.com.