Hands-On With The Charming Seiko Presage Style60’s SRPL07 And SRPL09

Though often overlooked in the Seiko catalog, the Presage collection contains some good watches, including the Cocktail Time and Classic models. My favorites, though, are the Style60’s watches, so I was happy to take the new SRPL07 and SRPL09 for a spin. As it turns out, these steel-bezel versions are my new favorites in the Style60’s series.

At first glance, it seems that the Seiko Presage Style60’s SRPL07 and SRPL09 simply offer a new bezel. But there is more to the story than that. They also introduce a slightly smaller case and a wonderfully comfortable new bracelet. These factors combined make these two new watches the best in the Style60’s lineup. I liked them so much, in fact, that I’d go so far as to state that they’re some of the best affordable, stylish watches currently on the market.

The story of the Seiko Presage Style60’s SRPL07 and SRPL09

When I first took the SRPL07 and SRPL09 out of the box, they looked good. In my eyes, they inhabit a perfect middle ground between vintage-inspired sports watches and stylish daily wearers. Their design takes inspiration from the famous Seiko Crown Chronograph ref. 5719A. It was Seiko’s (and Japan’s) very first chronograph wristwatch, which the brand introduced for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

With the stainless steel bezel, these new watches also pay homage to the Seiko 5717, a similar reference that had a stainless steel bezel and a date window at 3 o’clock. I wrote about both watches in the Buying Guide series. It might come as no surprise that I favored the 5717 out of the two.

Because of this historical connection, today’s Style60’s models have the DNA of a sports watch. But remove the chronograph complication and put the design in a more modern context, and you will understand that it’s predominantly intended as a stylish series of watches. That’s where these new models excel in my book. They have an even more retro feel than previous Style60’s variants, and the steel bezel fits the overall aesthetic like a glove. This is also why I immediately liked these two new models.

A stainless steel bezel, a smaller case, and a new bracelet

But let’s go over some specs and get into the details. Then you will find, as I did, that there is more to it. The two watches have a 39.5mm stainless steel case. Compared to the 40.8mm diameter of the initial series, that will be a welcome reduction. Lex wrote about the first Style60’s models, and Thomas wrote about two newer ones that joined the lineup in 2022. The main comment from readers was that they were too big.

Honestly, I did not share this sentiment regarding the actual size because I could pull it off easily. However, a smaller version makes perfect sense in terms of the overall visual proportions and the historical context. The new case measures 39.5mm wide, 46.2mm long, 12mm thick, and 20mm between the lugs. These are great dimensions for many wrists, and the lugs slope down quite dramatically, making these watches a delight to wear.

When the first Style60’s models came out, people also commented on their 50m water resistance rating. This hasn’t changed for these new models, but while it’s certainly not impressive, it’s not a deal breaker in my book. I have never taken a watch more than a few meters underwater, and I don’t plan to, so it works for me.

The design of the new SRPL07 and SRPL09 feels more balanced

The case has a fixed stainless steel bezel and matching insert with a 60-minute scale. On the vintage 1960s chronographs, one could turn the bezel to manually keep track of the elapsed minutes. However, the bezel on these modern watches has become a stylistic element rather than a usable one. Is that strange? Well, this is why quite a few people have issues with the Style60’s series. I agree that it’s a somewhat unfortunate downgrade in functionality. However, I also feel this static bezel works well as part of the design. It adds charm and refers to the original chronographs.

While on the subject of the bezel, there is a reason why I like the stainless steel insert more than the aluminum ones of the previous releases. Quite simply, those colored bezel inserts are rather narrow. But with the stainless steel insert, the bezel looks wider, now bringing it into better balance with the dial.

Two dial variations that work well with the vintage vibes

Seiko gives you the choice between a dark brown or dark blue sunburst dial. Both take after the dial design of the Crown Chronograph ref. 5719, featuring polished and faceted applied markers with lume plots circling the inside. On the outside of the markers, the minute track is printed in white on a matte brown or blue circle that borders the sunburst portion of the dial. The dial is paired with sharp dauphine hour and minute hands and a slim central seconds hand. As you can see, the date is neatly tucked away between the 4 and 5 o’clock markers. The black disc blends in reasonably well with the dial, so it doesn’t look out of place. I like the style of these dials a lot. It is rooted in Seiko’s history and instantly recognizable to the brand’s fans.

Inside the case, Seiko equips these watches with its in-house caliber 4R35. This automatic movement has a 21,600vph frequency and a 41-hour power reserve. It’s Seiko’s standard movement for its affordable watches. In my experience, it is a reliable caliber, but with an indicated official accuracy of +45/-35 seconds per day, its performance is nothing special.

The movement and its basic finishing are visible through the display case back. I wouldn’t mind an all-steel case back to potentially shave off some thickness. Still, I understand that to newcomers to mechanical watches, seeing any automatic movement in action makes a display case back highly desirable.

Wearing the Seiko Presage Style60’s SRPL07 and SRPL09

These two watches each come fitted with a new stainless steel bracelet, another pleasant surprise. The previously released models have an Oyster-style bracelet, but this one has a five-row design. In reality, each link consists of only three parts. As you can see in the shot of the case back a few paragraphs up, the wide center links are attached to the outermost portions, with two independent intermediate pieces between them. While each link is not five separate pieces, the design adds more flair to the Style60’s, and I love that. The bracelets also have a small and basic folding clasp. It closes with a firm click and is easy to open thanks to the push-button release.

What stands out immediately is the flexibility of these bracelets. They wrap around the wrist comfortably, making the wearing experience a pleasure. Plus, with the updated case and more balanced steel bezel, these new references have a seriously charming retro style. This made it a ton of fun to wear them.

Final thoughts on the Seiko Presage Style60’s SRPL07 and SRPL09

Overall, the Seiko Presage Style60’s SRPL07 and SRPL09 were an absolute joy to wear for the short time we had them in the office. If you like the look of the Style60’s collection like I do, I suggest you check out these new models. The stainless steel bezel insert and bracelet turn the vintage vibes up to 11, and the smaller case size makes these suitable for a wide range of wrist sizes.

Sure, you could fault these new watches for not having a rotating bezel but a useless 60-minute scale instead. However, the bezel adds greatly to the story and the aesthetic, so I am happy to accept that it has become a decorative element. At €590, the SRPL07 and SRPL09 are €50 more expensive than their bigger brothers. But I would gladly pay the extra money for the added style and comfort they offer.

I must compliment Seiko for adding these new models as they’re great improvements over the previously released ones. I would gladly choose these as some of the best watches under €1,000. I think they are that good, especially my favorite brown-dial version.

The blue-dial SRPL07 and brown-dial SRPL09 are available now through the Seiko website, the brand’s boutiques, and select Seiko dealers. Let us know what you think of these two new Presage Style60’s models in the comments.