Seiko Celebrates 55 Years Of Seiko 5 Sports With None Other Than Bruce Lee
Introduced in 1968, the Seiko 5 Sports line is celebrating its 55th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, Seiko now releases a watch in honor of one of the most famous Seiko 5 Sports wearers ever — Bruce Lee. Enter the dragon with the new Seiko 5 Sports Bruce Lee limited edition.
Well…limited? This release is technically limited. But at 15,000 units, we have to ask what it takes for Seiko to consider something unlimited. In any case, let’s dive in!
The first Seiko 5 Sports from 1968
55 years of Seiko 5 Sports
The Seiko Sportsmatic 5 was introduced in 1963. The line of affordable watches was famously characterized by five traits, giving it its name. The watches were self-winding, featured a day-date display at 3 o’clock, were water resistant, had a rugged design with a metal bracelet, and featured a (recessed) crown at 4 o’clock. Memorize those five if you consider yourself a watch geek. After all, that’s basic knowledge, right?
Fast-forward five years to 1968, and Seiko released the Seiko 5 Sports in a bid to target a younger clientele. Therefore, the watches were often a little more rugged in style. Think, for instance, of divers, chronographs, and field watches.
The line was reintroduced in 2019 with the famous “5KX” or, as it is formally known, the new Seiko 5 Sports line. It’s no surprise, then, that today’s release is built on precisely that platform.
A legendary Seiko 5 Sports wearer: Bruce Lee
Many watch brands proudly boast famous clientele. Seiko, however, can claim one of the most iconic figures in pop culture as a fan. Namely, Bruce Lee, the Hong Kong/American martial artist and actor who changed both martial arts and action movies forever.
Although Lee tragically passed in 1973 at the age of 32, his impact is still felt today. His martial arts philosophy Jeet Kune Do is often cited as laying the foundation for modern-day mixed martial arts. Additionally, he is credited with internationalizing Hong Kong cinema. More importantly, he changed the way people of Asian descent were portrayed in Western cinema.
Because Bruce Lee famously wore Seiko 5 Sports watches, Seiko chose to honor him with this special edition.
The Seiko 5 Sports Bruce Lee edition SRPK39
The watch in question is a fully blacked-out Seiko 5 Sports in the 42.5mm case we know. Its dial features an engraved dragon based on a drawing by Lee himself. The hands and indices are gold-toned and filled with black lume. Additionally, the black bezel is outfitted with characters that represent the spirit of Jeet Kune Do with a phrase that translates to, “Using no way as way; having no limitation as limitation.”
The watch comes with two straps. One is made of black leather with silver stitching, inspired by traditional Kung Fu clothing. Contrastingly, the other is a bright yellow nylon strap with a black stripe. Bruce Lee fans will certainly associate this one with the man’s famous tracksuit.
Turn the watch around, and you are greeted by the Jeet Kune Do logo on the case back. Similarly, the leather strap’s lining is decorated with the same dragon you find on the dial. Moreover, the entire set is presented in a gift box with Bruce Lee’s signature on the inside of the lid.
Pricing and availability
The Seiko 5 Sports Bruce Lee edition is limited to 15,000 pieces. It will be available from Seiko boutiques from October 2023, and the recommended retail price is set at €520. For the full list of specs, see the chart below, and let us know what you think of this release in the comments!
