Fighting for Time: The Seiko 5 Sports Street Fighter Limited Edition

Japanese watchmaker Seiko first introduced its Seiko 5 Sports sub-series in 1963, naming them after the five characteristics encompassed by each model — attributes that include an automatic movement, a day-date display at 3 o’clock, water resistance, a recessed crown at 4 o’clock, and a case and bracelet built for durability.

Following the re-introduction of this series in 2019, Seiko has introduced a series of automatic wristwatches inspired by the Player VS Player fighting game, “Street Fighter V.” Beloved and played by millions worldwide, “Street Fighter” first hit the market in 1987, becoming one of the leading fighting games in the e-sports universe. Each of the six timepieces takes inspiration from one of the game’s central characters: Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Zangief and Banka. Here is everything to know about the Seiko 5 Sports Street Fighter V Limited Editions.

Each of the six watches come in a stainless-steel case that measures 42.5 mm in diameter and 13.4 mm thick, and is water-resistant to roughly 100 meters (10 bar). Each dial is protected by Seiko’s proprietary “Hardlex” crystal, which is more scratch-resistant than polycarbonate.

Powering the new models is Seiko’s automatic Caliber 4R36, which offers a power reserve of 41 hours, a frequency of 21,600-vph (6 beats per second), and a magnetic resistance up to 4,800 a/m. The movement offers a day/date display, a stop-seconds hand function, and 24 jewels, and is visible through each watch’s screw-down caseback.

The first timepiece, Ref. SRPF19, takes inspiration from Ryu, the “Unshakable Fist,” and his “do-gi” Judo uniform. The bezel is marked with a scratch-like pattern, representing the training Ryu endured to become a “true fighter.” The four-figure kanji symbol from his gloves, signifying “as swift as the wind, as gentle as forest, as fierce as fire and as unshakable as the mountain,” is found at 9 o’clock and on the underside of the canvas calf strap. The controller command for Ryu’s signature move, the “Hadoken,” is printed on the caseback.  

The Ref SRPF20 timepiece captures Ken’s costume and his blond hair. The “Rush ‘n’ Blaze”-inspired watch features a red-and-yellow color scheme reflected on the dial, along with costume design elements. Another nod to the blond-haired master is the black-colored, hard-coated, stainless steel case with yellow-and-gold-colored plating. A logo of Ken’s company, the “Masters Foundation,” is located on the reverse side of the canvas calf strap. His move, “Shoryuken,” is printed on the caseback.

The “Blue Jade” Ref. SRPF17 is inspired by the blue-and-gold colorway of Chun-Li’s dress; the pattern on her dress collar acts as the 12 o’clock marker. The triangular-shaped indices at 6 and 9 o’clock represent the character’s spike bracelet. On the back of the calf strap is a printed image of a dragon pattern found on Chun-Li’s waist belt, while her special move, the “Spinning Bird Kick,” is printed on the caseback.

Guile, the “Indestructible Fortress,” provides the inspiration for Ref. SRPF21, whose camouflage pattern on the dial echoes Guile’s uniform as a Major in the U.S. Air Force. The patch-shape at 6 o’clock is also from said uniform, while the dog tag-shaped image at 9 o’clock is a nod to Guile’s best friend Charlie Nash. His signature move, the “Sonic Boom,” is printed on the caseback of the model, which comes presented on a brown calf strap, accented with white-colored stitching.

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The rippling muscles of the character nicknamed the “Iron Cyclone” are reflected on the dial of Ref. SRPF24. The red, circle-shaped pattern is reminiscent of Zangief’s move, the “Cyclone Lariat.” The large, black Arabic numerals, indexes and calendar display with a Cyclops lens add a muscular impact, while the red-and-yellow-colored nylon strap is a true representation of Zangief’s wrist band. Another of the character’s fighting moves, the “Screw Pile Driver,” is printed on the back of the gold-plated case.

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Finally, the bezel of Ref. SRPF23 features a green-and-yellow electrical discharge pattern, representing Blanka’s special move, the “Electric Thunder,” which like the other special moves represented in the collection is also referenced on the caseback. The pressed, spinning motif in the middle of the green-tinted dial is inspired by Blanka’s rolling attack; the dial’s gray indexes are shaped to represent his sharp teeth. An image of a “Blanka Chan” doll is printed on the back of the red-and-green nylon strap end.

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The Seiko 5 x Street Fighter V series is limited to 9,999 pieces, with a retail price of $440, and will be available later this month worldwide at Seiko boutiques and selected retail partners.

For a look at more of Seiko’s 2020 novelties, click here.