My Eastern Watch Collection: Seiko 5 Sports Flieger SRPH29K1 (similar to SRPH21K1, SRPH23K1, SRPH25K1, SRPH27K1, SRPH31K1 and SRPH33K1)

The Seiko 5 Sports line was first launched in 1963 under the original name of Seiko Sportmatic 5. It was Seiko's first automatic day/date watch and famously known for its reliability and ownership cost. Over the years, many models were churned out from many of Seiko's overseas factories that Seiko could not compile the list of models available on its website. To take back control, in 2019, Seiko centralised the design of Seiko 5 Sports by launching the Seiko 5 Sports Collection series. This time around, Seiko's main website kept track on the models launched.

I got the SRPD85K1 to commemorate this event for the Seiko 5 Sports Collection in 2019. Since then, I got another piece, the SRPG29K1 which happens to be an infantry inspired design. Around the same time in late 2021, Seiko issued out a new pilot watch series codename 'Flieger'. Of the options available, I chose the SRPH29K1 as it has my favorite colour, green. This time around, I got the watch from another vendor in Mid Valley, City Chain.

The reason I got the watch from City Chain was because of their membership point scheme which which offered the best discount after taking into consideration the joining coupon as well as the birthday coupon offered to members.

The Series

The 2021 Flieger series consists of seven models. One with the typical Seiko bracelet, three with nylon strap and the final three with Milanese bracelet. There are a multitude of dial colours to choose from.

SRPH21K1	SRPH29K1	SRPH27K1
SRPH23K1	SRPH31K1	The watch above is the only one in the series with a typical Seiko 5 bracelet
SRPH25K1	SRPH33K1	The two watches on the right are the only ones with PVD coating on the metal surfaces
The three watches above uses a Milanese bracelet.	The three watches above are the only one with straps and offered in Malaysia. Priced at RM1,110 for both the non-PVD models while the PVD is priced at RM1,225.	There is enough permutations in all seven models to cater for every styling taste.

In the collection, I have a similar piece by Seiko 5 that I bought in 2016. The watch is the reference SNK805K2 (see left). Also in green, it has the same dial arrangement as the SRPH29K1.

The width is slightly smaller at 37.0 mm (compared to 39.4 mm for the SRPH29K1) and the watch has the crown located at 4.00 instead of 3:00 for the SRPH29K1.

The Watch

The SRPH29K1 is made out of stainless steel. It has a diameter of 39.4 mm and a lug-to-lug length of 48.1 mm. For many people, these dimensions fits in nicely with their wrist size. Relatively speaking, the watch is tall with a height of 13.2 mm. Nevertheless, the dome crystal does add a bit to the height. Personally, I am not too bothered with this tallness as I like dome crystals anyway.

With the army green colored dial, it has large pipette-shaped hands for the hours and minutes, a sharp and colored tipped seconds hand and a large triangle marker at 12:00. The main marker and the hands are painted with Seiko proprietary LumiBrite luminous paint. The dial also feature a series of scales. From the extreme edge to the center, there is the 60 minute track, luminous dots around the inner circumference of the 60 minute track for every hour interval, an Arabic numbering for every 5 minute interval and finally a smaller Arabic numbering scale for every hour. Separating the two Arabic scales is a white circle. Note also that all the scales have been painted white except for the dots at the four corners. To facilitate the day and date complications, an aperture has been cut at 3:00 that replaces the Arabic numbering in that location. Both the date and day wheels have white backgrounds.

There are four lines and texts and logo on the watch. The brand and the Seiko 5 logo is located at upper quadrant while the words "Automatic" and series of production codes are found on the lower quadrant. All texts and logos are painted directly on the dial with white paint.

Protecting the dial is a dome Hardlex crystal, a proprietary glass by Seiko that is resistant to shattering and scratches. Due to the price point of this series, no anti-reflective coating have been provided.

At 3:00 is the location of the screw-down crown. Meanwhile at the back of the watch is the screw-down case-back with a display window. Through the window, the automatic 4R36 Caliber movement can be seen. Again, due to the price point of the watch, the movement is not decorated in anyway.

The watch has been water rated to 100 meters. This is more than sufficient for most occasions.

The watch is paired with a 20.0 mm wide nylon green strap with orange backing. The strap is thick, stiff and very sturdy. The strap holes are reinforced with a leather strip. The buckle is signed.

Below is the illumination shot of the watch.

The Wearing Experience

The SRPH29K1 is an excellent candidate for a beater watch. It is also a good specimen to give to a young person or anyone you think is about to embark into the world of watch collecting. Below is a video of the watch on my wrist.

Specifications

Case Material: Stainless steel
Band Material: Nylon green with orange backing
Crystal: Curved Hardlex

Case-Back: Screw down with display window

Dial Colour: Khaki green

Illumination: LumiBrite paint on hands and index(es)

Diameter: 39.4 mm
Length: 48.1 mm

Thickness: 13.2 mm

Lug Width: 20.0 mm

Weight: 75.0 gm

Caliber: 4R36

Movement Type: Automatic with manual winding

Jewels: 24

Power Reserve: Approximately 41 hours