Get The Travelling Bug With The New Seiko SKX Boy GMT Watches

After 50 years of being one of the leading sources of timekeeping, the Seiko Corporation’s iconic Seiko 5 watches are getting a makeover- but not in the physical sense. Consisting of three models in three equally bold colourways, the new Seiko SKX Boy GMT watches are the latest game-changer for this iconic Japanese watch brand. Combining an effortless design with unbeatable timekeeping technology, these Seiko watches are arguably offering timepiece enthusiasts luxury on a somewhat streamlined budget. 

Synonymous with style, durability and reliability, when Seiko released their iconic Seiko 5 Sports watches back in 2019, it immediately injected a dose of youthfulness into this 140-something-year-old brand and set a new standard for this classic range. Flashforward almost three years later, this watch juggernaut is keen to do so again with the Seiko 5 SKX series.

Overview:

• The Functions
• The Design
• Specifications
• Final Thoughts

The Functions

The biggest thing that sets the Seiko SKX watches apart from other Seiko 5 Sports watches and possibly even other automatic watches is the introduction of a GMT calibre. Those with a keen interest in horology (the study of time) will know that ‘GMT’ is an abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time, a solar time zone scale based on the time measurement on display at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. Measuring when the sun crosses the Prime Meridian or the halfway point, GMT essentially records the time from point ‘0’ on the 24-hour International Time Zone Scale and does not take into account daylight savings. This means that women’s and men’s watches with a GMT Calibre such as the Seiko SKX Boy GMT watch display both a 12-hour and 24-hour time scale. Designed to benefit the international traveller, this function is a game-changer for the Seiko 5 Sports range as it broadens the timepiece’s functionality and provides wearers with a novelty rarely seen outside of the luxury watch market. 

Possessing a tried and trusted 4R34 Calibre along with an automatic movement that boasts manual-winding capabilities powered by the motions of the wearer’s wrist, the new Seiko SKX Boy GMT watches take reliability and user-friendliness to a whole new level. And with up to 24 jewels working to provide a seamless transition, they are also capable of around 21,600 vibrations per hour or 6 beats per second. Keep your timepiece dry with 10-bar water resistance and in tip-top shape with an enduring hardlex crystal glass while also enjoying the convenience of a 41-hour power reserve. Wearers will also enjoy the inclusion of a rotating bezel along with a date window on these stainless steel watches which provides them with precision and will keep them on time for all important days.

The Design

With three colourways to choose from including sunset orange, midnight blue and daring black, Seiko has once again paid a visit to their archives for the Seiko 5 SKX range’s structure and aesthetics. While they may embody the Seiko 5 collection’s signature solid-coloured face and dial along with its entirely stainless steel construction, the case used for these silver watches takes its inspiration from an old favourite, the now discontinued SKX case shape. Unlike most of today’s Seiko watches that feature a more rounded case, the Seiko SKX models had a cushion-shaped case with flattened edges that almost encase the Seiko SKX Boy GMT watches’ crown. Another key difference is the bracelet, which swaps out the traditional Seiko 5 stainless steel bracelet with rectangular links for one with slightly daintier links like the ones commonly used for dress watches.

The vibrantly-coloured dial of the Seiko SKX Boy GMT watches is emphasised by the generous layer of LumiBrite coating that has been applied to each digit as well as the minute, hour, seconds and GMT hands. However, this design element is not only there for aesthetics as it also provides the wearer with visibility in total darkness. While these Seiko models are constructed almost entirely of hard-wearing and durable stainless steel, there is an exception, however, and that is the case back. Crafted from hardlex crystal, the Seiko SKX features a full exhibition case back, a design function that allows the wearer to peek into the inner workings of the watch and potentially help them to determine whether all of the timepiece’s external parts are working correctly. 

Specifications

• 4R34 Calibre
• Automatic Movement with manual winding
• 41-hour Power Reserve
• 100-metre Water Resistance
• 24 Jewels
• Stainless Steel Case & Bracelet
• Skeleton (see-through) Caseback
• Screw Caseback
• Rotating Bezel
• Three-fold Clasp with secure lock
• Hardlex Crystal with lenses
• LumiBrite coating on hands & indexes
• Grenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• 21,600 Vibrations (6 beats per second)

Final Thoughts

While the SKX Boy GMT watches do not stray too far from the original Seiko 5 Sports models, fans of this legendary have been quick to herald them as one of the most exciting releases from the brand in years and it is not hard to see why. These Seiko men’s watches provide timepiece wearers with all the essential tools for timekeeping in an era that has been bombarded with new technologies. They are perfect for the world-traveller who is eager to take on multiple timezones over a matter of few days, the adventurer with a thing for stylish yet durable timepieces, or the watch enthusiast with a keen interest in luxury for less.