Seiko has now released several watch collaborations with clothing brand Rowing Blazers on the Seiko 5 Sports platform, designed together with vintage watch expert and seller Eric Wind of Wind Vintage. This yellow SRPJ69 is part of the 4-part collection released in 2023.
For those not familiar, Rowing Blazers is an American clothing brand founded by former U.S. national team coxswain Jack Carlson. The brand has been described as "reinventing preppy," with clothing inspired by rowing and playing on traditional Ivy League styles.
If you'd like to see reviews of other LE watches from the Seiko 5 Sports Series, consider checking out the Sonar, the Brian May Red Special, the Beatmaker, and the Street Fighter V.
Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69 First Impressions
Compared to photos that I had seen, the watch "pops" a lot more in person. The yellow color is very saturated and stands out against the black chapter ring. The polished and matte hour markers also reflect a lot of light.
Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69 Details
The case shape is similar to the standard Seiko 5 Sports case, but features a polished, fixed bezel. This gives it a much more casual look than the dive-style bezels on other models.
Beyond that, the watch is packed with aesthetic upgrades. Beyond the prominent Rowing Blazers logo on the dial, you'll find a candy-striped second hand and flag-style hour markers (multi-colored on the white dial variant).
A black chapter ring with 10-minute increments makes the yellow dial stand out even more.
The white-on-black date sits in a vintage-style multi-angle applied-metal surround, and the day of the week can be displayed in English or Japanese.
Wearing the Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69
This version starts with the mid-size case on the current Seiko 5 platform. At 40mm, it sits in between the full-size 42mm diver-style case and the 38mm small models with a dive ezel (like these two Pepsi watches). The lugs are compact, and at 46mm tall, the watch will fit nicely on most wrists.
It is 13.4mm thick, but that includes the domed crystal. Between that and the sloped bezel and case, many people will not object to the thickness.
It features effective use of Seiko's Lumibrite, including a marker on the chapter ring, making it easy to orient and read the time in the dark.
Original Bracelet, Strap, and Replacement Straps for Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69
This Rowing Blazers edition includes an oyster-style stainless steel bracelet. It is brushed, with folded end links. The two-button clasp has a safety latch, but no dive extension.
It also comes with a red, yellow, and green nylon pass-through strap, which adds a fun look to the watch.
My favorite strap for it has been a yellow Deployant Rubber.
Here is a list of some more straps that would look great with this watch. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap.
-Hook and Loop Elastic
-Deployant Sailcloth
-Deployant Rubber
-Ribbed Rubber Pass-Through
-Ridge Rubber
-Extra Long Ridge Rubber
-Tropical Rubber
-Premium Sailcloth
-Rubber and Sailcloth Hybrid Straps
-Vented Rubber
-Slim Ridge Rubber
-Waffle Rubber
-Elastic
Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69 Movement
The Rowing Blazers SRPJ69 uses Seiko's 4R36 movement, as do other recent 5 Sports models. It features automatic winding, hand-winding, and hacking (stop seconds) functions.
The transparent caseback displays the movement behind a Derry Bones skeleton graphic, and the sequence number out of 888 units is engraved on the outer ring.
Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69 Conclusion
I wasn't very familiar with the Rowing Blazers brand, but I've been enjoying this one more than I expected. The yellow color has a real pop, and the small details, like the striped second hand and the distinctive hour markers, make it really enjoyable to look at. It's fun and a bit special without being ostentatious or taking things too seriously.
Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69 Specifications
Name: Rowing Blazers x Seiko 5 Sports Watch (Limited Edition 2023)
Reference Number: SRPJ69
MSRP: $495
Diameter: 40mm
Height: 46mm
Thickness: 13.4mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Weight: 95g
Movement: 4R36
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Water Resistance: 100m
Crystal: Hardlex
Crown: Push-pull
Bezel: Unidirectional, 120 clicks
Strap: Stainless Steel / nylon pass-through
Replacement straps for the Seiko 5 Sports Rowing Blazers SRPJ69
Deployant Sailcloth
Deployant FKM Rubber
Men Wear Pink
