Seiko: the Japanese watch that changed watchmaking

The Seiko collection at MTHOR Shop brings together authenticated Seiko watches, new or in perfect condition, from the Seiko 5 Sports, Prospex and Presage lines and limited editions made with streetwear brands such as HUF, Bape or Rowing Blazers. Buying a men's Seiko watch means choosing a house founded in Tokyo in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori, behind Japan's first wristwatch, the Laurel (1913), and the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch, the Astron (1969). At MTHOR Shop, a French authenticated resell store, every Seiko is checked by our experts before shipping, with worldwide home delivery against signature in 2 to 8 days, customs fees included. In the sneaker and streetwear world, Seiko holds a special place: an affordable, robust and customizable automatic watch that has become the favorite entry point for a whole generation of collectors and "mod" enthusiasts.

The history of Seiko: from Ginza to the quartz revolution

Seiko was born in Tokyo in 1881, when 21-year-old Kintaro Hattori opened a shop selling and repairing watches and clocks. In 1892 he founded the Seikosha factory, and in 1913 the company produced the Laurel, considered the first wristwatch made in Japan. The name Seiko, which evokes precision and success in Japanese, gradually established itself on the brand's dials.

The following decades laid the foundations of today's catalog. In 1963, the Seiko Sportsmatic 5 became the first Japanese automatic watch with a day-date display; it gave birth to the Seiko 5 line, whose number sums up five promises: automatic movement, day and date at 3 o'clock, water resistance, a protected crown at 4 o'clock, and a case and bracelet built to last. In 1965, Seiko launched its first dive watch, reference 6217 nicknamed the "62MAS", water resistant to 150 meters, the ancestor of the entire Prospex range. In 1969, two events marked history: the Speedtimer automatic chronograph with caliber 6139, and above all the Astron, the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch, which upended the watch industry.

In the 1970s, the cushion-case diver reference 6309 (1976) earned the nickname "Turtle" because of its rounded silhouette, a design Seiko reissues today in the Prospex King Turtle. In the 1980s, the Rotocall, a digital watch with a rotating bezel, accompanied astronauts on American space shuttle missions. More recently, Seiko relaunched the Seiko 5 Sports in September 2019 with fifteen models powered by caliber 4R36, then rolled out the Presage collection internationally in 2016, with dials inspired by Japanese craftsmanship (enamel, lacquer, Zen gardens). More than 140 years after its founding, Seiko remains a fully integrated manufacturer that designs and assembles its own movements in Japan.

Seiko 5 Sports and caliber 4R36: the affordable automatic

The flagship of our Seiko collection is the Seiko 5 Sports, an automatic watch with a dive-style case powered by caliber 4R36. This in-house movement, visible through the sapphire caseback of current models, offers three advantages buyers look for: manual winding and hacking seconds to set the time to the second, a power reserve of about 41 hours that lets you leave the watch on a table overnight without it losing time, and a day-date display at 3 o'clock inherited from the 1963 Sportsmatic 5. The Hardlex crystal, stainless steel case and unidirectional rotating bezel make it an everyday watch that handles sport as well as city outfits.

The Seiko 5 Sports is also the favorite base of the "Seiko modding" community: dials, hands, bezels and bracelets are easy to swap, which explains the popularity of the SRPD, SRPK and SSK references. SSK models, such as the SSK059K1 or the SSK025K1, add a GMT function via caliber 4R34, a rare complication at this price. On the Prospex side, the King Turtle SRPE05 takes up the 1976 cushion case with a sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, while the Speedtimer Solar SSC915 reinterprets the 1969 chronograph with a solar movement. Finally, the Presage line showcases textured dials inspired by Japanese gardens, such as the SRPC79 "Zen Garden" whose pattern recalls the raked gravel of a dry garden.

The iconic Seiko models in the collection

The most sought-after models in our Seiko collection are the following:

• Seiko 5 Sports SSK059K1: automatic GMT with a white dial, one of the most requested references of the SKX Series range.
• Seiko Prospex King Turtle SRPE05: green-dial diver with a cushion case inspired by the 1976 6309, water resistant to 200 meters.
• Seiko 5 Sports SRPK31K1 and SRPJ45K1: beige and blue versions of the Seiko 5 Sports with caliber 4R36, perfect for a first automatic purchase.
• Seiko Rotocall SMGG19P1: 2025 reissue of the 1980s digital watch, 37 mm steel case, black and red bezel, water resistant to 100 meters.
• Seiko 5 Sports x HUF SRPL33K1: limited edition of 7,000 pieces released in December 2024, with a design inspired by a late-1960s Seiko 5 Sports and colored by the Californian skate brand.
• Seiko x Bape SZEL004: automatic diver with an ABC Camo camouflage dial, limited edition launched in Japan in January 2020.
• Seiko 5 Sports x Rowing Blazers SRPM19 and SRPM21: limited editions of 2,500 pieces each, created with Rowing Blazers and Wind Vintage, delivered with an extra nylon strap.
• Seiko 5 Sports Street Fighter V Blanka SRPF23K1: limited edition of 9,999 pieces from 2020, with a lightning-bolt bezel and a green spiral dial.
• Seiko Presage Zen Garden SRPC79: textured white dial, domed sapphire crystal, caliber 4R35.
• Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar SSC915: black and red solar chronograph inspired by the 1969 Speedtimer.
• Seiko Prospex 145th Anniversary HBB001K1: limited edition of 9,999 pieces for the brand's 145th anniversary, silvery white dial and "Seiko Blue" accents.

The collection also includes Presage models with midnight-blue dials (SSA347J1, SRPJ13J1), SSB393P1 and SSB451P1 quartz chronographs, solar Prospex models (SNE593P1, SSC813P1, SSC947P1) and Seiko Classic watches with a vintage look.

Why buy a Seiko watch at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop specializes in selling authentic watches. Every watch in our Seiko collection goes through a rigorous check by our team of experts: we verify the consistency of the box and labels, the materials, finishing, stitching and references (reference and serial numbers engraved on the caseback, quality of the dial, hands and Lumibrite, movement operation), as well as the accessories and documentation (links, case, booklet and warranty card). For the most thorough checks, we rely on specialized tools such as the UV lamp or the microscope. Every order ships with a seal, a tangible guarantee that the quality check was carried out and authenticity confirmed. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide home delivery against signature in 2 to 8 days, with real-time tracking by email and WhatsApp, payment in 4 installments with no fees via Klarna or Scalapay, and a customer service based in France reachable Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. If anything goes wrong, our 14-day return policy has you covered.

FAQ — Seiko watches at MTHOR

Are the Seiko watches sold on MTHOR authentic?

Yes. At MTHOR, every Seiko watch is checked by our experts before shipping: consistency of the reference and serial number with the caseback, quality of the dial and hands, operation of the caliber, original box and documents. The finest checks are done with a UV lamp and a microscope, and the watch leaves with an MTHOR seal.

What wrist size suits a Seiko 5 Sports or a King Turtle?

A Seiko 5 Sports with an SKX-style case such as the Rowing Blazers SRPM19 measures 42.5 mm in diameter and suits most men's wrists; the SRPM21 comes in 38 mm and the SSK059 GMT in 39.4 mm for slimmer wrists, while the King Turtle SRPE05 wears larger with its 45 mm cushion case. The Rotocall SMGG19 (37 mm) and the Presage SRPC79 (41.7 mm) are mid-size alternatives. Steel bracelets are delivered with their links for a precise fit.

What comes in the box of a Seiko watch bought at MTHOR?

A Seiko watch from MTHOR is delivered in its original Seiko case with the booklet, the warranty card and the bracelet links when the watch has been resized, as well as the accessories specific to the edition (an extra nylon strap for the Rowing Blazers, for example). Everything is checked and then sealed by our team.

What is the delivery time for a Seiko watch?

We ship worldwide, with home delivery against signature in 2 to 8 days. You get real-time tracking by email and WhatsApp, wherever you are.

Do I have to pay customs fees on a Seiko watch ordered from outside France?

No, you pay no customs fees. MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes, wherever you are in the world. The price shown on the site is the final price you pay: no unpleasant surprises on delivery.

Can I return a Seiko watch if it does not suit me?

Yes. You have 14 days after receipt to return your watch, provided it is in its original condition (never worn, protective films and links intact, complete packaging, seal not removed). The refund is processed within 24 hours of receiving the return.

Going further

To go further, discover all our watches, the Casio watches and the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch, or read our authentication process.