Seiko’s New Vintage-Inspired Affordable Dive Watch Is an Instant Classic

Prep rally.

Seiko wristwatch with blue and white checkered bezel and blue dial on a brown textured surface.

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Some of Seiko’s best collabs of the past few years have come with the assistance of Rowing Blazers, the New York-based trendy arbiter of preppy style founded in 2017, and Eric Wind, the horological guru behind Wind Vintage.

The trio has linked up thrice before, first for a trio of Seiko 5 Sports Divers in 2021, and then each of the following two years with colorful takes on the Seiko 5 Sports Field.

Now, the band has gotten back together after a three-year hiatus with a pair of ’70s-flavored Seiko 5 Sports Divers reminiscent of that first collab that feel like instant classics.

Rowing with the Wind

Two Seiko wristwatches with checkered bezels, one blue and one green, on a green car — The Rally Diver returns in new colors and an additional size.

The new Seiko 5 Sports Rally Diver carries over the 1970s-derived “rally-style” from the first Rowing Blazers/Wind Vintage collab, but in new colors and sizes.

There are two distinct versions: One in 42.5mm featuring a saturated blue dial, and the other a smaller 38mm diver with a racing green dial. Both feature bezels to match their respective dials in a striking checkerboard pattern.

Both models also have the same LumiBrite-filled applied indices and handsets, the same red-and-white striped seconds hand, the same 3:00 day-date window and the same 4:00 crown. There’s a Seiko 5 logo below 12:00 on the dial, with the Rowing Blazers logo printed above 6:00.

Seiko wristwatch with blue dial, white and blue checkered bezel, luminous markers, and green fabric strap. — The bright blue version comes with a green nylon strap in addition to its steel bracelet.

It’s the same basic design as the popular original Rally Diver collab from 2021, but that model only came with a black dial in 42.5mm.

However, there are some new features that go beyond the new colors and smaller size. There’s a new motif on the exhibition caseback featuring a full-color rendition of Rowing Blazer’s “bath club” logo, a yellow dripping faucet, along with Wind Vintage branding. Behind the logo is the same Seiko Calibre 4R36 automatic movement as before.

Silver stainless steel Seiko wristwatch with open clasp and visible mechanical movement through the back case. — The caseback motif is new and features Rowing Blazers’ “bath club” logo.

The strap options are also new. Both versions come on the Seiko 5 Sports Diver’s standard three-link steel bracelet, while also including a nylon NATO-style strap. The straps are available in the opposite color to each dial, with the blue dial paired with a green strap and the green dial getting a blue strap.

Availability and pricing

As expected, this new collab is limited, with 2,500 pieces of each style available for a total of 5,000 watches. That may sound like a lot, but trust me, it’s not. These will sell out instantly, and some will be flipped for more than the decidedly affordable retail price of $495.

Silver Seiko wristwatch with black dial and green-and-white checkered bezel on a wrist. — This will sell out. Fast.

Even today, Rally Divers from the original collab can sell for double the SRP on the secondary market, as the demand for these things is through the roof. With Rowing Blazers and Wind Vintage only becoming more notable over the past five years, I see no reason why a more colorful reboot of the coolest watch from the original collab, the Rally Diver, won’t become the most collectible watch from this trio yet.

To make sure you don’t miss this latest drop, you can sign up for early access on Rowing Blazers’ site here. Otherwise, the watch will launch on Rowing Blazers and the Seiko USA site on July 9 at 11:00 am ET.

Seiko wristwatch with blue dial, checkered bezel, and stainless steel bracelet on a brown textured surface.

Rowing Blazers x Seiko 5 Sports Rally Diver

Specs

Case Size	38mm, 42.5mm
Movement	Seiko Cal. 4R36 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

$495 at Rowing Blazers

About the Author:

Johnny Brayson is an editor at Gear Patrol mostly covering watches. He enjoys watches that are packed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em details and believes nearly every watch could stand to be a tad smaller.

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