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Seiko’s Classic Entry-Level Sports Watch Is Almost Unrecognizable After a Mid-Century Glam Up

The 1970s-inspired SNXS goes back another decade with this one-off update by way of an elite menswear brand.

Silver Seiko automatic wristwatch with cream and black dial and day-date display showing Monday the 6th.Seiko
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By Jack Seemer

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It’s slightly ironic that a brand famous for keeping time would be so eager to reverse it.

Last year’s additions to the Seiko 5 Sports lineup revived the beloved SNXS series, albeit with 1970s-inspired details that included an orange seconds hand and retro-tinted lume.

Now the watchmaker has decided to take the design back another decade or two.

Silver stainless steel Seiko wristwatch with beige and black dial, day-date display, and automatic movement.
The SBSA317, a collaboration between Seiko and J. Press, embeds the modern SNXS with a mid-century tuxedo dial.
Seiko

The Japan-exclusive SBSA317, a collaboration between Seiko and preppy stalwart J. Press, sees the entry-level watch undergo a mid-century glam up.

That means the timepiece gets a tuxedo-like dial that wouldn’t look out of place on Madison Avenue — or in front of the iron gates at Yale University — in the ’50s and ’60s.

Person wearing a silver wristwatch with a round face, black blazer with gold buttons, and gray sweatshirt sitting on a red leather chair.
J. Press dates back to 1902. It’s considered the founding father of Ivy-League style.
Seiko
Silver metal wristwatch with a white and black dial worn on a wrist over a gray and black jacket.
Though not an overt reference, the tuxedo dial does call to mind one J. Press’s most iconic garments: the blue blazer.
Seiko

The SBSA317 features a bold engraving of the J. Press logo on the caseback, along with the words “Limited Edition.” The run is capped at just 500 pieces, and every watch comes individually numbered.

Like the other models in the SNXS series, this one measures 37.4mm. Though that’s tidy by today’s standards, the SBSA317 is still larger than a majority of the watches that came out in the middle of the 20th century.

Silver stainless steel Seiko watch back with J.Press limited edition logo and red accent ring.
The SBSA317 is limited to just 500 pieces, each one individually numbered.
Seiko

The movement is similarly modern. Under the hood ticks away the 4R36, one of Seiko’s bulletproof automatic calibers, which brings manual winding, hacking seconds and a power reserve of 41 hours.

Silver Seiko wristwatch with beige and black dial and metal bracelet, extra black leather strap, in blue Seiko and J.Press branded box.
The watch also comes with a black leather strap.
Seiko

Availability and pricing

The Seiko x J. Press SBSA317 is available overseas for 61,600 Japanese yen (around $392).

At the time of writing, the brand has no plans to bring it to the US. That said, fans of the SNXS series still have plenty of options to pull from.

Seiko recently announced a tiny 32mm variant on the way in December.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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