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Seiko and Supercars Australia hit the road again with a brand-new limited edition for 2025! But can it keep the pace, or will it fall behind? Let’s find out!

I think it’s fair to say that Seiko has been on quite a roll this year. It’s been a turbulent time for the watch industry, given how both the Swiss and German markets are faring under economic circumstances. But the horological ‘Beast from the East’ just keeps getting better and better.

You might think this comes from behind a pair of rose-coloured glasses; After all, we at Watch Advice are passionate advocates for the Japanese powerhouse. But if you don’t want to hear it from us, try Seiko themselves. According to the brand’s 2025 Q2 report, their 2024 Financial Year (April 2024 – March 2025) saw their net global watch sales swell by nearly 12%. An impressive feat, especially considering that the Swiss Federation of the Watch Industry (FHS) reported a near 3% decline in Swiss watch exports in 2024.

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But of course, these triumphs aren’t just because people suddenly decided to buy Seikos again. A large amount of credit should go to Seiko’s innate understanding of their target market and their omnipresence in the industry, with Australia — and Watch Advice — playing a major part. From lunchtime launches in negroni bars to major events right here in Brisbane, we’ve been able to witness first-hand just how far Seiko’s influence extends in Australia.

This influence also reaches into our local racing industry, where Seiko serves as a primary sponsor of Supercars Australia. Since 2014, they’ve transformed the sponsorship into an enduring alliance with the country’s most heart-pumping motorsport event. Naturally, a partnership like this brings exclusive collaborations, and 2025 is no different. Earlier this year, Seiko unveiled their latest Supercars Limited Edition for 2025. Thanks to my renewed interest in motorsports, I’ve decided to take a look at myself!

First Impressions

I’m not sure about you all, but while I’ve gained a new interest in motorsports, I’m starting to feel some Formula One fatigue. Whether it’s the internal red tape surrounding Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, or the second-hand suffering of watching Lewis Hamilton flounder in Ferrari, the world’s biggest motorsport event just isn’t doing it for me anymore.

I’ve begun to widen my interests beyond F1. This has included a growing fascination with the World Rally Championship, which even Formula One savant Max Verstappen has deemed too risky. But what really piqued my interest this year was, of course, V8 Supercars.

Where Formula One focuses on innovative technology and the pursuit of high performance (within the FIA’s guidelines), Supercars Australia emphasises one thing: raw, unadulterated power. It permeates every aspect of the sport, from the growl of the engines to the more aggressive driving styles, and it makes for far more entertaining racing.

With this newfound interest, my watch nerd monkey brain immediately asked: Who’s the official timekeeper? Surely there had to be one; And when I found out it was Seiko, I wasn’t surprised. Seiko has a remarkable hold over the relatively young Aussie watch industry.

It makes sense that, given their reach, they’d want to associate with a marquee event on the Australian calendar. So when I was given the opportunity to check out their latest Supercars collaboration, I was intrigued and agreed. Unsure what to expect, but well aware of Seiko’s reputation in the industry, I dove in with a curious mind.

The Design

When it comes to limited-edition watches, one of my personal pet peeves is how forced the collaboration can feel. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the new Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition. The aesthetic gives it a clear motorsport flavour, but at a surface-level glance, it isn’t shouting its inspirations from the rooftops. Unlike its predecessor, 2024’s SRPL01K, it feels more like a contemporary watch than a play for extra Aussie clout.

Even without deep knowledge of the Seiko catalogue, you can tell this is a special take on the Seiko 5 line. Starting with the dial, you’ll find a distinctive trio of finishes. At the centre sits the most unusual of the three: a granulated black texture designed to evoke racetrack asphalt. A thin red ring circles this section before giving way to another expanse of black on the dial.

The textured centre gives way to circular micro-grooves, reminiscent of either vinyl discs or, more appropriately, racing car tyres. At the edge of the dial is a plain black rehaut, with dark grey indexes painted over it for the minute track. I’m not personally a fan of how dark they are, but with so many contrasting elements on the dial, it was likely necessary for the sake of balance.

The dial setup of the watch is complemented by several other changes to the annual limited edition. Applied rectangular indexes help guide the eye outward from the dial. Supporting them is another set of small markers positioned just beyond the rehaut. This excludes the twelve, six, and three positions, as each of those areas is already occupied.

Twelve and six o’clock are replaced with applied Arabic numerals, while three o’clock makes way for a white date window. I love the font Seiko has chosen here; it leans into the bold, adrenaline-pumping nature of V8 Supercars and, to me, feels somewhat reminiscent of the numerals found on some TAG Heuer Formula One pieces.

All indexes and numerals are filled with Seiko’s own LumiBrite, giving them a strong, if somewhat short-lived, glow in low-light conditions. The baton-style hands follow suit with matching LumiBrite, while the seconds hand is finished in red, adding a subtle contrast against the largely black-and-white backdrop.

Of course, the Seiko logo, the Seiko 5 badge, and the Automatic designation are all present. The first two are applied in metal, while the latter is printed in white. If you look closely, you’ll also spot the movement and serial markings tucked into the vinyl-style finishing at six o’clock. Seiko is famous — some would say infamous — for packing its dials with TMI, so it’s refreshing to see a more restrained approach continuing in the Seiko 5 line.

Beyond the dial is a black PVD bezel with a red central pip and contrasting white numerals. It also features a set of markings inspired directly by the starting grid lines seen in most motorsports. Seiko previously used a chequered-flag pattern on the 2024 limited edition, which was a nice touch, but this combination is far easier on the eyes. The bezel is knurled for extra grip, though it’s hardly necessary; I’ll get to that in a moment.

The case of the new Seiko Supercars 2025 edition follows the same silhouette as other Seiko 5 models. It features the familiar radial brushing on top, with rounded and polished case flanks. The case is fairly asymmetrical, thanks to the Seiko 5’s signature four o’clock crown position and adjoining crown guards. This is also where you get the first direct reference to Supercars Australia, as the crown is filled with the organisation’s logo in red.

The second Supercars Australia logo appears when you turn the watch over. On top of the screw-in transparent Hardlex caseback — matching the Hardlex crystal at the front — is the same logo in red. I’m not usually a fan of brands doing this, as it can intrude on the view of the movement, but it’s far less obtrusive than placing the logo front and centre. This is especially true with the ever-ubiquitous 4R-series movements. As usual, the typical flavour text, including the individually numbered reference of 2,025, is engraved here.

While I love that this watch celebrates such a distinct element of Australiana, this is where one of my major reservations lies. Sure, the watch is a limited edition, but I believe there’s a maximum number of references you can include without diluting its uniqueness. And, in my view, that number is well below 2,000, let alone 2,025. This is something Seiko has often found themselves doing. Take the SBEJ023 Shohei Ohtani, for example: priced at JP¥330,000 (about AU$3,200), the brand made 1,700 pieces exclusively for the JDM market.

Before you say anything, I don’t doubt the Japanese are proud of their hometown hero in the LA Dodgers. Yet producing only 1,700 examples of a AU$3,000+ watch raises questions about what Seiko could achieve if they reduced limited runs even further. Perhaps they could focus more on other aspects of manufacturing, such as quality control.

For the most part, it hasn’t hurt them, given their growth compared with the Swiss market, but it’s worth noting; Quality control has long been a point of contention for many Seikophiles. In any case, 2,025 pieces at the AU$695 price point make the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 accessible to a wide range Aussie watch lovers and motor enthusiasts alike.

Finally, completing the watch is a black-and-red nylon strap with plenty of holes for all wrist sizes. In a nice finishing touch, it’s also presented in a striking box featuring the outline of the famous Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst. It’s just one more detail that will tempt gearheads to try and get their hands on one.

How It Wears

The Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition measures 42.5mm wide, 46mm lug to lug, and 13.4mm thick. On paper, it keeps the same silhouette and 100-metre water resistance as previous Seiko 5 models. Sure, it’s not the sort of haute horlogerie innovation you usually hear from me, but it makes plenty of sense at this price point. Changing anything about the case profile would have pushed production costs up considerably. That said, maybe that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing.

Encased in stainless steel, the timepiece wears almost identically to most Seiko 5s, including the Kentaro Yoshida limited edition we reviewed earlier this year. If you’re not familiar, here’s a quick rundown: despite the larger on-paper dimensions, the Supercars 2025 edition didn’t feel too big or bulky on the wrist. That’s already a win for Seiko; I usually don’t venture beyond 41mm watches, with only a few exceptions.

The profile does look big, but this is largely due to the case profile. As I mentioned earlier, the case is far more rounded than you’d expect, organically moulding to the wrist rather than sticking up too obviously. The way the upper case blends into the case flanks deserves much of the credit here, as the drop-off doesn’t feel nearly as pronounced as it does on other, smaller — and in some cases far more expensive — timepieces.

However, it certainly gave me a few challenges during my time with the watch. One of these actually came up most during the shoot. Any time I put my hands in my pockets and then moved into another pose, the bezel had shifted by the slightest increment.

When Matt and I realised, it was already too late; the shoot ended up taking twice as long just to make sure the bezel was aligned in as many shots as possible. Of course, a photo shoot is hardly reflective of real life; But imagine using the bezel to time something specific, only for anything stronger than a stiff breeze to throw it off and leave you confused the next time you look down.

Speaking of stiff, the other source of my frustration with the Seiko 5 Supercars edition was the strap. I appreciate that Seiko provides plenty of holes for wrists of all sizes, but straight out of the box it was clear the break-in period would be far longer than the time I had with it.

That said, my short stint with the watch doesn’t reflect the long term. While the strap will definitely take a while to soften, it’s still serviceable for the price. And if it really bothers you, fear not: The Seiko 5’s 22mm lug width, combined with drilled lugs for easy spring-bar removal, turns it into a genuine strap monster. It’s a small convenience — often overlooked at this price point — that reinforces why the Seiko 5 platform is so well regarded despite the caveats.

The Movement

The core mechanics of the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition come from the tried-and-true automatic Calibre 4R36. Beating at an easy-going 3Hz (21,600VpH) with a 41-hour power reserve, this movement has become one of Seiko’s most reliable and ubiquitous workhorses. Although it’s been around since 2011, Seiko has continued to rely on it for many of its entry-level collections, including this one and the Prospex Kame limited edition we also reviewed.

In that respect, there isn’t much to say about the 4R36 that hasn’t already been said. With an accuracy of around –20/+40 seconds per day (although Matt did track his Kame over several days, it was much more accurate than the stated), the movement includes both day and date complications. A fun perk of the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition, along with other Seikos, is that the day display can be switched between English and Japanese Kanji. In a bid to dust off my high school Japanese, I left it on Kanji for the duration of my time with the watch. It didn’t go well, and I found myself frequently double-checking that I had the days right.

One more interesting tidbit about the Calibre 4R36 is its use of the Magic Lever system. Introduced in 1959, the Magic Lever remains a core part of the automatic winding mechanism in many Seiko movements. By enabling bidirectional winding, it allowed movements to achieve longer power reserves than some Swiss counterparts of the time. It also required fewer components, which made it cheaper to produce. The fact that it’s used in such an accessible timepiece is yet another example of how the Japanese watch industry has long managed to compete toe-to-toe with the Europeans.

As mentioned earlier, the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition comes with a display caseback, giving you a view of the Calibre 4R36 at work. To be honest, it’s not much to write home about — there’s very little in the way of finishing, and it’s hardly the most intricate movement you’ll see. But again, it’s an entry-level timepiece, so I can’t really dock it any points for that. And if you’re a beginner watch enthusiast, it’s an ideal starting point for understanding how a mechanical watch actually works.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to motorsport watch collaborations, there’s a fine line brands have to tread. More often than not, they veer in the opposite direction, shoehorning their watches into the blood-pumping machismo of the racing world. While there have certainly been a few stinkers released within the niche, I think Seiko’s latest take on their partnership with Supercars Australia lands firmly in the realm of the tasteful.

High-quality motorsport-inspired designs do exist. The TAG Heuer Formula One is a solid example, as are the Chopard Mille Miglia and Richard Mille’s stunning RM UP-01. However, they all share one common trait: luxurious, jaw-dropping price tags.

If you’re a typical Aussie looking for a fun weekend in Bathurst, you’re not going to be picking up those watches anytime soon. That’s where the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition comes in. While the mechanics behind the scenes haven’t changed much, the design of the collaboration has improved dramatically since its inception. The 2021 SRPH53K, for example, was basically just a regular Seiko 5 with a black case and red accents, which makes the difference between that model and the current edition night and day.

As for competition, it really depends on how much the design matters to you. At AU$695, there aren’t many watches that would rival the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition outside the rest of the Seiko 5 collection. Only one comes to mind: the Citizen Tsuyosa, priced around AU$650. It leans more toward versatility, sure, but it’s far less distinctive than the Seiko. Granted, the chances of seeing someone else with the same watch are high given the 2,025-piece production run, but it’s still less common than a model from the standard lineup.

In the end, the Seiko 5 Supercars 2025 edition stands out as more than just another limited edition built to chase market share. The design is clearly well thought out, executed to a degree that lets it blend seamlessly beyond its branding. It’s not just a piece of branded memorabilia, but a unique design tailored to the interests of Australian motorsport fans. Even if you’re not one of them, it wouldn’t be entirely out of place to add this to your starting grid.

Reference: SRPL54K

Specifications

• Dimensions: 42.5mm case diameter x 46mm lug-to-lug x 13.4mm thick
• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Black textured dial with red accents
• Movement: Automatic Cal. 4R36 with bilingual day (English, Japanese) & date complications
• Beat Rate: 3Hz (21,600VpH)
• Power Reserve: 41h
• Water Resistance: 100m (10bar)
• Strap: Black/red textured nylon strap with steel buckle

Australian RRP: AU$695

Availability: Limited Edition of 2025 pieces. Available now through Seiko boutiques and authorised retailers, or online at SeikoWatches.com.au

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