A bright yellow Seiko that reminds you that watches are meant to be fun. They don’t all have to be technical and serious, just pure enjoyment on the wrist! This is my story with the SRPL87K.
What We Love
- The mango-yellow dial brings instant personality and fun to any outfit.
- It’s an easy grab-and-go mechanical watch you never have to think twice about.
- The 5-link bracelet upgrade elevates the whole look far more than expected.
What We Don’t
- The lume is good, but not as strong as some other Seiko models.
- 100m water resistance is fine, but 200m would’ve felt closer to classic SKX DNA.
- No bracelet option for the yellow dial out of the box — a missed opportunity given how good it looks on one.
Overall Rating: 8.6/10
- Value for money: 9/10
- Wearability: 8.5/10
- Design: 8.5/10
- Build quality: 8.5/10
There’s something about Seiko’s SKX range that leaves an impression on you. Even if you never owned the original model, the SKX collection of modern is the entry-level diver and the perfect canvas for those who love to mod their timepieces. It is the watch that turned a lot of casual wearers into full enthusiasts!
While Seiko may have closed the chapter on the original SKX line many years ago, the spirit of the collection certainly didn’t disappear. There have been many modern iterations in Seiko’s current collections that have been inspired by SKX models of the past, each carrying hints of the familiar dive watch DNA: the practicality, the simplicity, everyday toughness, and most importantly, the fun factor that make the SKX a cult classic.
A few short months ago, Seiko unveiled a host of new Seiko 5 Sports models, based on the SKX series. While the collection has SKX in the name, the collection was inspired by the “pre-SKX” collection: the 7002. Seiko unveiled the SKX collection in 1996, with the first models to be released being the SKX007, SKX009, and SKX011. These SKX models had a distinctive case design (turtle) and dial (round hour indices). The 7002 collection, however, featured a sharper, more traditional case design, with rectangular indices and dual-coloured bezels.
The four Seiko 5 Sports SKX models included a blue dial on a 3-link bracelet (SRPL83), a classic black dial on a 3-link bracelet (SRPL85), and two vibrant coloured dials on black rubber straps: a yellow dial (SRPL87) and an orange dial (SRPL89). All four timepieces were offered as budget-friendly sports watches (as is the case with most Seiko 5 Sports models) with 100m of water resistance for everyday confidence without needing to be a full-blown diver.
Why I Bought The Seiko 5 Sports SKX SRPL87K
There’s a bit of a story to this one. It wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment purchase. Let’s rewind back to when the WatchAdvice team flew to Geneva for Geneva Watch Days 2025. During our time there, we were exposed to countless watches, and I’m sure that if we all had bigger spending budgets, it would’ve turned into a very expensive trip. Personally, my taste in watches isn’t locked to a single style or brand. I appreciate everything from vintage designs and classic silhouettes to bold, colourful pieces that demand attention.
I say this because when I saw Hublot’s latest Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Yellow Magic, I instantly fell in love with it. The design itself hasn’t changed, but that mango-like yellow completely transformed how I saw the watch. Paired with black accents and a matching black strap, it was hard to take my eyes off it. While the price was out of my budget (for now), it planted the idea: maybe it was time to add a yellow dial to the collection!
I wanted something budget-friendly, a watch I could wear every day without worrying about scratches, bumps, or daily wear and tear. Fast forward a month, and the opportunity arrived. During our Seiko x WatchAdvice event at the stunning Bougainvilla house, where we unveiled the new Prospex “Kame,” there were plenty of other Seiko models on display for everyone to try on and experience.
While I was preoccupied with WatchAdvice duties, I did manage to browse through some of the models on display, though I didn’t get around to seeing them all. As the night went on and the Prospex “Kame” was officially unveiled, we were all buzzing with excitement about being the first in the world to own one (myself included!). I even told myself I wouldn’t need to buy another watch for a while. Clearly, that didn’t last long!
The yellow one had me from the start.
As the night came to an end and the guests began to leave, the staff started packing up the Seiko displays. That’s when my eyes locked onto one of the best Seiko dial colours I’ve seen in a long time. I was immediately drawn to it, the mango-yellow dial, the steel knurled bezel with a black ceramic insert, and the black rubber strap. It looked incredible on the wrist. Yellow dials aren’t for everyone, but this one stopped me in my tracks. They say watch buying is often emotionally driven, and in this case, I couldn’t agree more.
I kicked myself for not spotting the watch earlier. When I asked if it was too late to buy it, I was told payments had already closed for the night. However, Alexander Bishop (Wallace Bishop) himself mentioned that I could drop into the store the next day and they’d have the watch ready for me. In hindsight, not being able to buy it then and there was a blessing as I went home and did a deep dive on the watch that night (as we all do).
As I researched the inspiration behind these models, the 7002 series, I noticed that some of the originals came with a five-link bracelet. None of the newer Seiko 5 Sports SKX models featured this bracelet style, so the next day I reached out to Alex and ordered a custom 5-link Seiko bracelet for the watch. Honestly, it was the best decision I could’ve made. Seeing the watch in person, fitted with that bracelet, was a moment of clarity. The polished links matched the shine of the knurled bezel perfectly, and the yellow dial paired effortlessly with the steel. It instantly felt like the perfect daily wearer.
The Wearing Experience – From Desk to Weekend
From day one, the Seiko 5 Sports SRPL87K felt like the kind of watch that fits into your life without demanding any special treatment. As I mentioned earlier, this is a great timepiece for daily wear, as you don’t need to baby it, think twice about getting minor scratches from normal wear and tear, or even worry about the dreaded desk-diving masks. Even though now it’s on a steel bracelet, it’s still light enough that you forget it’s on the wrist during a busy day, yet it’s bold enough that every time you catch it under the light, it pulls you right back in. This is one of those watches you throw on without thinking, perfectly suited for these coffee runs, errands, brunch, and even a beach day.
What surprised me the most about this watch was how quickly wearing a yellow dial timepiece became second nature. This is the boldest dial colour in my collection, and I initially thought that it would be a mood-specific timepiece, something I’d only reach for when I wanted a standout piece or match the summer vibe. And while yes, we are now very well into the Australian summer, I found that this watch became my spontaneous daily pick.
The pop of yellow has this strange way of elevating even the most basic outfit. From the plain black tees to wearing summer shorts or jeans at night, the Seiko 5 Sports SRPL87K adds just the right amount of personality without trying too hard. It’s one of those watches that becomes the talking point before you even realise it. Subtle in size, loud in colour, and impossible to ignore under the right light. It’s almost like wearing a small piece of sunshine on your wrist. It’s said that looking at the colour yellow can instantly lift your mood by evoking feelings “happiness, optimism and energy”, and I think they might be right here.
The upgraded 5-link bracelet took not only the wearing comfort to the next level, but also the whole aesthetic appearance of the timepiece. While the 3-link bracelet that’s offered on the blue and black dials has its own purpose, personally, it doesn’t look nearly as good as the 5-link option. The mixture of brushed and polished finishes plays beautifully with the case, giving it a slight touch of class without losing that relaxed SKX spirit. With my other Seiko’s I tend to change straps occasionally just to change up the look; however, with this model, I never found the need to do this, because the whole look just seems…complete.
As a budget-friendly watch, this Seiko just gets it right for everyday practicality. The 100m water resistance is more than enough for daily life. I’ve worn it while washing the car, out in the rain, and through Brisbane humidity without a second thought. The lume is quite generous too, with the larger hour indices and hands providing more than enough light. And the accuracy? Well, it’s certainly not Grand Seiko standards or even Seiko’s higher-end dive models, but the thing is, it doesn’t need to be. It’s a watch designed to be used, lived with, and enjoyed, not measured against a timegrapher like it’s sitting in a sterile box. The SRPL87K shines brightly because it invites you to use it, not preserve it.
A Closer Look At The Details
The Seiko 5 Sports SRPL87K is presented in a stainless steel case which measures 42.5mm x 13.9mm with a lug-to-lug distance of just 46mm. This is by no means a large watch and is perfectly in line with dive watch standards. One of the important measurements is the lug-to-lug distance, which this Seiko delivers well. At just 46mm, it means that even on slimmer 16cm wrists like mine, the watch doesn’t overhang and fits nicely. The lugs sit flat and don’t slope downwards, but as I said, with a shorter lug-to-lug distance, this really isn’t an issue.
The case also features a mixture of horizontally satin-brushed surfaces and polished surfaces. The sides of the case and the crown have an elegant polished finish, while the top surfaces, like the lugs, have a horizontal finish. The knurled bezel and the three central links of the bracelet also feature polished finishing. This interplay between different finishing techniques is what gives the timepiece its luxury factor. Even though it’s meant to be a sports dive watch, thanks to the mixed finishing, the watch fits right at home for office wear and even semi-formal functions (if you don’t mind the standout dial!).
And this standout yellow dial is really the central theme of this timepiece. Away from direct light, it settles into almost a matte-like bright yellow. Under direct light and especially sunlight, however, it has a mango-yellow-like appearance. It’s a dial colour that comes alive with depth and vibrancy, shifting from playful to electric depending on how it catches the eye. It’s the kind of colour that commands attention from across the table, and before you know it, you find yourself staring at it longer than you should be!
The 7002-inspired elements also complement the dial aesthetics nicely. From the rectangular indices to the arrow-pointed minute hand and sword-like hour hand, there’s a familiar old-school Seiko charm here. A subtle nod to the past without feeling dated. The white Superlumi-Nova coating on the indices and hands is bold enough that is stands out against the vibrant yellow, maintaining the strong legibility whilst still keeping that tool-watch simplicity. A detail I like about these elements is the metallic borders. These borders have a polished finish, so that when the watch is rotated under light, the borders of the indices and hands also shine beautifully.
Normally, I’m not a fan of date windows that aren’t colour-matched to the dial, as they can throw the aesthetics off balance. In this case, however, it can be forgiven. With the 9 o’clock marker being a large rectangular index, the white day-date window at 3 o’clock actually brings visual balance to the dial. And as with most Seiko timepieces, the day features both the English abbreviation followed by the Japanese counterpart. A small detail, but one that adds character and charm.
The movement sitting inside is the in-house automatic Seiko 4R36 calibre, a familiar and dependable engine that keeps the Seiko 5 Sports SRPL87K running along without any fuss. This is a watch that’s pretending to be something that it’s not, like a luxury diver or a high-spec tool watch. But in this simplicity lies its charm. The movement delivers around 41 hours of power reserve, and the confidence that if it ever needs servicing, it’s not going to empty your wallet!
Final Thoughts
When I bought this Seiko 5 Sports SRPL87K, I wasn’t chasing specs, prestige, or limited edition bragging rights. I bought it because of that spark you get when you see something, and it connects with you instantly. Sometimes watches enter a collection through logic, research, and even the resale value. This one entered through emotion. And I think this is what made it special for me. It wasn’t just another purchase. It was a story that stemmed from a memory from Geneva, a WatchAdvice event night, and a stunning yellow dial.
Owning it has reminded me why Seiko is such a great entry-level mechanical timepiece. It gives you everything from that mechanical charm, daily wearability, character, and personality, all at a very affordable price (as far as luxury watches go). It’s one of those watches that’s perfect to grab-and-go, great dial colour for the summer, a conversation starter, and the watch I pick when I want to inject a little energy into the day.
Will this be the piece I rely on for adventures, beach days, airport runs, and everyday wear? Absolutely. It’s bright, it’s fun, it doesn’t take itself too seriously; however, it still carries the SKX spirit that made Seiko a gateway brand for so many collectors. Sometimes the best watch decisions aren’t the ones we plan, but the ones that simply make us smile. And the SRPL87K does exactly that. It’s not defined by specs or price, but by the joy it brings every time that yellow dial catches the eye!
Reference: Seiko 5 Sports Ref. SRPL87K
Specification:
- Dimensions: 42.5mm x 13.9mm thick, lug-to-lug: 46mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with fine brushed and polished surfaces.
- Dial: Yellow dial with white SuperLumi-Nova indices and hands. Day and date complication.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: In-house Calibre 4R36 with 41-hour power reserve.
- Strap: Black rubber strap. Contact an authorised Seiko retailer for a custom 5-link bracelet order.