A fan favorite returns to the revamped Seiko 5 Sports lineup with the revival of sorts of the entry-level king: The Seiko SNXS…well, sort of. This new line of SRPK watches (specifically in references SPRK87–blue, SRPK89–black, and SRPK91–ivory) takes a relic of Seiko's past and delivers it to the present in a faithful way that I am sure Seiko fans are going to love.

In total, there are three watches in the aforementioned reference numbers with black, blue, and ivory dial options. Each comes affixed to a steel bracelet, features day and date complication, a welcome 100m of water resistance, the classic four o'clock crown, and an overall dial layout that should be very familiar to hardcore Seiko SNX lovers.

This was something of a surprise release in the early hours this morning but it is a welcome one, especially as we are rearing up for Watches & Wonders. But of course, it is not just about the look of the watches – it is also about the proportions.

And these new SNXS-inspired dailies come in at a – wait for it – 37.4mm case diameter with 12.5mm thickness, and a compact 44.7mm lug-to-lug measurement. In a world where watches are getting bigger, these are some welcome stats.

Unlike the SNXS, which famously featured the 7S26 movement, these are powered by the 4R36 caliber, complete with 41 hours of power reserve and hacking seconds. Like many recent Seiko 5 models, you can view this movement through an exhibition caseback. This watch is not yet available in the US, so there is not currently stateside pricing, but given the €400 price tag, one can only assume we will see something similar when it does make it over here.

Talk about a Thursday surprise! Our heads are basically in Geneva at this point and so for news like this to come out of Japan so close to Watches & Wonders just elevates the excitement level. In a way, we probably could have predicted a watch like this given the release of the Seiko SKX-inspired dive line that came into the new Seiko 5 Sports collection years back.

But what I really love about this is the decision to keep the watches at a size many would consider to be too small by contemporary standards. I mean, who makes mass-produced 37mm watches at this price point anymore? Few brands, to say the least, and my hat is off to Seiko for the respect it's paying to the well-loved SNXS line.

The SNXS was oft-considered to be the "Datejust killer" of Seiko watches, the final word in entry-level watches that weren't divers. And while the list price for these SRPK models is almost four times as much as those old SNXS watches, it remains a value-play, especially with the inclusion of the 4R36 movement inside.

I also love the decision to release this in just three dial colors. I am partial to the blue and ivory for sure, but want to wait until I get to handle these in the metal before passing meaningful judgment. It's a shame these aren't US releases yet, but I have to think we will get them in-market soon enough. Until then, let me know what you think of this one, and if you have stories about your own SNXS watch, please share them in the comments.

Brand: Seiko
Model: 5 Sports SNX Series
Reference Number: SRPK87, SRPK89, SRPK91

Diameter: 37.4mm
Thickness: 12.5mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Navy blue (SRPK87), Black (SRPK89), Ivory (SRPK91
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Lumibrite
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: Bracelet

Caliber: 4R36
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 3Hz
Jewels: 24
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Hacking seconds

Price: RM 2,000
Limited Edition: No