We Field-Tested Seiko x BAIT's New Astro Boy Tribute Watch for the Week
Model: Seiko 5 Sports reference SRPH45
Release Date: October 8, 2021
Buy: BAIT Stores, BAIT, select Seiko retailers (special packaging and gift if purchased via BAIT USA), and Seiko
Specs: Diameter: 42.5mm / thickness: 13.4mm. Movement: Automatic in-house Seiko caliber 4R36 with 41-hour power reserve. Water resistance of 100 meters (330 ft). Stainless steel case and bracelet with black hard coating.
Price: $460
Limited: Yes, 2,000 numbered pieces
Editor’s Notes: BAIT has teamed up with Japanese stalwart Seiko to deliver a limited collection of watches. The first is a badass blacked-out dive watch inspired by the cartoon character Astro Boy. Alongside the Astro Boy Seiko 5 Sports, Seiko also announced a second, vintage-inspired effort with subtle cues (a creamy off-white dial, a domed crystal, and a throwback text on the dial) that give a wink to old-school Seiko collectors.
The all-black SRPH45 features a mechanized Astro Boy on the front and back of the watch, a long-time star of BAIT’s collections. The dial is also totally covered in luminescence, taking in energy from any light source it can find so that the Astro Boy motif glows in the dark when the lights switch off. Meanwhile, the see-through case back features Astro Boy’s heart and logo, designed to make wearers feel like they’re looking not just into a watch’s movement, but into Astro Boy himself.
Having worn around this Seiko 5 Sports for the past week, it’s almost a no-brainer for fans of BAIT or the Seiko 5. It has a character (literally) unlike that of any Seiko 5 Sports currently offered. At 42mm, it’s big but comfortable, working with pretty much any fit, but not overwhelming it.
The black hard-coating on the stainless steel case and bracelet gives the watch a vibe that’s totally true to BAIT’s origins as a streetwear pioneer. But the watch still hints towards Seiko’s origins as a maker of robust tool and dive watches, even if many of its modern collabs are driven more by fashion and design than technical specs. Still, the BAIT x Seiko release is one of the most successful in this regard, with details — from the case back art to the complex dial pattern and stylized Astro Boy logo — that scream BAIT’s DNA.
By the way, the automatic Seiko movement inside is one of the most reliable around, something that’ll run for years without you having to worry about it (no battery change needed here). That's all we want from a watch nowadays anyway: an affordable, easy-wearing piece from a couple of great brands.
The BAIT x Seiko 5 Sports is a limited edition of 2,000 individually numbered watches.
Along with the SRPH45, Seiko introduced a vintage-inspired Seiko 5 Sports (SBSA145), which will drop later in November. It features the same tech specs as the blacked-out Astro Boy Seiko 5 Sports, but will be limited to just 300 pieces, Given the affordable price, both limited editions are sure to go quick.
