Seiko 5 Sports SKX GMT 42.5mm

The Seiko 5 GMT-A pleasing watch

The Seiko SSK005K1 is a special watch for me, for a couple of reasons.

One is that this exact watch was the very first that caught my eye and filled my brain with an oddly powerful desire to own a watch, no matter how unnecessary it is. This was at the very beginning of my watch obsession. I guess we could say this was the first time I powdered my nose in the club lavatory (if you know what I mean) and I got hooked on watches, pretty much for the rest of my life I think.

The second reason behind this Seiko 5 GMTs significance to me is that a very dear friend of mine wore the blue dial version almost every day, and because any time I saw him he had his blue Seiko GMT on his wrist, it kind of became one of those things that just reminds me of this dear friend. He passed away a little while ago. Sad stuff.

But enough of my personal BS and emotional rambling that nobody asked for (although no one is reading these reviews anyway) and lets get on with the review.

So, how is the Seiko 5 SSK005 shaping up? It is pretty nice in my opinion, but as always, I would urge every potential consumer to not purchase this watch at the recommended retail price, but well below it, as it is not worth the 500 to 600 dollar asking price, especially if we take a look at what we can get at that price level from the likes of San Martin, Watchdives and so on. But it is still a very nice watch, just overpriced.

Lets start at the design. This is of course a very subjective matter, but if I may say so myself, this one is a pretty awesome looking watch. Lovely dial color, cool hands and indices, the cyclops adds just the right amount of GMT master vibe without flying too close to the sun (pun intended), the case shape is rad, the finish is nice to look at, I like the crown at 4 o clock, and the whole package comes together very nicely on the jubilee bracelet. Very very good looking watch indeed.

Now the specs. It is too large. It is wearable on my approximately 7 inch wrist, but there is literally no reason why Seiko could not make this model in 39 millimeters or even 40. But instead they chose to make it slightly above 43. Very stupid but it is what it is. The lug to lug is 46 millimeters, that kind of helps, although the 14 point whatever millimeter thickness reduces that benefit quite a bit. Comfort wise, the watch is very comfortable on wrist (Seikos usually are, it has something to do with the way the case is shaped) and it is surprisingly not heavy at all. At least it did not feel heavy for me, and I am usually a heft queen when it comes to watches.

Okay then. The quality. It is alright. Not for the recommended retail price, but for way less on the secondary market it is ok. The build quality is good. The Hardlex is annoying. The end links on the bracelet are solid, but the clasp is pressed. Annoying, but I must say, I really like the clasp anyway. It is satisfying to open and close, it is nice and smooth and comfy, and it also looks pretty good. The jubilee part of the jubilee bracelet is also nice. Again, for the recommended retail price it is laughable, but below that, it is okay. Nice even. Yes, I would say it is nice. Pleasing, if you know what I mean.

Now for the movement. Again, it is nice. I prefer the caller GMT over the true kind because I prefer to independently set the GMT hand instead of the hour hand, as I am a lot more likely to set the GMT more often, plainly for an aesthetic reason. I like it when the GMT hand points in the opposite direction of the hour hand. It is very symmetrical and pleasing. The movement is generally nice, the winding and ticking sound good, setting the time is easy and fun, it is accurate enough, has long enough power reserve, and so on. Nice.

What else? Did I miss anything? Well the lume is exceptional as always, it being Lumibrite that is a given. The packaging is cheap, you only get some cardboard with the watch. The bidirectional bezel looks nice, I personally love the two tone effect, and I do not mind it being only friction based. I would of course mind it if I paid the recommended retail price, but you know me, I did not. I paid close to 50 percent off. Of course I would brag about that. Box and papers too. Full guarantee. 3 extra straps. I am so good.

Anyway, I really like my Seiko SSK005K1. I really do. I think you would like it as well. Go look around on Vinted or Facebook Marketplace. Give a low ball offer. You will get yours too, you will see. Just be carefull, there are actual fakes out there in owerwhelmingly large numbers. This is not a hard watch to fake. Mines real tho. I got the receipts. I am soo good.

The Seiko 5 Sports SKX GMT is a brilliant entry point for any watch enthusiast.

Beautiful dial and bezel combined with the lume and number styling make the time amazingly visible.

Single date complication with the magnifying viewer combine to make the date pop.

The GMT hand along with the bi-directional bezel make tracking GMT and a second time zone intuitive and simple.

The 22mm lug bracelet is comfortable and beautiful, but common sizing makes it easy to swap if that is your liking to personalize the watch.

Overall the Seiko 5 Sports SKX GMT is outstanding and a standard for any GMT watch out there.

After watching reviews on Youtube, Reddit, Watchcrunch, and the likes..finally got this piece. As stated in most reviews, it is the best value for a GMT. Purchased this for less than SRP with the added discounts from our local AD's website. As for the wear, I would say it is the better bracelet compared to my SRPK31. The Jubilee bracelet is more comfortable and looks better in my opinion. As I have family living abroad, the GMT was definitely a need. I have calls with my parents on a daily basis and having their time shared with my local time is very convenient. The lume is also great and as the legibility. Aside from the practicality, the Seiko 5 GMT also looks great. It wears a bit big on my 6.1in wrist but wears perfectly on my husbands 8in wrist. We share this watch as most of the bigger ones in our collection. It is definitely worth its value and I can say the best GMT for the price. 

The Seiko SSK033 is a striking watch that consistently impresses with its looks and value. The white dial paired with the blue and black GMT bezel stands out, giving the watch a much pricier appearance than its actual retail price-especially since it’s often available at 20–30% off MSRP. The Hardlex-covered bezel is particularly eye-catching, shifting in tone as it catches the light, and the overall design is frequently described as gorgeous and versatile.

On the wrist, the 42.5mm case wears comfortably, even on a 6.75-inch wrist, thanks to its modest 46mm lug-to-lug distance. The bracelet, while a bit jangly, is easy to size and comfortable for daily wear. It’s not the most premium feeling, but it gets the job done and doesn’t detract from the overall experience.

There are some compromises. The friction-fit bezel rotates very easily-sometimes too easily-so you may find yourself needing to realign it more often than you’d like. The display caseback, while allowing a view of the 4R34 movement, adds thickness and causes the case to sit higher off the wrist, which can create noticeable gaps between the lugs and your wrist. For some, this affects the fit and overall silhouette. Additionally, the 4R34 movement, while reliable, isn’t particularly attractive to look at, so a slimmer, closed caseback would arguably be a better choice for both aesthetics and comfort.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the SSK033 delivers a lot for the price: classic Seiko reliability, practical GMT functionality, and a design that gets compliments. If you’re after a beautiful, affordable GMT that stands out on the wrist, the SSK033 is easy to recommend-just be aware of the bezel and caseback quirks.