The back to school in 2020 will be colorful with the new creations of Seiko 5 Sport. The 6 new watches are inspired by Street Fighter V, the latest edition of the famous Player VS Player fighting game. With a first version released in 1987, Street Fighter is now the leading e-sports fighting game, played and viewed by millions of players around the world. Established in 1968 and relaunched in 2019, Seiko 5 Sports has offered a wide variety of reliable and durable mechanical watches for over half a century to watch enthusiasts of all ages. In September 2020, Seiko 5 Sports is bringing color to combat characters for the happiness of all geeks and not only. Each of the six creations is inspired by the main characters of the game: Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Zangief and Blanka.
RYU - Unwavering Fist
The design of the watch is inspired by the classic "do-gi" judo uniform worn by Ryu and the stripe markings on the bezel reflect the hard training he has undergone to become a "real fighter". The iconic “Furinkazan” kanji features on his gloves appear in a simplified version at 9 o'clock, meaning “as fast as the wind, as gentle as the forest, as fierce as fire and as unchanging as the mountain”. These four characters are also printed on the bracelet lining, while the order for its “Hadoken” special move is discreetly printed on the caseback.
KEN - Fast and Fire Eater
Ken's suit and blonde hair is reflected in the red and yellow colors of the watch, and his costume design is reflected in the dial as well. At the end of the bracelet's lining is the logo of his company, the "Masters Foundation", revealing another side of his identity. The order for one of the game's most famous moves, "Shoryuken" is imprinted on the caseback.
CHUN-LI - Blue jade
The combination of blue and gold brings Chun-Li's Chinese dress to life. The collar design of her dress is printed on the dial at 12 o'clock, and the tips of her bracelet are found on the indexes at six and nine o'clock. The dragon motif on his belt is printed on the strap liner and the command for his special "Spinning Bird Kick" on the caseback
GUILE - Indestructible Fortress
Guile's uniform as a US Air Force major is represented by the camouflage-patterned dial and his military crest at 6 o'clock. At 9 o'clock is the "military plate" of his best friend Charlie Nash which he keeps with him to encourage him and to be stronger during the fighting. The back of the case is printed with the command for his special move, “Sonic boom”.
ZANGIEF - Iron Cyclone
The dial design reflects the power of Zangief's muscular body. The circular pattern recalls his special move “Cyclone Lariat”. The large bold Arabic numerals and indexes, as well as the calendar display with a magnifying glass, add impact to the watch. Its nylon strap is a perfect illustration of Zangief's bracelets of strength. The back of the case bears the control of its special “Screw Pile Driver” movement.
BLANKA - Call of the Jungle
The electric shock pattern imprinted on the bezel echoes one of Blanka's special movements, "Electric Thunder." The spiral dial is based on Blanka's iconic rotary assaults, and the indexes mirror her sharp, powerful teeth. The image of a small "Blanka Chan" doll is imprinted on the end of the nylon strap liner and the command for her special move, "Electric Thunder" appears on the caseback.
These watches are all equipped with Seiko's famous automatic caliber 4R36 with possible manual winding, a 41-hour power reserve and a stop-second function. They all have a diameter of 42.5mm and have a screwed transparent case back. This collection will be available in limited editions of 9,999 pieces each. The maximum recommended public price in France is 450 €. I'm hesitating between Blanka's watch (the green one) and Chun-Li (the blue one) and what is your favorite watch?
