New Seiko 5 Sports x Popeye limited-edition automatic watch arrives with an orange dial and 4R34 caliber

Hot on the heels of two new 5 Sports Field series watches, Seiko has announced a limited-edition SKX series sports watch in collaboration with the Japanese fashion magazine Popeye. The new Seiko 5 Sports x Popeye HDB013 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication, and while it’s a limited edition of just 500 units in Japan, it still sticks to the SKX series playbook of offering a robust automatic watch at a genuinely affordable price.

The Seiko 5 Sports HDB013 is basically a reworked version of the SRPL89 from Seiko’s 2025 SKX collection. It keeps the same bright orange dial with gold-tone hands and a black silicone band while continuing to use Seiko's reliable 4R36 automatic movement. But instead of an orange-accented insert, the HDB013 adopts a black bezel with silver accents, which not only looks cleaner but also gives the entire watch a high-contrast look. The custom dial features an inverted, sharp double marker at 12 o’clock and swaps the stylized “automatic” text found on the SRPL89 for the distinctive, bubbly “Popeye” logo.

An orange-dial SKX with vintage inspiration

Housed in a compact 38mm stainless steel case, the limited-edition watch also pays homage to Seiko's 1980s archives. Seiko says the orange dial and aged-look LumiBrite try to recreate the feel of its archive sports watches from the 1980s while complementing Popeye magazine's "City Boy" style.

Flip the watch over, and you'll find a see-through caseback featuring a specially designed Popeye illustration, "Limited Edition" engraving, and an individually numbered series. Buyers also get a bright yellow presentation box featuring Popeye branding and anniversary artwork.

Power comes from Seiko's workhorse Caliber 4R36, offering automatic and manual winding, hacking seconds, a day-date display, and roughly 41 hours of power reserve. Other notable highlights include a 60-minute unidirectional bezel, a curved Hardlex crystal, 100 meters of water resistance, and LumiBrite on the hands, indices, and bezel pip.

Pricing & Availability

Priced at 55,000 yen (~$338), the Seiko 5 Sports x Popeye HDB013 will officially go on sale in Japan in September. It will be exclusively available through Seiko Boutique. It’s unclear if the watch will see a global release or remain a Japan-exclusive.

Seiko 5 Sports x Popeye technical specifications

• Movement: Seiko Caliber 4R36 automatic (manual winding supported)
• Jewels: 24
• Power reserve: Approximately 41 hours
• Accuracy: +45/-35 seconds per day
• Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, day-date display, hacking seconds
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Case size: 38mm diameter × 44.2mm lug-to-lug × 12.3mm thick
• Crystal: Curved Hardlex
• Bezel: Unidirectional rotating bezel
• Dial: Orange with aged-look LumiBrite, Popeye logo, gold-tone hands
• Lume: LumiBrite on the hands, indices, and bezel marker
• Strap: Black silicone
• Caseback: See-through screw-down caseback with Popeye 50th anniversary graphic, "Limited Edition" engraving, and individual serial number
• Water resistance: 100 meters (10 ATM)
• Magnetic resistance: Yes
• Special packaging: Exclusive Popeye-themed collector's presentation box
• Price: ¥55,000 (around $340)
• Availability: Launches in Japan in September 2026