This Limited-Edition Seiko Takes a Classic Starter Watch Back to Its Roots

Seiko teamed up with American hotrod parts manufacturer Mooneyes.

the dial and bezel of yellow Seiko 5 Sports watch

Published March 4, 2025

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Updated March 4, 2025

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Although it may not appear so to the casual observer, the legendary American hot rod brand Mooneyes is an excellent fit for the Seiko 5 Sports line.

When Seiko first introduced the 5 Sports line in 1968, it was focused on auto racing and water sports. Several years later, the Japanese watchmaker’s most famous automotive watch, the Speedtimer, was launched under the 5 Sports line.

a yellow dial watch on a man's wrist — The Seiko 5 Sports Mooneys uses dial and bezel designs from 1969.

When Seiko revived 5 Sports in 2019, it focused on dive and field watches. It wasn’t until 2023 that elements from the line’s auto racing heritage started to reappear.

Now, Mooneyes is lending some of its clout in the hot rod community to help Seiko reinvigorate the 5 Sports racing collection.

A blast from the past

Mooneyes was founded in California in the 1950s. It started out as a garage and custom parts manufacturer that built hot rods. The distinct yellow eyes logo became iconic in the custom car community.

a yellow dial watch with a black and yellow nylon band — The Seiko 5 Sports Mooneyes comes with an additional branded NATO strap.

It is no secret that there is a love for mid-century American culture in Japan. Along with denim and jazz, this includes a strong hot rod scene where Mooneyes is a well-respected name.

When founder Dean Moon passed away in 1987, control of the company passed to Shige Suganuma, Moon’s friend and head of Japanese distribution. He fostered the brand’s growth in Japan, where it has transcended from car culture to streetwear.

a yellow dial sports watch with a steel bracelet — As with most of the Seiko 5 Sports line, it runs on the in-house 4R36 automatic movement.

With a strong crossover audience, Mooneyes is a brilliant partner for boosting the 5 Sports auto racing collection.

Off to the races

In 2023, Seiko resurrected auto racing-inspired design elements for the 5 Sports line dating back to 1969. Speedometer bezels and second hands first reappeared in references like SRPK09 and SRPK13.

a print ad for a seiko 5 sports watch from 1968 — A Seiko 5 Sports print ad from 1969.

A year later, Seiko released a spot-on recreation of the first Seiko 5 Sports model, which contained dive watch and auto racing inspiration. Now, Seiko is pushing the auto racing 5 Sports revival even harder with the Mooneyes collaboration.

a yellow dial watch with a black and yellow bezel — The Seiko 5 Sports Mooneyes is a limited edition of 1,500 units.

The bezel is the same design that appears on the SRPK09 and originally dates back to 1969, with a few appearances in the 1990s. Rather than painted aluminum like it has been in the past, the flashy black and yellow bezel is made from acrylic, giving it depth and shine.

The polished beveled hour and minutes hand, speedometer second hand and applied baton hour markers all match the original and current 5 Sports racing references.

the yellow exhibition case back of a Seiko watch — The exhibition case back matches the dial.

Where this collab stands out is the racing yellow dial shadow textured with the Mooneyes logo, with a single blacked-in logo above six o’clock. The exhibition screw-in case back is a matching yellow with a single large Mooneyes logo.

a yellow dial steel sports watch with a black and white nato strap next to it — The Seiko 5 Sports Mooneyes highlights the line’s racing heritage.

If Seiko wants to draw attention to the 5 Sports auto racing models, this watch is the one for the job. It is a strong attention grabber, and anyone who digs into the details will learn about the line’s almost forgotten automotive history.

Availability and pricing

The Seiko 5 Sports SRPL39 will be available from Seiko and authorized dealers in late March for $450. It has a 42-millimeter case and runs on Seiko’s in-house 4R36 automatic movement.

This is a limited edition collaboration of 1,500 units. Considering the Seiko 5 Sports collaborations with Rowing Blazers, a brand with similar clout in the streetwear community, sold out quickly before doubling in price on the resale market, this watch could be a hit.

If you’re a fan of Mooneyes, into hot rod culture or a Seiko collector, I recomend acting fast on this one.