This timepiece is a magnificent artifact from April 1968, as confirmed by the serial number 842628. This is a historic piece from the very first year the Seiko 5 Sports line was born. As an enthusiast who loves to sell customers on points they might not even know they want, you should highlight that this reference is famously nicknamed the Kamen Rider. It earned this legendary status after being identified as the watch worn by the protagonist Takeshi Hongo in the iconic 1970s Japanese Tokusatsu superhero series. While the black dial is more common, this silver sunburst variant is significantly rarer and was exclusive to the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM).
The architecture is quintessentially rugged, utilizing a 38mm stainless steel case with a unique, numberless sandblasted bezel that gives it a minimalist, tool-watch aesthetic. It houses the Caliber 5126, a technical soul from the Daini factory that features a Swiss-style construction and a unique quickset date operated by pushing the crown. The dial features the rare Water 70 Proof text a terminology Seiko used briefly before switching to Resist making this a professional-grade instrument from the golden era of Seiko’s sports divers.
