After two hugely successful collaborations in 2021 and 2022, Seiko and Rowing Blazers are teaming up once more.
Making a niche for itself as the king of cool partnerships, this represents Rowing Blazer’s fifth watch venture – following extremely limited and highly sought-after mash-ups with Zodiac and Tudor, as well as the two previous editions with Seiko.
The fashion brand founded in 2017 by Jack Carlson specialises in clothing and accessories inspired by the bright colours of traditional rowing and collegiate style.
The Seiko x Rowing Blazers watches, as a whole, are evidence of the timeless allure of traditional design as well as the strength of a cooperation between two companies that share a passion for excellence and workmanship.
This latest collaboration follows on from the Seiko 5 Sports x Rowing Blazers “Colour of Time” collection launched in 2022, which was limited to 1,500 units of each model.
The original quartet featured four distinctive and bright colour schemes and was designed with vintage watch expert Eric Wind who reinterpreted Mr Carlson’s personal 1970 Seiko 6106-7107 Sport Diver for the contemporary Seiko 5 Sports wearer.
As with the “Colour of Time”, the new watches are based on the 1970 Seiko Diver. Mr Carlson and Mr Wind have again teamed up to create four new summer shades with dials in pink, yellow, purple, and white. The hour markers match the hues of the brand’s distinctive “croquet stripe”.
The watches are 40mm, but according to Mr Carlson they “wear smaller”. Each reference includes a steel bracelet and an extra nylon strap in contrasting colours: navy with white stripes for the pink dial, red-yellow-green for the yellow dial, dark green and yellow for the purple dial, and pale pink for the white dial.
Rowing Blazers’ monogram can be seen on the crown, while the “Tempus Fugit” (Time Flies) skeleton symbol can be seen on the caseback. Adding an extra pop of colour, the second hand features the red-and-white candy stripe of Rowing Blazers.
The days of the week may be adjusted to display in either English or Japanese – a touch that, as David Edwards, managing director of Seiko UK Ltd told WatchPro last year, is greatly appreciated by UK buyers. Every watch and spare strap is packaged in a unique presentation box.
According to Mr Carlson, ” The new colours have a nostalgic sense to them while also being extremely current.”
Mr Wind adds: “Our third capsule is designed for summer. Although we took inspiration from classic Seiko watches, we also added our own touch to the dial colour.”
The watches are powered by the Calibre 4R36 with 41 hours of power reserve.
The latest Rowing Blazers x Seiko 5 Sports collection watches go on sale on Thursday May 11, 2023, at 4pm BST. Limited to 888 pieces, only those quick off the mark are likely to be successful in buying one.
They are currently being worn by the brands’ ambassadors (who Mr Carlson refers to as “friends and family”), including the brilliant comedian and actor Ronny Chieng.
Speaking of the relationship with Mr Chieng, Mr Carlson says: “Ronny has been a friend of the brand for a long time. We met a while ago at the Odeon in New York. He’s just a genuine, and really hilarious, guy.
“I know he’s also a big watch guy and works with my good friend and college classmate Eric Wind on vintage watches. So the whole thing just kind of made sense and came together. My buddy Jared Kocka shot Ronny at his studio and on his roof in Brooklyn [for the campaign].”
The Rowing Blazers x Seiko 5 Sports watches will be available at a few select stores, including the Rowing Blazers flagship store in New York City. The retail price for each watch will be £500/$495.
