Reviewing the Seiko 5 Sports x Peanuts “Parachute” Limited Edition
Sunday - 28 May 2023
Seiko celebrates its 55th anniversary of the popular 5 Sports watch by releasing a two-part limited edition series that pays homage to the Peanuts comic strip and its iconic characters, Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
Seiko has unveiled a two-part limited edition series that goes by the name of Peanuts. The two models take the shape of the popular 5 Sports watch collection in a release that marks 55 years since its birth in 1968. Adorned with quirky comic strip illustrations upon their caseback and dials, these new collectables are exclusive to 8,900 pieces worldwide (“Surfboard” model) and 6,500 pieces worldwide (“Parachute” model) and each incorporates the five core values of the 5 Sports design.
The models are a celebration of two icons, the 5 Sports watch and the famous American comic strap that were both taking the world by storm during the 1950s and 1960s. The robust and reliable design of this new 5 Sports watch will appeal to Seiko fans and those who have always utilised its tough exterior and peerless mechanical performance, yet the designs will also attract the attention of devoted fans of the Peanuts comic strip and those who long to take a trip down memory lane back to their childhood. The first of the two limited edition Seiko watches is the 5 Sports x Peanuts Surfboard” model, which we covered in more detail here. The second is the Seiko 5 Sports x Peanuts “Parachute” watch, which we’re going to look at in more detail here.
What’s the appeal of the 5 Sports watch?
If you’ve owned a 5 Sports watch from Seiko before, you’ll already know what all the fuss is about. A strong stainless steel case, a screw-down crown, sufficient water resistance, an automatic movement and a day-date display are all offered in these designs, whilst the styles found in the range can vary from a pilot’s watch to a military watch to a simple three-hander and even a dive watch. Moreover, it is the history and expertise of the Japanese brand that adds to the value and desirability of one of these Seiko watches. During its release in 1968, the Seiko 5 Sports watch could be matched with nothing else on the market at the time. Thanks to the reliability of its automatic movement and its sharp, sporty look, many Seiko watch fans have never looked back.
The new Seiko 5 Sports x Peanuts “Parachute” Limited Edition watch
Written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts is an American comic strip that is considered one of the most influential and popular in the world. It will remind many of the “lovable loser” – a nervous character that lacks self-confidence – a personality that much of the population can resonate with. The cartoon touched the hearts of children and adults alike with its psychologically complex humour and unique storylines depicting Charlie Brown, his friends, and his dog Snoopy. The Peanuts comic strip was a huge success from the moment the first strip was published in 1950. At the time of Schulz’s death in the year 2000, Peanuts was running in over 2,600 newspapers around the world. The original sketches of Snoopy were inspired by Spike – a childhood dog of Schulz.
As mentioned, the new Peanuts “Parachute” watch is a limited edition model of 6,500 pieces worldwide. It measures a 36.3mm diameter and has been crafted from stainless steel with 100-meter water resistance for those who are always on the go. The model is topped with a piece of strong Hardlex glass, which does a fine job of protecting a clean white dial adorned with some unmistakable references to the iconic Peanuts comic strip and its creator, Charles M. Schulz. The white display differs from the design of the “Surfboard” model in the fact that it features double Arabic numeral digits to mark out the minutes instead of the hours around the scale. These are represented in black to match the Snoopy cartoon character seen with a splash of yellow and the words “Chop Chop Chop” next to him.
The drawings seen on the “Parachute” Limited Edition watch are taken from the same year as the launch of the 5 Sports watch and continue onto the back of the design where a closed stainless steel caseback is adorned with an image of Snoopy descending in a parachute. Further yellow accents can be seen on the top of the central second hand of the dial – a feature that is controlled by an automatic movement sitting inside the watch’s case. The Calibre 4R36 automatic movement can be manually wound if needed via the 3 o’clock screw-down crown stamped with the Seiko logo and provides a power reserve of 41 hours once fully wound.
Unlike the “Surfboard” variation., the new “Parachute” Limited Edition watch has no black-filled unidirectional rotating bezel. Instead, it features a classic brushed bezel to match the rest of the case. To complete the design, Seiko experts have chosen a very classic-looking black leather strap that secures comfortably with a stainless steel pin buckle stamped with the Seiko name.
If you’d like to own one of the 6,500 Limited Edition 5 Sports x Peanuts “Parachute” watches by Seiko, you can explore the watch in more detail on the product page here, or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453
