Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
The author waxes nostalgic about our Timepieces feature today, Saturday, September 19, 2026 because this particular vintage mechanical wristwatch means a lot to him. First and foremost, this 1982 Seiko 5 7009-3111 was given by his dear mother during his second year in college. Second, the watch was made in 1982, the year he graduated from High School. (Shout out to USTHS Batch 1982 and my dear classmates-brethren from 422 PRAVO. – Ed.)
Third, this Seiko 5 with its 36 mm stainless steel case, gold-tone fluted bezel, and matching two-tone jubilee-style bracelet, was often mistaken from a distance for a Rolex Datejust by casual observers. The author, then a college student, would usually receive compliments for wearing an expensive luxury wristwatch at a young age, which would later be retracted after the casual observer finds out that it’s a mere Seiko 5. (Well, at least, I wasn’t wearing a faux Rolex and then bragging about it. – Ed.)
This Seiko 5 resembles a Datejust because Seiko intentionally designed it that way. A number of Seiko aficionados thinks that the Japanese watchmaker went through a period where their timepieces looked like luxury Swiss brands. For example, the 1977 Seiko 5 6319-7000 that we featured 2 days ago (Seikos in September #17) resembled a Rado, especially with its gold-plated finish, hidden lugs, and gold-and-stainless bracelet.
To carry the luxury watch illusion further, this two-tone Seiko 5 is equipped with a 17-jewel Caliber 7009 automatic movement with a sweep second hand, similar to how the second hand of an authentic Rolex moves. Its gold tone dial features gold-plated stick indices and gold-plated baton-style hour and minute hands with lume, which made this Seiko 5 look more expensive than it really is. (Aha! So this is where the makers of Class AAA Rolex knock-offs got their inspiration! – Ed.)
However, Seiko wisely incorporated features that would differentiate this Seiko 5 model from a Datejust. Instead of a square date window located at the 3 o’clock position and enlarged by a cyclops glass piece on the crystal, this Seiko 5 has a rectangular day/date window and a plain glass crystal. Instead of a pull-out crown at 3 o’clock, Seiko installed a push-in crown with quick-set function at the 4 o’clock position. (Now, that’s a great way to avoid a copyright litigation! – Ed.)
While relatively young at just 44 years and not as collectible as 40-year-old Rolexes, this Japanese timepiece can be had for just $50 to $150 US dollars (around P3,000 to P9,000), depending on condition and originality. But, for the author and with 43 years of ownership, the provenance of this two-tone automatic 1982 Seiko 5 7009-3111 makes it simply irreplaceable and priceless.
Model: Seiko 5
Reference No.: 7009-3111
Month/Year of Manufacture: June 1982
Type: Dress Watch
Movement: Self-Winding/Automatic
Caliber: Seiko 7009
No. of Jewels: 17
Diameter: 36 mm
Thickness: 10.8 mm
Lug-to-lug Length: 41.6 mm
Lug Width: 18 mm
Weight: 86 grams
