Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
In 2019, the distribution of Kia Motors in the Philippines transferred from Columbian Autocar Corporation to the automobile division of the Ayala Group of Companies. The new distributor was named Kia Philippines and, after one year, they organized their first motoring media ride-and-drive of the then-new Kia Seltos to Costa Pacifica, Baler, Quezon Province in February 2020. We at Power Wheels Magazine were privileged to have been invited to join the event.
To commemorate their first anniversary, Kia Philippines commissioned the modification of the dial of a limited number of Seiko 5 Sports 7S36-03J0 (SNZG15) field watches that were given to the motoring media members who participated in the event. Initially, we got a wristwatch with a desert tan dial and strap but our colleague, Randy Peregrino of Business Mirror Motoring, asked to trade it with the all-black one that he got. We obliged Randy, of course.
Upon closer inspection, we found that the black Seiko 5 Sports 7S36-03J0 we traded was manufactured in November 2018, based on its serial number. Inside its 42 mm stainless steel case with exhibition glass case back beats Seiko’s reliable 23-jewel Caliber 7S36 movement. This self-winding, non-hacking, non-hand-winding mechanical movement operates at 21,600 beats per hour with a power reserve between 41 to 43 hours.
The Hardlex mineral crystal displays a highly-legible black dial with white gradient markings around the outer rim and large 12-hour and smaller 24-hour numerals on the dial. A slim white seconds hand with a red arrow at the tip sweeps the dial every minute while pencil-style hour and minute hands are luminous with Lumibrite, along with the outer 5-second rim markers. The day-date complication is displayed with a window at the 3 o’clock position.
What makes this Seiko 5 Sports distinct are the fine details incorporated into it. Aside from the red Kia logo at the 9 o’clock position, the number 1 was painted red to commemorate the 1st Anniversary of Kia Philippines. Now, what makes our Seiko 5 Sports even more collectible are two facts: (1) Kia Philippines commissioned a limited number of these watches, and (2) Kia Motors officially changed their oval-shaped logo to a new futuristic, connected-letter logo in 2021.
Even though it is water resistant up to depths of 100 meters (10 bar), our now-collectible 8-year-old Seiko 5 Sports) won’t be worn anywhere near water anytime soon. We would like to preserve its originality and keep its black canvass strap in pristine condition. It may just be a commemorative corporate giveaway in 2020 (before the pandemic) with a customized dial, but the now-obsolete oval Kia logo on the dial has made it even more collectible.
Timepiece collectors love that kind of provenance.
Model: Seiko 5 Sports
Reference No.: 7S36-03J0 / SNZG15
Month/Year of Manufacture: November 2018
Type: Field Watch
Movement: Self-winding/Automatic
Caliber: Seiko 7S36
No. of Jewels: 23
Diameter: 42 mm
Thickness: 11.7 mm
Lug-to-lug Length: 48 mm
Lug Width: 22 mm
Weight: 81 grams
