Seiko’s new GMT watch has a Pepsi bezel and Swiss-level specs

This $500 Seiko GMT watch rivals models 10x its price

By Triston Brewer Published August 8, 2025 4:16 PM

The 5 Sports GMT ‘Pepsi’ — Seiko

Seiko has once again challenged the status quo in affordable horology with the release of the striking new 5 Sports GMT ‘Pepsi’, a vibrant option with bold aesthetics and elevated sophistication. Featuring the iconic red and blue ‘Pepsi’ bezel, this bold new chapter in accessible luxury has been reimagined for modern aficionados. Housed in a stainless steel case of 42.5mm and with Seiko’s signature Hardlex crystal, the watch is both rugged and refined, offering water resistance up to 100 meters for everyday versatility.

A traveler’s companion with mechanical pedigree

Dynamic 4R34 automatic GMT movement lies at the center of this watch, a robust caliber delivering true GMT — allowing wearers the ability to manually adjust for the local hour hand while the GMT hand tracks another separate time zone. The sunburst black dial, with its elegant contrast to the bezel, adds a dynamic level to the presentation, while lumibrite-coated hands and markers ensure legibility in all conditions. There’s versatility in this model that watch enthusiasts will be drawn to: pair it with a stainless steel bracelet or opt for the NATO strap. Whichever is your prerference, the 5 Sports GMT ‘Pepsi’ seamlessly transitions from city explorer to jetsetter adventures.

The Seiko 5 Sports GMT ‘Pepsi’ proves luxury doesn’t require Swiss prices

With the components watch lovers would want are present in this Seiko release – exceptional value and undeniable presence – the latest Seiko offering is assured of gaining cult status among collectors and travelers alike. Affordably priced and elegantly crafted, it disproves the notion that true GMT complications must come with a hefty price tag, further confirming Seiko’s reputation as the king of accessible watchmaking excellence.

Triston Brewer is a journalist, creative director, fashionisto, and jetsetting digital bon vivant. Brace yourself!

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Watches

Fashion & Style

U-Boat’s extreme dive watch costs 85% less than Rolex equivalent

Italian microbrand creates titanium leviathan rivaling world's most extreme dive watches

U Boat Profondo press image

Italian watchmaker U-Boat has entered the ultra-extreme diving watch segment with the Profondo 10,000 MT, a titanium timepiece boasting 10,000-meter water resistance that directly challenges Rolex's Deepsea Challenge while costing less than 15% of its market price.
The extreme diving category emerged from record-breaking expeditions, including Omega's prototype Seamaster Planet Ocean watches that accompanied the Five Deeps Expedition in 2019, diving to the bottom of the Mariana Trench at 10,935 meters. This narrowly surpassed James Cameron's 2012 descent using an experimental Rolex, ultimately leading to the Crown's first production titanium model, the Deepsea Challenge, with 11,000-meter water resistance.
While Rolex's Deepsea Challenge retails for $27,600 when available through authorized dealers and commands double that on the secondary market, U-Boat's Profondo 10,000 MT offers comparable deep-diving capability at a fraction of the cost.
The Italian timepiece features a massive 46mm wide by 27mm tall titanium case claimed to withstand 1,000 times Earth's atmospheric pressure. Following the same material logic as Rolex and Omega, U-Boat recognized that stainless steel would be too heavy for such extreme specifications, necessitating titanium construction for theoretical wearability.
The watch incorporates a titanium unidirectional bezel holding a 9.7mm domed sapphire crystal. While lacking the ceramic insert and luminescent pip found on the Rolex Deepsea Challenge, the dive scale is directly etched into the bezel. Despite being four millimeters narrower than the Rolex, U-Boat maintains its 10,000-meter resistance claim.
U-Boat's unique approach appears in the dial design, featuring an original three-layer sandwich construction rather than copying established dive watch aesthetics. The metal layers are laser cut and aged with oxidizing acids to resemble shipwreck artifacts, creating a distinctive patinated appearance that aligns with U-Boat's ostentatious Italian design philosophy.
Applied titanium hour markers filled with beige Super-LumiNova complement 1970s-style diving hands differentiated by size and color. A chapter ring featuring hexagonal bolt markers evokes submarine hull construction, reinforcing the watch's deep-sea narrative.
The Profondo 10,000 MT includes both an aged Italian leather strap with titanium double-pin buckle and an additional three-link titanium bracelet, providing versatility absent from the Rolex offering.
Powered by the reliable Sellita SW200 automatic movement, the watch demonstrates that extreme water resistance capabilities need not require luxury pricing or celebrity endorsements.
At $4,200, the U-Boat Profondo 10,000 MT proves that microbrand innovation can challenge established players in specialized segments, offering genuine extreme diving capability without the premium associated with Swiss luxury brands.

Fashion & Style

Casio’s samurai watch blends ancient and modern tech

The samurai sword-inspired G-Shock that redefines luxury watches

The MRG-B2000 Series MRGB2000RG3A

Casio continues its horological excellence with the debut of the MRG-B2000 Kurogane-Iro demonstrating the craftsmanship that has made the brand a favorite for generations. This limited edition collection brings traditional Japanese swordsmithing techniques and modern watchmaking together in exceptional ways. This timepiece from G-Shock’s premium MR-G collection takes inspiration from the artistry of samurai katana swords, featuring a tsuiki hammered titanium case that mimics the hand-forged texture of ancient blades. Each timepiece exemplifies meticulous finishing, ensuring each watch is unique — a testament to its artistic legacy and exclusivity.

Ancient craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology

Fashion & Style

Bremont’s legendary orange pilot watch returns in titanium

British aviation watchmaker refines classic pilot's watch with titanium construction and iconic color

Bremont Altitude MB Meteor Orange Barrel

Bremont has reintroduced its most recognizable design element with the launch of the Altitude MB Meteor Orange Barrel, marking a refined return to the brand's aviation heritage while incorporating modern materials and improved ergonomics.
Founded in 2002, Bremont built its reputation creating robust aviation watches developed in collaboration with Martin-Baker, the British manufacturer of ejector seats. The original MB series, launched with the MBII, was tested to survive actual ejection forces and featured the distinctive orange barrel that became a hallmark of the collection.
Following recent ownership changes and the appointment of Davide Cerrato as CEO, Bremont has refocused on its core strengths with the 2025 Altitude collection. The MB Meteor represents this renewed commitment, combining the brand's signature design elements with contemporary materials and refined proportions.
The watch utilizes Bremont's original Trip-Tick case construction, now crafted from Grade 2 titanium for significantly reduced weight while maintaining strength. The orange barrel receives a Cerakote ceramic coating for enhanced scratch resistance and thermal protection, featuring a softened knurled pattern that retains the signature aesthetic while improving durability.
Refined dimensions make the watch more wearable than previous MB models: 42mm diameter, 12.23mm thickness, and 49.3mm lug-to-lug measurement create a slimmer profile with curved lines optimized for comfort. The design weighs just 53.29 grams for the watch head, demonstrating the benefits of titanium construction.
The iconic twin crown system remains, with one crown at 2 o'clock for time setting and another at 4 o'clock operating the bi-directional Roto-Click inner bezel. Both crowns feature updated knurled patterns and slightly larger dimensions for improved functionality, while the bezel system has been re-engineered for smoother, more precise operation.
The dial, available in brushed galvanic silver or black, features applied Arabic numerals in stenciled style outlined and filled with Super-LumiNova. The signature lollipop seconds hand retains its striped pullcord tail referencing the ejector seat handle, maintaining the collection's aviation DNA.
Powering the watch is Bremont's calibre BB14-AH, based on the La Joux-Perret G100, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 68-hour power reserve. The movement is protected by a soft iron ring and rubberized mount system providing anti-magnetic and anti-shock protection based on Faraday Cage principles.
The titanium caseback features sapphire display revealing a gunmetal-finished rotor with Geneva stripes, while maintaining 100-meter water resistance suitable for aviation and everyday wear. Available on a brushed Grade 2 titanium bracelet with concealed clasp and quick-release system for EUR 5,950, or on black rubber, leather, or NATO straps by French manufacturer Julien Faure for EUR 5,500.
See more here.