The Seiko speedtimer is attracting all the attention this year. The year 1964 was a big one in global watchmaking history, especially for those with an interest in the accuracy and precision of stopwatches.
Related: Tudor releases a new Pelagos in 39mm
That was the year Seiko watches brought in a heart-shaped cam into a stopwatch mechanism, enabling the first measurement of 1/100th second intervals. What a moment that was for athletes, for one, since that 1/100th of a second has since meant the difference between a gold medal around your neck, standing at the top of a medal podium after a world track and field event, for example. Or profound disappointment after years of training.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph
Seiko: New Prospex Speedtimer harkens back to original Grand Seiko Speedtimer from 1969
Also in 1964 Seiko introduced Crown Chronograph, the beginning of the company’s chronograph wristwatch manufacturing. It was Japan’s first luxury wristwatch that had a stopwatch function. That watch then led to the original Seiko Speedtimer in 1969, with Caliber 6139, the world’s first automatic chronograph (Seiko speedtimer chronograph).
Seiko further stamped their legacy in the sports timekeeping arena when they became the official timekeeper of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF, now known as World Athletics) in 1985. The World Athletics Championships, in the eyes of track and field athletes, is a signature event for elite global athletes. That event was held for the first time on U.S. soil in Eugene, Oregon, in July. There are World Athletics events year-round.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph
Seiko watch history has been at the forefront in all of this. They are taking the craftsmanship and precision of this type of world-class, competitive-level sports timekeeping, taking that heritage, and replicating it to the wrist of the modern-day luxury watch enthusiast. The release of the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer, the newest edition to the Prospex collection, is the latest chapter in that evolution.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph
Seiko: Official timekeeper of the World Athletics Championships
Track records are meant to be broken. Seiko says they are aiming to keep pace with the new Seiko Prospex Speedtimer watches. The “Prospex” name combines “professional” and “specification”. The new series works the same mechanisms that measure the performance of elite athletes into these men’s luxury watches, and features a Mechanical Chronograph and a Solar Chronograph (sustainable, renewable, a look to the future).
The feel of the push buttons, the precise performance of the mechanism, and the athletic, confident aesthetic, marked by the feeling of stability with the thick stainless steel bracelet, three-fold clasp with push button release. It’s all meant for the active man on the go.
Seiko became the Official Timekeeper of the International Association of Athletics Federations (now known as World Athletics) in 1985.
New Seiko Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph speaks to the past and looks to the future
With the Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph, there are several iterations of technologies and features inherited from the Seiko sports timing watches of the 1960s.
Start with the Seiko chronograph pushers and markers on the outer dial ring, the beveled hour markers sharp hour and minute hands with colored Lumibrite. The chronograph second hand is curved down towards the dial, so that the tip of the hand is close to the dial’s markers and tachymeter markings at the edge of the dial, so the wearer can accurately see the elapsed time. Case size is 42.5 mm.
Speedmaster Mechanical Chronograph and Solar Chronograph
The latest addition to the Speedtimer line within the Prospex collection was the blue dial (with red accents, inspired by the 1969 Speedtimer) SRQ043, released in August. The previous release feature a charcoal gray dial, inspired by the Crown Chronograph from 1964.
The new Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph comes with a movement from Seiko’s most advanced chronograph 8R series, Caliber 8R46, incorporating the original Speedtimer’s vertical clutch and column wheel technology. It has two sub-dials at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions and a date window at the six o’clock position.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph
Four new Solar Chronographs inspired by the 1969 Speedtimer are now available. Powered by Caliber V192, they offer a 24-hour indicator, a time of day seconds hand, stopwatch dial precision, a 60-minute chronograph in a sub-dial at six o’clock and a power reserve function (solar cell incorporated into the dial).
Seiko also released a limited edition Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph – just 1,000 available, paying homage to the stopwatch from 1964, numerals at each ten-second mark against a plain white dial. A see-through caseback on each watch features the words “Limited Edition” and an individual serial number. The steel bracelet can be replaced by a dressy, black leather strap.
They are offered in four different dial colors; white, navy, gold and black and will join the main Prospex collection. Case size for the solar is 39 mm. Sandblast finishing on the dial maximizes legibility – an absolute must for a sports watch!
Images: Seiko
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
