SEIKO
In the 1960’s, Seiko announced itself on the international sports timing stage with a whole new generation of high-precision equipment that was enthusiastically endorsed by many international sports federations and used to capture elapsed time at many of the world’s leading sports events. Central to this success was a range of stopwatches that incorporated Seiko's innovative "heart-shaped cam" mechanism, a feature which delivered a level of precision once thought unachievable by manual sports timing devices. Then, in 1969, Seiko introduced the Seiko Speedtimer with the innovative Caliber 6139. It was the world's first automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch, two devices that delivered real improvements in the measurement of elapsed time in a wristwatch and are still a prerequisite in high functionality chronographs.
Today, a new series of six watches inspired by the Speedtimer and Seiko’s rich and continuing tradition of sports timing join the Prospex collection. A limited edition watch with a new automatic chronograph movement pays faithful tribute to the design of the 1964 stopwatch, while a second version with the same caliber and a series of four solar chronographs complete the range.
The new Speedtimer limited edition combines Seiko’s heritage in sports timing and its leadership in chronograph technology. The limited edition chronograph’s dial pays homage to the 1/5th second stopwatch from 1964 and every detail of its design inherits the precision and legibility that were crucial to the high performance of the original. The numerals at each ten-second mark and the markings stand out prominently against the plain white dial and guarantee the same high level of legibility.
The charcoal-gray dialed Speedtimer is inspired from Seiko’s and Japan’s first chronograph wristwatch, the Crown Chronograph from 1964, and incorporates a new movement from Seiko’s most advanced chronograph 8R series, Caliber 8R46. The dial design is a subtle nod to the 1964 Crown Chronograph. Its beveled hour markers, sharp hour and minute hands with colored Lumibrite, its chronograph pushers and markers on the outer dial ring echo the design of the original.
Four new solar chronographs inspired by the 1969 Speedtimer complete the new series. Powered by Caliber V192, they offer a 24-hour indicator, a time of day seconds hand, a 60-minute chronograph in a sub-dial at six o’clock and a power reserve function. They are offered in four different dial colors; white, navy, gold and black and will join the main Prospex collection. The case shape is faithful to the original but its 39mm diameter, the combination of hairline and smooth polishing on the bracelet and the curved sapphire glass bring it right up to date.
