Seiko Presents the Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph, a 1969 Refashioned Edition
In the groovy '60s, Seiko stepped onto the global stage as a titan of high-accuracy sports timing equipment manufacturing. These badass gadgets were endorsed by a host of international sports federations and utilized at major sporting events to measure elapsed time. The secret sauce behind Seiko's success? A phalanx of stopwatches boasting the firm's cutting-edge "heart-shaped cam" mechanism. This ground-breaking feature catapulted the precision of manual sports timing devices into previously unattainable realms. In 1969, Seiko dropped the bomb on the watch world with the Seiko Speedtimer, introducing the world's first automatic chronograph fitted with a column wheel and vertical clutch. These bad boys brought real improvements to the table when it came to measuring elapsed time in a wristwatch, and they're still the blueprint for top-tier chronographs.
The new Speedtimer Prospex watch pays homage to Seiko's rich tradition of professional timekeeping, sporting a design taken straight from the world's first automatic chronograph equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch. The latest recruit in the Prospex family also flaunts new goodies like a high-contrast dial and subdial colors for legibility and the 8R caliber.
With nods to precision in every design detail, this new baby pays respect to its 1969 ancestor. The sub-dials and markers on the outer dial ring are stark white, standing out sharp against the cobalt blue dial. The chronograph hands are busted out in scarlet red, making it a breeze to read elapsed time at a single glance.
The design of the chronograph is all about precision, with a gently curved second hand that extends to the tachymeter markings at the dial's edge. The minute and hour hands, along with the edge of the indexes, are coated with Lumibrite for low light visibility, and the pushers are prominent and have a wide, flat upper surface for easy operation.
This new Speedtimer carries the 8R46 caliber, complete with a vertical clutch and column wheel mechanism, just like the 1969 original. The vertical clutch eliminates any shudders or jumping of the hands, enhancing measurement accuracy, while the column wheel ensures precise control over chronograph operation. In addition, the movement sports Seiko's unique three-pointed hammer, ensuring that when the reset pusher is depressed, the hands return to zero instantly and perfectly in sync. The escapement is lightweight and tough, thanks to the use of MEMS technology, which enhances the watch's stability and precision.
The watch is strapped onto a steel bracelet that's custom-made for this series. Its thickness, weight, and low center of gravity guarantee stability and a comfy fit on the wrist. The presentation case even includes a leather strap whose stitching has been specifically designed to boost the strap's toughness.
The new Speedtimer chronograph is set to join the main Prospex collection and will be available starting September 2022 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide, with a price tag of £2,740. Drop by and check it out!
Wearables and technology converge in the new Speedtimer Prospex watch, as it showcases advanced features like a high-contrast dial, the 8R caliber, and a custom-made steel bracelet, harking back to Seiko's groundbreaking 1969 automatic chronograph.
This modern chronograph embodies precision in design, boasting a vertical clutch and column wheel mechanism, just like its legendary ancestor, ensuring measurement accuracy and smooth, precise operation.
