When Tokyo was selected to host the 1964 Summer Olympic Games, the Island Nation called upon local horological outfit, Seiko to create an official time-keeping watch for the event, ultimately resulting in the first Japanese watch with a stopwatch function: the Crown Chronograph. Fast forward some 56-years later to today, and as Tokyo prepares to play host to the 2020 Olympics, Seiko is taking the opportunity to celebrate the iconic Crown Chronograph with a limited release recreation.
Based on the original Crown Chrono from ’64, the 2020 variant carries over many of the iconic features found on the first version such as easily-legible Arabic numerals and an identical crown and button setup. The new version of the watch gets a 41.3mm case, screw case back, date window, a chain-link bracelet — all alongside a 6R35 movement with 24 jewels, a 70-hour power reserve, and a stop second-hand function. Water-resistant to 328 feet, the Seiko Crown Chronograph watch is available in three colors, each of which will be limited to 1,964 units as a nod to the year of the original watch’s release. Each sold in a special gift box, this Presage Series Limited Edition Crown Chronograph goes on sale in March of 2020.
