The 1960s was quite a time to be alive, much less a watch enthusiast. While the Space Race was well underway as the U.S. and Soviets competed to be the first in to breach the exosphere, the watch industry saw brands like Seiko and Zenith compete to reveal the first-ever automatic chronograph — the result of which is still up for debate. Nevertheless, Seiko’s debuted the Caliber 6139 Seiko 5 SPORTS Speed-Timer in 1969, winning over fans, and was even adorned by NASA astronaut William Pogue on a 1973 mission to space.
The Speedtimer was revived last year and has since taken off, debuting alongside a new Caliber 8R46 movement, which features a vertical clutch and column wheel in a bicompax layout and a date complication at bottom of the dial. The new watches are a combination of both the ‘69 Speedtimer in function and Seiko’s first-ever chronograph, the 1964 Crown Chronograph, in design. This week, the Japanese watch giant has unveiled a new addition to the Prospex Speedtimer line: SRQ043.
With a 42.5mm stainless steel case, the timepiece carries the same attributes as all the other Speedtimer mechanical chronographs but is unique in that it dons the same color scheme as the original Speedtimer. Sporting a blue dial that shifts hues depending on the angle, the watch has a pair of totalizers that pop out in white, while the second hand and subdial hand tips are in red. This piece is more than just a homage, but serves a functional purpose to increase visibility as well.
Available in two band options — a stainless steel bracelet or a black leather strap — Seiko’s Prospex Speedtimer SRQ043 will be available online this September for $3,200.
