Jewellery & Watch News
Japanese watchmaker Seiko celebrates three of its historic landmarks in one with the launch of the new Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer SRQ045J1 watch. While the silhouette of the case remembers the iconic chronograph stopwatch Seiko designed for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 8R calibre honours the same precision seen in the first Seiko Speedtimer in 1969, the black-coated case and red accented dial mimics a Seiko stopwatch from the 1972 Winter Olympics, when Seiko were official timekeepers.
The Seiko Speedtimer has held notable meaning for more than half a century. It refers not only to a new set of Seiko Prospex watches, but multiple designs from the past which uphold the Japanese watch manufacturer’s reputation in sports timing. In 1969, Seiko famously made history with the worlds first automatic winding chronograph brought to market, known as the Seiko Speedtimer. Powered by their in-house Calibre 6139 with a vertical clutch and column wheel mechanism, the chronograph did not neglect neither precision and performance. The Seiko Speedtimer is now one of the brand’s most legendary designs and as such, the watch brand have recreated its appearance on a number of occasions. Now joining modern-day reinterpretations like the Seiko Speedtimer 1969 Recreation and the Seiko Speedtimer Oregon 22 Limited Edition, the new Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer SRQ045J1 watch stands out for its full black case and newly designed hands and markers.
The most noticeable novelty of the Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer SRQ045J1 watch is the case which is now entirely blacked-out for a significantly more contemporary look compared to its predecessors. The entire stainless steel architecture is treated to a black hard coating, covering the case, bezel, crown, chronograph pushers and case back. For some, the colouring might actually visually reduces the size of the case despite it maintaining the familiar dimensions of 41.5mm wide, 50mm long and 15.1mm tall. It is still a large watch, especially with the chronograph pushers standing extra tall to remember Seiko’s history in the creation of stopwatches for sports timing. The case of the Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer watch is completed by scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass, a screwed down exhibition case back, screw in crown and 100 metre water resistant rating.
In honour of a black and red-dialled chronograph stopwatch Seiko created for the 1972 Winter Olympics, the dial of the Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer SRQ045J1 watch is coloured the very same. The dial is matte black with a sandblasted finish and set with thin Lumibrite hands for the hours and minutes, a white chronograph seconds hand and black subsidiary counters for the small seconds and 30 minutes. Three important changes to the Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer watch can be spotted; one is seen on the markers which are now transferred and not applied in orange and another is on the numerals for the minutes, which are now double digited. The final new design feature for the dial is found on the hands for the sub-counters which are uniquely asymmetrical.
Powering the hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph and date functions of the Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer SRQ045J1 watch is the in-house, automatic winding calibre 8R46. It has a column-wheel and vertical-clutch mechanism, just like that of the original Seiko Speedtimer, and promises a power reserve of 45 hours, a frequency of 28,800vph and an accuracy of -15/+25 seconds per day. Lastly, the Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer watch is completed on a black calfskin leather strap with a black hard coated three-fold clasp with push button release.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Prospex Winter Speedtimer SRQ045J1 watch and secure one of the 600 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42.5mm
- Case Material: Black hard coated stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre 8R46 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30 minutes counter, date
- Power Reserve: 45 hours
- Jewels: 34
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Matte black with red accents, Lumibrite on hands and indexes
- Strap: Black calfskin leather
- Buckle: Black-coated three-fold clasp with push button release
- Limited: 600 pieces
- Release Date: February 2023
- RRP: £2,540
