Seiko 50th Anniversary
Two limited editions celebrate milestones in Seiko’s chronograph history
Seiko’s contribution to the development of the chronograph is well known thanks to the 1969 release of Calibre 6139, the world’s first automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch. In fact, however, the history of Seiko’s chronographs started long before, with a pocket watch chronograph made in the early 1940’s. Today, this long and proud tradition in the measurement of elapsed time is celebrated in two new automatic chronographs that commemorate two landmark watches, from 1964 and 1969. One is in the Prospex collection and the other in Presage. Both will be available from December, 2019 at Seiko Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide.
In commemoration of the 1969 classic
The 1969 launch of Calibre 6139 was, of course, an important milestone in Seiko’s history because it was one of the world’s first automatic chronographs but its real significance lay in the fact that it incorporated both a column wheel and a vertical clutch, devices that allowed Calibre 6139 to deliver a real improvement in the precision with which elapsed time could be measured in a watch. Today, the combination of a vertical clutch and column wheel is widely seen as a prerequisite in a high grade chronograph; in 1969, this was an important advance in an automatic wristwatch.
The new Prospex limited edition watch that commemorates this 1969 landmark uses Seiko’s most advanced chronograph calibre, 8R48, which was first created in 2014. In addition to the vertical clutch and column wheel, it incorporates Seiko’s unique three-pointed hammer and a heart-shaped cam which ensure the perfect synchronization of the hands’ fly-back. The watch is based on a much loved design from that era that became known among Seiko’s fans as the “Panda” thanks to the two black sub-dials set against the white dial. It has the same hairline finish on the dial as the original, the same hands with the same orange tip to the chronograph second hand and the same hour markers and tachymeter bezel markings.
In addition, the new execution offers a third sub-dial for the time of day second hand, an updated case design with Zaratsu polishing and a box-shaped sapphire crystal. It is presented in the Prospex collection as a limited edition of 1,000.
The original “Panda” chrono from 1970
The original Crown Chrono from 1964
Remembering the 1964 Seiko Crown Chronograph
The 1964 Crown Chronograph was Seiko’s, and Japan’s, first chronograph watch. Every aspect of the watch was designed from scratch and it marked the beginning of Seiko’s chronograph wrist watch manufacturing. It had a simple one-push mechanism but it amply demonstrated the same commitment to precision as would Calibre 6139 and all its successors with the inclusion of a column wheel to control the start, stop and reset functions.
The new chronograph is faithful to the design of the 1964 Crown Chronograph with its boxshaped crystal, its sharply defined numerals on the narrow bezel and the inwardly tilted case shape that allows the watch to sit tight on the wrist. Of course, every detail is upgraded; the movement is Calibre 8R48 with its 12 hour chronograph and 45 hour power reserve, the crystal is sapphire with anti-reflection coating on the inner surface and the lugs are Zaratsu polished. The watch is presented in the Presage collection as a limited edition of 1,000.
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Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary Limited Edition: SRQ029
Seiko Chronograph 55th Anniversary Limited Edition: SRQ031
Calibre 8R48, Automatic Chronograph
Chronograph up to 12 hours
Column wheel and vertical clutch systems
Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Power reserve: 45 hours
Jewels: 34
Specifications
Stainless steel case and bracelet with super-hard coating (SRQ029)
Stainless steel case with super-hard coating and cordovan strap (SRQ031)
Three-fold clasp with push button release
Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Diameter: 41.0mm Thickness: 16.0mm (SRQ029)
Diameter: 42.3mm Thickness: 15.3mm (SRQ031)
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Approximate recommended retail prices in Australia: $5,950 (SRQ029) / $5,500 (SRQ031)
Limited editions of 1,000 each
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