BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Back in 2021, Seiko released the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph watches, SRQ035 & SRQ037. These models celebrated Seiko’s heritage in sports timing and were based on the original 1969 Speedtimer with the legendary 6139 movement. The aforementioned has a great significance in watchmaking history as the first automatic chronograph movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch. Now Seiko introduces the new iteration of the model inspired by their icon in the form of Prospex Speedtimer SRQ043.
The dial is presented in a deep blue reverse-Panda style with silver color as the color choice for the registers. These are standard chronograph registers for small seconds and chronograph 30-minutes, while time reading is done via large, faceted hour and minute hands. The brushed and polished indices are applied and faceted on the dial and each applied hour index has a Lumibrite plot on the inside. The small seconds, chronograph hand and the tip of the 30 minute chronograph hands are finished in red to provide better color contrast for legibility. The central hour and minute hands as well as the chronograph hand have Lumibrite inserts. A black sloped inner flange is found on the perimeter of the dial with a tachymeter scale. A date window is found at the 6 o’clock position. Protecting the dial is a dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
The dial is hosted on a case constructed with stainless steel with a sloped bezel and angular faceted lugs, measuring 42mm x 15.1mm in diameter and height respectively. The case is treated with a super-hard coating and has a variation of brushed and polished surfaces. A large knurled crown and pump-style chronograph pushers serve to invoke a feeling of remembrance for Seiko’s 1.5th of a second stopwatch introduced in 1964. The water resistance is rated at 100 meters, and a see-through screw caseback makes viewing the movement possible.
The engine which drives the watch is Seiko’s in-house Calibre 8R46 automatic chronograph movement. It has 34 jewels and has a column-wheel and vertical clutch architecture. Ticking at the frequency of 28,800vph, it provides a 45 hours power reserve.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SRQ043 comes on a three-link stainless steel bracelet with triple folding clasp, and the bracelet is well treated with super-hard coating which allows it to endure some wear and tear. In addition to the bracelet, an additional black calfskin leather strap is an option for the buyer. The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SRQ043 will be available from September 2022 through Seiko Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide with a price tag of EUR 3,200.
Visit Seiko here.
