BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Seiko continues to stir up the high-end watch industry with its latest releases: the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph SRQ047, along with the Limited-Edition SRQ049. These models build on the success of Seiko’s dive and dress watch collections, delving into Seiko’s rich ’60s and ’70s history while paying homage to the 1972 Seiko 6138-8020 “Panda” chronograph.
Both the SRQ047 and SRQ049 feature a stainless steel case measuring 42mm in diameter and 14.6mm in thickness. Though not a replica, the case design exudes a vintage charm reminiscent of Seiko’s 1970s chronographs, with its tall, sloping polished bezel, broad polished case sides, and short, tapered lugs. Seiko’s expertise in case construction shines through with a combination of finishes, including radial brushing, mirror polishing, and detailed linear brushing for the piston-style chronograph pushers. The caseback, engraved with the Seiko script logo, accentuates a clean ’70s aesthetic and offers a water resistance of 100 meters.
The dials of the duo adopt the classic ’70s racing chronograph layout. The SRQ047 draws inspiration from the panda dial layout of the 6138-8020, showcasing a warm, vertically brushed silver dial with black subdials and a matching outer tachymeter ring. In contrast, the “reverse panda” SRQ049 opts for a matte black main dial with bright silver accents. Both models feature a split outer tachymeter and chronograph seconds scale, applied rectangular indices, and chronograph hands tipped in vibrant orange. The often contentious 4:30 cutout date windows make a distinctive appearance on both.
Both watches are driven by Seiko’s in-house 8R48 automatic chronograph movement, the flagship chronograph powerplant. Boasting a 45-hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate, a vertical clutch, and a column wheel chronograph actuation system, the movement, shielded by a closed case back, exhibits an impressive 4,800 A/m of magnetic resistance.
The strap underscores the vintage inspiration, featuring a nine-link stainless steel bracelet design reminiscent of ’70s Seiko bracelets. The SRQ049, in addition to the bracelet, includes an extra fully-stitched black leather strap for enhanced versatility.
Come December 2023, Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph SRQ047 will be available for USD $2,500 while the limited-edition SRQ049, celebrating Seiko’s 100th anniversary is set to cost USD $2,700.
