Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Automatic Chronograph Limited Edition SRQ035J1 (or SBEC007 and similar to SRQ037J1 or SBEC009) - The Leather Strap Combo is Best, A Review (plus Video)

On 29 September 2021, Seiko issued a press release introducing the Speedtimer Series consisting of six models. A limited edition automatic, a standard automatic and four solar quartz timepieces. I was most interested in the limited edition automatic as it has my favorite dial colour, white.

As usual, my trusty vendor at the Seiko Boutique in Mid Valley messaged me that a few units have been made available at the shop. After making the necessary booking, it took me another week before I can picked it up from the store. As I imagined, the watch was impressive in the flesh. It has the heft and looks imposing without much effort.

The SRQ035J1 is a limited edition timepiece. Only 1,000 units will be produced. Although it come standard with a bracelet, the watch box also included an additional leather strap. 

The Speedtimer series was created in honour of the innovations Seiko did back in 1969 when the first Speedtimer was released. Strictly speaking, it is not a homage to a vintage design as the genesis of this new edition was in fact a stopwatch. 

The Speedtimer Series

Seiko released the new 2021 Speedtimer Series to celebrate the brand’s rich and continuing tradition of sports timing.

Back in the 1960’s, Seiko has a series of innovative timing devices endorsed by many international sports federations due to their accuracy. The most impactful innovation was in 1969, when Seiko introduced the Speedtimer with the Caliber 6139. It was the world's first automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch, a prerequisite in high quality chronographs even today.

A limited edition watch with a new automatic chronograph movement pays tribute to the design of Seiko's 1964 stopwatch, while a second version with the same caliber and a series of four solar chronographs pays tribute to the 1969 wristwatch.

The 1964 Seiko 1/5th second stopwatch

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Automatic Chronograph LE SRQ035J1

Remarks I am not sure why a lot of reviewers seems to agree with Seiko that the SRQ035J1 is a tribute to the 1964 model. Apart from the white colour dial, having a crown and two pushers, nothing else is similar. Moreover, the 1964 model is not even a watch!

The 1969 Seiko Speedtimer Caliber 6139

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Automatic Chronograph  SRQ037J1 Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph SSC813 ...SSC815 ...SSC817 ...SSC819

Remarks Once again, it is hard to understand why Seiko said these watches pay tribute to the original Speedtimer. Knowing Seiko, these are just the start of multiple timepieces based on the same model design. Where will the uniqueness be?

Personal Note

When my trusty vendor called me that the watch was in his shop, I was just diagnosed as Covid 19 positive. Had to wait until my home quarantine ends before I can pick the watch up.

The Watch

The SRQ035J1 is supposed to pay tribute to the 1964 Seiko 1/5th second stopwatch. Nevertheless, the core theme is different in my view.  Although it takes inspiration from the simplicity of the dial design, nothing else is similar. 

The watch has a stainless steel case, 42.5 mm in diameter, 15.1 mm tall, and 45.5 mm lug-to-lug. It has satin-brushed finishing with a thin polished bezel framing the dial. Weighing in at 194 gm, it is a fairly substantial watch. The surface of the watch (including the bracelet) has been treated with DiaShield for added protection (DiaShield is a Seiko proprietary surface treatment that help strengthen the surface from common scratches).

The dial format is rather old school with a black on white date complication at 6:00 as well a a bi-compax 30- minute elapsed minutes and running seconds counters at 9:00 and 3:00 respectively. Meanwhile, on the chapter ring, a stepped inner bezel tachymeter scale in black is also included.

The primary scale on the peripheral of the dial is rather elaborate. It has a semi-railroad style design with a sub-seconds scaling on the outer ring while a standard seconds scaling on the inner ring. There are a mixture of dots, circles and lines to represent the various time markers on the scale. Next to this scale is the hour markers denoted by Arabic numbering and black lines.

There are three lines of texts and a line of graphic on the dial. The texts and graphic are painted in black. The brand is located at the upper quadrant while the rest, the Prospex logo, the words "AUTOMATIC" and some production coding (in very small print at the bottom of the dial) are located at the bottom quadrant.

The primary handset are slender sword hands while the sub-dials have a five-side arrowhead design. For the 30-minute sub-dial, a dark tracking line has been added to the center of of the hand. Both the hours and minutes hands are painted with LumiBrite while the main chronograph seconds hand is painted black for contrast to the white dial. Another area painted with LumiBrite paint are the circular hour counters at the edge of the dial.  

Protecting the dial is a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface. The crystal is placed slightly higher than the fixed bezel. Visually stunning but there is a higher risk of damaging the crystal due to side impacts.  

The crown and pushers are placed on the right side of the casing like most contemporary chronograph watches. It has pump style pushers for that vintage vibe. The crown is sterile without any markings. In the photo above, you can clearly the obvious height of the watch due to the automatic chronograph movement. 

The screw-down case-back has a display window. The crystal is sapphire and the Prospex logo is black is painted at the center. Through it, the 8R46 movement is clear to see.  

The Caliber 8R46 is a new movement from Seiko. It is the newest member to the automatic chronograph 8R-series family. Similar to the 8R48 but with a bi-compax dial arrangement. The chronograph has a column-wheel mechanism and a vertical clutch and its escapement uses Seiko’s MEMS technology. The movement has a power reserve of 45 hours and operates at a frequency of 28,800 BPH.

As highlighted by Seiko, the stainless steel bracelet on the Speedtimer is of a new design. The clasp consists of a three-fold piece, with release pushers. The design is simple with just three separate pieces per link unlike the more complicated five pieces per link design common on Seiko's premium watches. The designed and manufacturing quality is high class without any form of play or looseness in the links. Each piece is machined from a chunk of metal which gives it weight and brings down the center of gravity away from the the watch casing itself.

 

Although I can appreciate the small signed clasp that flows with the rest of the bracelet, the lack of micro-adjustment points makes it harder to resize the watch properly and with ease. Granted Seiko added a few half links with the bracelet, it still does not properly addressed the ability to loosen or tighten the bracelet on the go by just shifting the spring-bars at the micro-adjustment slots in the more typical/traditional Seiko clasp.

There is an alternative band provided by Seiko as part of the limited edition nature of the SRQ035J1. The black leather strap comes with a signed butterfly clasp.  

The design of the Speedtimer is rated to 100 meters of water pressure. Below is a photo of the watch in the dark. The LumiBrite paint does not disappoint! It is so bright that you can see a good part of the dial lighted up by the hands as well as the reflection of the hour markers against the metal surface.

The Wearing Experience

The Speedtimer is a substantial watch on the wrist. On my  6.75 inch wrist, it looks imposing. It has the 'hockey puck'-like look that is not alien to Seiko (akin to the Marinemaster Tuna series). Visually, the bracelet look slightly more dramatic than it should be, in my humble opinion. In the first two photos below, the bracelet is more the focal point instead of the watch casing. 

I suppose the leather strap could be a better pairing with the Speedtimer. I have not tested it myself but just looking at the dimensions and colour combination, it would make sense. Below is a video of the Speedtimer on my wrist.

Overall, I am please with the watch. I am inclined to lean on the watch with the leather strap instead of the bracelet. Apart from the lack of micro-adjustment points on the clasp, it wears well and feels solid on the wrist. 

Specifications 

Case Material: 316L stainless steel (super hard coating) 

Bracelet Material: 316L stainless steel (super hard coating)

Alternative Bracelet: Black leather strap with butterfly clasp

Dial Colour: White

Crystal: Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on inner surface

Display Case-back: Flat sapphire crystal

Clasp: Three-fold clasp with push button release

Thickness: 15.1 mm
Diameter: 42.5 mm
Length: 45.5 mm

Lugs: 20.0 mm

Weight: 194 gm

Bracelet Length: 203 mm

Water Resistance: 10 bar

Illumination: Lumibrite paint on hands and indexes

Caliber Number: 8R46
Movement Type: Automatic chronograph with a vertical clutch and column wheel mechanism

Jewels: 34 
Dial Format: Bi-compax with small seconds hand
Functions: Date, manual winding, hacking (stop seconds hand)

Accuracy: +25 to -15 seconds per day
Duration: Approximately 45 hours

MSRP: RM14,800

Launched Date: 29 September 2021

Availability Date: November 2021

Purchase Price: RM13,300

Purchase Date: 16 December 2021

Vendor: Seiko Boutique, Mid Valley Megamall

Serial Number: 484 (out of 1,000 pieces)

Photo Gallery

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