Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Automatic Datsun 240Z Limited Edition SRQ057J1 (similar to the regular-production SRQ055J1) - Linking Two Giant Japanese Brands, A Review (plus Video)

Another Seiko Speedtimer has graced the collection. This time around, it is a collaboration between Seiko and the precursor of the Nissan Motor car company of Japan, Datsun. This collaboration has some meaning to me as the car my wife had when we first got married more that 30 years ago was a red Datsun 130Y.

 

I also bought this particular Speedtimer as its has a design feature that is actually quite contemporary to most brands but seldom seen on a Seiko automatic chronograph - a tachymeter scale set on the bezel instead of on the chapter ring. More about this later.

 

The colour combination, with black being the dominant colour and a touch of red, blue and polished steel gives the watch character that is not too blatant yet subtle. 

 

To be honest, I am kind of hooked into chronographs at the moment and when the SRQ057J1 was announced, I felt the need to get one.

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer ‘Panda’ 1972 Chronograph Re-interpretation Limited Edition Seiko 100th Anniversary SRQ049J1 (similar to SRQ047J1) - Wears Well and Look Nice, A Review (plus Video)

Seiko's repertoire of iconic designs from its past have been a good source of reference for new launches. For its 100th anniversary, a new watch has being introduced following the same line of the classic 1972 Seiko 6138-8020 Panda Chronograph.

Back in 2019, Seiko launched the Seiko Prospex Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary Limited Edition SRQ029J1. This watch was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Caliber 6139. When launched in 1969, it was the world’s first automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch. I was lucky to get a unit for the collection, the number 766 out of 1,000 examples.

For the SRQ049J1, I got the number 333 out of 1,000 examples. I also got an additional leather strap with the watch-box.

Although it appears there are a lot of similarities between the newer SRQ049J1 and the older SRQ029J1, there are also some differences. Further into the review, I will go through through the subtle differences in detail.

Seiko Presage Chronograph 55th Anniversary Limited Edition SRQ031J1 (or SARK015 in Japan) - Nostalgia of the Swinging Sixties, A Review (plus Video)

In 1964, Seiko created another historical milestone for the brand when it launched a mechanical chronograph which also happens to be the first for Japan. The watch in question was created to be in time for the 1964 Summer Olympics which happens to be in Tokyo, Japan (more about this later). This year, Seiko decided to commemorate that occasion with the launch of the Seiko Presage Chronograph 55th Anniversary Limited Edition SRQ031J1 (or SARK015 if you are in Japan).

Seiko actually launched two limited edition watches to commemorate its milestones in mechanical chronograph movements. Apart from the SRQ031J1, Seiko also launched the SRQ029J1. While the SRQ031J1 honoured the 1964 milestone, the SRQ029J1 honoured the 1969 milestone instead. The 1964 milestone is Seiko's first manual winding chronograph while the 1969 milestone is Seiko's first automatic chronograph, the 6189.

I already have the SRQ029J1 in the collection (please click here to go the full review) and the acquisition of the SRQ031J1 completes the collection.

Seiko Prospex Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary Limited Edition SRQ029J1 (or SBEC005 in Japan) - A New Panda is Born, A Review (plus Video)

I was able to acquire another heritage timepiece from Seiko. This time it is the Seiko Prospex Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary Limited Edition SRQ029J1 (or SBEC005 if you are in Japan). This watch was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Caliber 6139. When launched in 1969, it was the world’s first automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch. Today, the principle design of the 6139 is used in most high-end chronograph movements.

When the watch was announced by Seiko back in early October 2019, a number of famous watch reviewers mentioned about the 50-year confusion regarding the SRQ029J1. They concluded that Seiko have taken a 1970 design as a basis for this re-craft which definitely makes the 50-year claim somewhat overstated.

However, I disagree with this conclusion as the title for this watch relates to the movement and not to a particular historical wrsitwatch, unlike the SLA017J1, SLA025J1 and the SLA033J1. Since the 8R48 movement used in the SRQ029J1 is a direct descendant of the 6139 movement, what Seiko did was not wrong.

Seiko Presage Chronograph SRQ025J1 (similar to SARK011) - It has that formal ambiance and sophistication that not many watches have in its price range, A Review (plus Video)

I finally snared a 8R48 powered Presage!

There are 7 Presage watches in my collection currently. All automatic with either the 4R series or 6R series automatic movements. The SRQ025J1 will be the first chronograph Presage in the collection. Not easy getting this as the local distributor in Malaysia, Thong Sia, tend to not bring watches deemed 'too expensive' for local consumers. Even if they do bring such watches, the numbers imported are usually not more than a handful.

The chronograph Presage came to prominence back in 2016 when Seiko launched the limited edition SRQ019 and SRQ021 in honour of the 60th anniversary of Seiko’s first automatic mechanical watch in 1956. The SRQ019 has a white a grand feu enamel dial while the SRQ021 has a black Urushi lacquer dial. By virtue of their special dials and limited edition run, these watches were priced at a premium which was too rich for my taste. Luckily, a year later, Seiko decided to produce a standard production run of chronograph Presage in the form of the SRQ025J1.