Let me begin by saying, I’m not precisely a Seiko fan. For all its historical past, trade influence, and iconic timepieces, Seiko stays a kind of manufacturers that (in my subjective opinion) prices extra whereas delivering much less. And it’s not like I haven’t given the Japanese watchmaker a shot. Three Seiko watches have handed via my assortment — two automatics and a storied photo voltaic, every lengthy since purchased and offered.
So how did the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic ($540), a quartz watch from an organization I typically mistrust, handle to catch me by the purse strings? It didn’t occur shortly; I noticed these fashions floating round for some time and had largely written them off.
However one thing concerning the bezel and handset lodged at the back of my mind. Each time I scrolled previous one on-line, the shiny indices and triple sub-dials started to look higher and higher.
So, when I discovered myself available in the market for one thing totally different than the divers and digitals that typically muddle my watch field, the Prospex mannequin floated again to the floor. After appreciable debate on the colour scheme, I settled on the SSC819 mannequin proven right here. Two months later, I can report that, not like its brothers earlier than, this one could also be round to remain.
In brief: Whereas not a house run, the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic delivers a triple risk of type, perform, and attraction. Its seems and functionality reside as much as the skilled billing, with a price ticket that feels shockingly justified. The LumiBrite utility underwhelms, and the bracelet will hit and miss relying in your wrist, however the positives outstrip the negatives by a rustic mile.
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Case dimension
39mm -
Case peak
13.33mm -
Lug-to-lug
45.5mm -
Weight
161g -
Water resistance
100m -
Motion
Seiko V192 Photo voltaic Chronograph -
Crystal
Sapphire -
Bracelet
Stainless-steel, 20mm width
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Sharp seems, intelligent design, solar energy, skilled construct
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Sparse lume, bracelet makes use of pins and lacks adequate micro-adjustments, barely tall chassis
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Assessment
Let’s cowl the fundamentals earlier than diving into the small print. What we’ve got here’s a well-sized, thoughtfully designed instrument watch with a 39mm chrome steel case and bracelet (20 mm on the lugs), topped by a subtly domed sapphire crystal with an interior anti-reflective coating.
There’s a date window that may be set utilizing the unthreaded crown and a 60-minute chronograph operated by the standard pushers. The tri-fold clasp makes use of a push-button launch, and there’s a spattering of LumiBrite on the fingers and indices.
It rides a bit excessive and heavy (13.3 mm and 161 g), however the general impression right here is one in all high quality supplies assembled in a principally attentive trend.
The watch seems good, wears with some gravitas, and is very legible (not like some watches with specialised features).
The get together trick for this Prospex is the tachymeter, a complication that places the velocity in Speedtimer. See these numerals across the outer bezel? They can be utilized to compute all forms of issues, however miles or km per hour is mostly probably the most sensible.
By beginning and stopping the chronograph when setting off and finishing a visit over a set distance, the lengthy hand of the chrono will point out your common tempo. That is a kind of ideas that’s higher demonstrated visually, and Seiko has a helpful video protecting the fundamentals.
How helpful is that this, in actuality? Not very, not less than in my present line of labor. However it’s a preferred computation for automotive, aeronautic, and even spaceflight fanatics, and a enjoyable little bit of functionality to put on in your wrist.
The Photo voltaic Expertise
Whereas I benefit from the attraction and craftsmanship of mechanical watches, solar-powered modules supply the least quantity of complications. And Seiko’s V192 motion is certainly a deal with.
It’s a bit tall, as demonstrated by the thick case, however the mechanism affords a 6-month energy reserve, the aforementioned 60-minute chronograph perform, a 24-hour subdial, and a date window. The photo voltaic panels themselves are included into the subdials and supply only a trace of purplish colour. This, together with the built-in energy gauge, supplies a way of no-nonsense safety.
A foremost spring can wind down, and a traditional quartz battery may fail at an inopportune time. However all you must maintain your photo voltaic watch working is a couple of minutes within the solar. It’s like a houseplant, besides with out the entire “watering” factor.
However ought to your Speedtimer discover itself caught in a passing bathe, the mannequin’s 100m of water resistance will likely be greater than as much as the duty. This sort of ranking is mostly appropriate for all method of day by day chores, in addition to dip within the pool afterward.
Issues Actual and Imagined
I went into this overview anticipating hassle. But, most of my anticipated points merely by no means materialized. Take the seconds subdial, as an illustration. On different chronos I’ve owned or examined, this part is mostly situated on the 6-o’clock place.
The Speedtimer’s seconds tick off at 9 o’clock, and I figured it could take some time to get used to the distinction. However the eye attracts naturally to the circle with the transferring hand, so this turned out to be positive.
Then there’s the bracelet. With its pinned hyperlinks and solely two (two!) micro-adjust spots within the clasp, I genuinely anticipated the worst. But, in some way, I obtained fortunate. Whereas it lacks the adaptability of the fast adjustment discovered on the Raven Endeavor II, the Speedtimer’s bracelet matches my wrist completely. A lot in order that it’s grow to be one in all solely two watches I desire to put on with the stainless in place, versus a rubber or cloth strap.
I do have an issue with the spare utility of lume. The fingers shine brightly, and the colour that glows from the few painted indices is especially pleasing. Too dangerous it’s restricted to indices on the cardinal positions. This smells of cost-cutting on Seiko’s half, and it’s not an odor I’m keen on.
Drilling down, the 24-hour subdial is questionably helpful, however its absence would throw off the symmetry. I’ve seen different evaluations that complain concerning the depth of the date window — from sure angles, it may be troublesome to inform the distinction between comparable numerals.
However my last criticism with this watch is definitely very small, in a bodily sense. It’s so diminutive that I’m unsure the photographs will seize the impact. In its resting place, the chronograph’s second hand sits only a fraction of a millimeter off-center.
Functionally, this makes no distinction, and you actually need to stare to see it. However it’s one thing I used to be searching for, as Seiko’s points with alignment and high quality management are a recognized commodity.
Conclusion: Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Assessment
I’m (typically) a large enough individual to confess once I’m flawed. And whereas I stick by my conviction that Seiko overprices and underdelivers with its low to midrange fashions, I’ve discovered the Prospex Speedtimer to be surprisingly compelling. From its sharp seems to its excellent performance, there’s a lot to love right here that the $540 price ticket manages to really feel justified.
The bracelet, as regular for Seiko, will likely be a sticking level for some. And the restricted utility of lume smacks a little bit of cost-cutting. However outdoors of those nitpicks, the general impact is a watch that’s greater than the sum of its elements. It seems and looks like an expert instrument, providing a uncommon crossover of each broad and specialised attraction.
In case you’re attempting to find strong worth within the discipline of sporting or skilled timepieces, Seiko’s Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic has earned its day within the solar.