There’s a place in any watch collection for a solid chronograph. There’s something so fun about having a little stopwatch on your wrist to track time. Even if you’re not using the commonly-seen tachymeter bezel to calculate speed, you’ll find yourself using it for countless tasks throughout the day. It can be really handy to know how long that meal’s been on the stove, or how long you’ve been letting that french press sit. Today, we have three new chronographs in the shop from Seiko. Two of the three feature quartz movements, while the other features a convenient and reliable solar chronograph. Let’s take a look at these exciting releases from Seiko that we’re thrilled to offer in the Windup Watch Shop.
Handsome, Modern, and Affordable: The SSB397 and SSB425
These two chronos are part of Seiko’s “Essentials” lineup, and they certainly fit the bill. With a modern aesthetic and a solid set of features, both the 397 and 425 are sure to make an excellent daily companion for your wrist. Featuring the in-house 8T63 quartz movement, each watch is accuracy to +/- 15 seconds per month with a battery life of three years. Measuring in at 41.5mm in diameter, 12.1mm thick, and a lug-to-lug of 46.5mm, the case is bold, yet remains wearable. A Hardlex crystal up top keeps the dial protected from bumps and scratches. One of the most surprising features of these chronographs is the 10 bar water resistance. While you may not find yourself diving with one, the 100 meter water resistance on a chronograph is quite impressive at this price point, giving you serious peace of mind during daily use. The SSBs come in two handsome dial configurations. The 397 sports a gray dial with light gray accents, while the 425 is rocking a panda-style white with black accents. The three sub dials display 24-hour time, running seconds, and a 60-minute totalizer, while the central seconds hand starts and stops with the press of the top pusher. There’s also a date display at 4:30 with a dial-matching base color that keeps the window integrated in a low-key, there-when-you-need-it manner. At just under $300, the watch represents a heck of a value as well.
All Black Everything: The Prospex SSC917
Seiko’s Speedtimer Solar Chronograph is back, this time in a sleek, all-black treatment. Inspired by the design one of the world’s first automatic chronographs, the 1969 Seiko Speedtimer, it’s easy to see the mix of vintage and modern design cues that make up the SSC917. Housed in a 39mm stainless steel and then treated with a black coating, the watch wears remarkably well. Every element of the watch is rendered in black or dark gray, except for the green LumiBrite indices and hands, which gives the appearance of looking through a night vision scope. As part of the Prospex lineup, the watch has some serious specs too. The V192 solar-powered movement inside will operate for up to 6 months when fully charged and is accurate to +/- 15 seconds per month. The sub dials display 24-hour time, running seconds, and a 60 minute totalizer with the chronograph seconds tied to the central seconds hand. Conveniences like a curved sapphire crystal with AR-coating and 100 meters of water resistance make the SSC917 worthy of bearing the Prospex “X” logo on the dial. If you’re looking for a vintage-inspired chronograph with a modern twist, the SSC917 is a compelling choice.
Head over to the Windup Watch Shop to learn more about these new models from Seiko.
