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Seiko’s Speedtimer sequence is the Japanese model’s chronograph assortment that celebrates retro appears to be like with trendy know-how. The sequence is a part of the Prospex assortment and has slowly grown in recent times. It consists of a number of spectacular mechanical chronographs in addition to a number of solar-powered fashions. I’ve had an opportunity to go hands-on with a number of of those watches, they usually’ve impressed me each time. For the newest Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph mannequin, Seiko has a deceivingly lovely trick up its sleeve. The brand new SSC955 was created for this 12 months’s World Athletics Championships and contains a pretty smooth purple dial. It’s time to seek out out extra.
Seiko’s Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph sequence contains two base silhouettes, making for a lovely lineup. The primary is a spread of larger 41.4mm chronographs, whereas the second is a string of smaller 39mm fashions. This new Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph SSC955 is without doubt one of the latter. This watch celebrates the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which is able to happen in Tokyo from the thirteenth to the twenty first of September.
The story of the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph SSC955
For the event, Seiko created a particular gentle purple dial. The colour was impressed by “Edo purple,” a colour cherished within the historical metropolis that will grow to be modern-day Tokyo. As a nod to Tokyo’s historic Edo identify, the smooth purple was chosen because the official colour of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. It’s a ravishing shade that I surprisingly adored, and it shortly made this watch one among my favorites within the sequence.
Let’s go over some particulars to get an thought. The SSC955 contains a 39mm chrome steel case with a 13.3mm thickness, a forty five.5mm lug-to-lug, and a 100m water resistance score. It has circular-brushed prime surfaces and a extremely polished case band. Topping the case is a hard and fast black hard-coated metal bezel with an engraved tachymeter scale and contrasting white markings. On the precise facet of the case, you will see that the well-proportioned crown and pushers. Seiko has paired the case with a three-row chrome steel bracelet with polished middle hyperlinks and brushed outer hyperlinks.
The dial is a ravishing nod to Tokyo
However the true star of the present is the brand new smooth purple dial. It options faceted black indexes, a black brand, and black markings for the minutes and elapsed seconds. The indexes on the cardinal factors are completely different in dimension, and every has an software of Lumibrite. Fittingly, the dial is matched with matte black sword-style arms with white Lumibrite to make sure you can learn the time at the hours of darkness. The three sub-dials additionally look good, with their darkish, eggplant-like tone and white arms. The registers maintain the photo voltaic cells to cost the watch and have clear discs with white printing on prime of them.
As I defined in earlier critiques, the register at 9 o’clock is for the operating seconds, whereas the one at 3 o’clock serves as a 24-hour (AM/PM) indicator. Lastly, the register at 6 o’clock is the 60-minute chronograph register. It additionally serves as an influence reserve indicator, with an “E” for empty and an “F” for totally charged. Total, I like this new colour scheme. I like the gentleness of the colours, and the mixture of a smooth and darker purple works tremendous effectively.
I additionally love that Seiko made the bezel black quite than retaining it pure chrome steel. It provides one other layer of visible richness to the watch. One factor I might have modified, nonetheless, is the colour of the date disc. As you possibly can see, Seiko used a white date disc with black printing. The date disc sits comparatively deep down the aperture, so it doesn’t stand out a lot, however it will’ve been good if the date disc had matched the dial colour.
The solar-powered V192 motion
In the event you flip the watch round, you will note the particular commemorative case again with the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 brand. On prime of that, it bears a singular LE quantity out of 6,000 items that Seiko will produce. Hidden behind the case again is the model’s solar-powered V192 motion. The caliber has an influence reserve of six months on a full cost and is correct to ±15 seconds per 30 days.
If the watch is sort of on the finish of its cost, the seconds hand will start to leap in two-second intervals. A wise function of the V192 caliber is that the photo voltaic cells can use any gentle supply to retailer power and energy the watch. This ends in a worry-free every day wearer.
Carrying the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph SSC955
On the wrist, the watch left an enduring impression. The great dimension, proportions, and colour scheme made it a watch I gained’t simply overlook. Actually, I’m normally not the largest fan of sunshine purple and discover it considerably odd. Nonetheless, this particular purple makes the dial virtually seem like a smooth white tone from sure angles. It makes the SSC995 stand out in comparison with different purple-dial watches. Additionally, working the chronograph is enjoyable. The pushers begin, cease, and reset the chronograph with agency, reassuring clicks, making this really feel like a really well-made watch.
Moreover, the mirror-polished middle hyperlinks within the bracelet give the watch some added visible pizzazz. Admittedly, I’m not the largest fan of the massive distinction between middle and outer hyperlinks, however right here, it really works effectively. As a result of the general aesthetic is quite smooth, the polished center row pops properly with out being too loud. The watch wears effectively and feels sturdy and rugged. Moreover, the bracelet and the clasp really feel effectively constructed, making this a really good every day wearer.
Closing ideas on the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph SSC955
Total, I liked spending time with the brand new Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph SSC955. Though it was quick, it was most undoubtedly candy. Even in case you are not a fan of the World Athletics Championships, this watch is price trying out. Since there is no such thing as a particular event-related branding besides on the case again, this might make for a go-to look ahead to anybody. However in case you are a fan of the World Athletics Championships, that’s even higher.
The brand new Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Photo voltaic Chronograph SSC955 will likely be out there beginning in August for €770. Contemplating what you get for the cash, I feel it’s an ideal deal. In case your love for watches isn’t restricted to mechanical ones, this new SSC955 may make for an ideal, inexpensive every day watch. With the particular dial colour, it’s considerably of an acquired style, however I by some means really feel that Seiko will promote all 6,000 items of this new restricted version very quickly.
