The 1960s were more than just the Swinging Sixties for Seiko and Datsun. This was the era when Seiko introduced the Speedtimer, and when Datsun released the 240Z sports car.
In 1971, both brands would come together, with Seiko supporting the Datsun 240Z during the East African Safari Rally. Now, the two are joining hands once more, resulting in three new additions to the Prospex Speedtimer series that are inspired by the Datsun 240Z.
What unites these three watches from the get-go are the red-and-black shades, reminiscent of the Datsun 240Z that raced in the rally some 50 years back. They all have baton hands and a matching tachymeter for the chronograph models, but that is where the similarities end, as each of these limited edition watches carries its own, individual personality.
One piece that stands out is the SPB517, probably due to its simplicity, matched with the tiny details that make it a quiet standout. Examples of the aforementioned details are the Datsun logo on the dial, the race-inspired leather straps, and a clean black dial that serves as the perfect canvas for every element to stand out against.
This watch screams sporty, while maintaining fairly modest dimensions of a 39.5mm diameter and 12mm thickness. This puts it in the Goldilocks zone of wearability, especially on Asian wrists. The fact that it comes with leather straps instead of a steel bracelet makes it even more versatile, especially when it comes to Malaysia’s humid weather.
Despite its positioning alongside the Datsun sports car, this watch is no slouch in the water as well, with 200 metres of water resistance. Then again, the leather straps might discourage one from diving into bodies of water, despite the watch’s ability to easily handle the elements.
Under the hood is the Calibre 6R55 movement, which offers 72 hours of power reserve at 21,600 vibrations per hour. This means that the watch will work great as a rotation piece, as it will hold enough energy to last the weekend while other watches get some wrist time.
Because of the 6R55, the watch also features a date window at four o’clock, which is visible through a circular cutout. This shape gives the date window a little more pizzazz compared to the usual square cutouts on other watches, especially when it is at the four o’clock position.
The SPB517 is a limited edition model, with only 2,500 pieces available. But even without limited edition status, this watch would still be something special.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our latest issue.