Switzerland will tell you it was Zenith’s El Primero or Breitling and Heuer’s joint-ventured ‘Caliber 11’ that finally cracked the self-winding chronograph.
But it was Japanese giant Seiko that pipped them all to the post in 1969 (literally, given the chrono’s sport-timing pedigree) with the Speedtimer (below).
That very same year, Nissan Motor Corporation’s ‘Datsun’, Japan’s leading sports car brand, launched and now a new Speedtimer ‘Compact Collection’ pays tribute to its most iconic rallying model, the Fairlady 240Z.
In 1971, adorned with the Seiko logo, the Datsun 240Z with No. 11 on its side conquered harsh terrain as it raced 6,200 kilometers to overall victory in the East-African Safari Rally, widely regarded as one of the toughest races in the world (above).
Today, three limited-edition watches drawing on a range of Seiko technologies join the Speedtimer series, paying homage to the shared legacy of Datsun 240Z and Seiko and their advancements in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Of most interest to us is the frankly ice-cool Prospex Speedtimer Compact 6R x DATSUN Fairlady Z, limited to 2,500 pieces. This latest design is the first Speedtimer to feature the robust and reliable in-house 6R automatic caliber, which is accurate to -15/+25 seconds per day, and is the slimmest 6R model in Seiko’s history, at just 11.95mm depth, 39.5mm diameter, with a 200m water resistance and 3-day power reserve.
In addition to the collaboration timepieces, two creations powered by Caliber 6R55 and one creation powered by Caliber 8R48 join the main Speedtimer series. Both the limited-edition and continuous-production models powered by Caliber 6R55 have a case diameter of 39.5mm and a thickness of 12.0mm while achieving 20 bar water resistance.
The streamlined case design and the elegant style of the bracelet inherit the characteristic design of a Speedtimer chronograph introduced in 1972, further emphasizing the ‘70s vintage aesthetic. The multi-row bracelet allows the watch to sit securely and comfortably on the wrist.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Compact 6R x DATSUN Fairlady Z Limited Edition available for pre-order from the 31st of July; €1,000-€1,250; seikowatches.com