Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph SRQ043

The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SRQ043 connects today's mechanical chronograph to Seiko's pioneering 1969 Speedtimer. Its blue dial and red accents make elapsed time easy to read, while the large concave pushers give the stopwatch an inviting, tactile presence. The 42.5 mm steel case and bracelet make this a substantial sports watch, with an additional black calf-leather strap included for a different look.

Inside is Seiko's automatic caliber 8R46. Its column wheel controls chronograph operation, while a vertical clutch helps the stopwatch hand start smoothly; a three-pointed hammer returns the hands to zero together. The movement runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers approximately 45 hours of power reserve. Dual-curved sapphire crystal, a see-through screw caseback and 100-meter water resistance complete a chronograph that rewards both using and studying its mechanics.

Our Take

We carry this Speedtimer because the chronograph is the main event, not just extra subdials. The tactile pushers and blue-and-red dial make you want to use it, and the column-wheel, vertical-clutch mechanical movement is where much of the price goes.