Seiko Sportura Alarm Chronograph (Landon Donovan)

I’ve seen a particular Seiko ad featuring U.S. Soccer star Landon Donovan a few times now (see below), and I must admit that the watch always grabs my attention — so I decided what-the-heck, let’s check it out.   Turns out that the watch is the Seiko Sportura Alarm Chronograph, a sporty looking piece that retails for a mere $475.  OK, so it is no Grand Seiko (yes, the Japanese do make some nice higher-end watches!), but still a decent looking watch for the money.  The largest factor in the relatively low price is the quartz movement.  I’m really not a fan of quartz watches, though I do own a couple (one, a TAG Heuer Professional, circa 1998) and I find their almost non-existent need for maintenance and precision timekeeping nice features.  Still, it would be cool to see this design with an automatic mechanical movement in it.  Even so, despite being a high-end/luxury watch kinda guy — I’d wear this watch.  And for those of you out there who are in the market for something at a sub-$500 price point, you may want to give this Seiko Sportura Alarm Chronograph watch a look, too.

Seiko Sportura Alarm Chronograph

42mm stainless steel case (“hard coated”), Caliber 7T62 quartz movement, alarm and chronograph functions, screwdown crown/caseback, sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance

The watch is available in a few other configurations (steel bracelet, red dial color), but this one is by far my favorite.

Here’s the ad I mentioned in my opening line (running in ESPN magazine and elswehere):

This past March, Seiko announced Landon Donovan as its newest Brand Ambassador both to represent the brand’s Sportura Collection, and also to help Seiko celebrate the brand’s 130th anniversary through various PR activities.