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.

Seiko Star Wars Watch Collection

Seiko has partnered with Lucasfilm on a Star Wars watch collection.  The collection is set to hit stores in Japan this October.  In celebration of both the 35th anniversary of Star Wars as well as the upcoming release of the films in 3D, Seiko will release six limited edition models in a limited run ranging from 500 to 1500 pieces per model for a total of 5,000 pieces.   The series includes signature timepieces for each of Darth Vader, Darth Maul, C-3P0, R2-D2 and Yoda as well as a Stormtrooper edition. Check ‘em all out, below.
All watches have a steel case with screw-down back, with the “bad guys” getting an added a black ion plating finish.  All watches are water resistant to 100 meters and have a sapphire crystal.  This said there is a lot of weird randomness (though probably not random, just not understood by me) when it comes to case size, production volume, movement type (quartz or mechanical) and feature-set.  I’ve note the model-specific features below.
Collect them all!?!  Well, according to the dedicated Seiko/Star Wars website there will be a Special Set created (details pending, however).  In any case, I would say good luck on getting your hands on any of these pieces, let alone a Special Set or even piecing together a set!  As far as I know these pieces are only to launch in Japan, which gives watch fans in this geography a big advantage.  One of each would come to a total price of 813,750Yen, or about $10,500. Not a bad price at all for such a cool collector’s set with such limited quantity!

Seiko Star Wars Darth Vader (SAGA125)

Limited edition of 1,500 watches
Price: 141,750 yen (U.S. about $1,820)

Black IP (“ion plated”) coated steel case size: 42.5mm, 11.3mm thick
Movement: 8B54 Caliber quartz movement with radio correction and solar charging function

Seiko Star Wars Darth Maul (SAGA127)

Limited edition of 800 watches
Price 136,500 yen (U.S. about $1,750)

Black IP coated steel case size: 43.4mm, 11.0mm thick
Movement: 8B82 Caliber quartz movement with radio correction and Solar charging function
Stopwatch function (measured 1/5 second, 60-minute, measuring up to 6 hours)

Seiko Star Wars Yoda (SDGC013)

Limited edition of 600 watches
Price 136,500 yen (U.S. about $1,750)

Steel case size: 41.7mm, 12.4mm thick
Movement: Caliber 6R21 automatic mechanical

Seiko Star Wars Stormtrooper (SDGC011)

Limited edition of 500 watches
Price 136,500 yen (U.S. about $1,750)

Steel case size: 41.7mm, 12.4mm thick
Movement: Caliber 6R21 automatic mechanical

  

Seiko Star Wars C-3P0 (SDGC015)

Limited edition of 600 watches
Price 136,500 yen (U.S. about $1,750)

Steel case size: 41.7mm, 12.4mm thick
Movement: Caliber 6R21 automatic mechanical

Seiko Star Wars R2-D2 (SDGA005)

Limited edition of 1,000 watches
Price 126,000 Yen (U.S. about $1,620)

Steel case size: 45.5mm × 46.0mm, 9.5mm thick
Movement: Solar Digital quartz movement Caliber S770 with an active matrix EPD with radio correction and solar charging function
World time function (32 cities and regions)

 

Seiko Landmaster “Miura Everest 2013″ Watch (Spring Drive)

New for 2013, Seiko introduces the Seiko Prospex Landmaster Miura Everest 2013.  Limited to 300-pieces, the watch is dedicated to the 80-year old Japanese alpinist, Yuichiro Miura.  Miura,  dubbed “The Godfather of Extreme Skiing” by Smithsonian, was the first man to ski down Mt. Everest, a feat he accomplished in 1970 (later documented in an Academy Aware winning documentary — see “Did You Know?” below).  As the mountaineer steps into his eightieth year next year, he will attempt to climb the mighty Everest for the third time in May 2013.  Perpetuelle takes a closer look at the watch produced to mark the occasion, the Seiko Prospex Landmaster Miura Everest 2013, below.

The Prospex Landmaster Miura Everest  has a 46mm titanium case and features Seiko’s innovative “Spring Drive” technology via the 5R66 movement.   The matte black dial features hour-markers and hour and minute hands with luminescent white coating.  The second time zone is displayed by red Arabic numerals.  The central GMT hand is skeletonized and has a red tip.  Also note the date window at the 3 o’clock position and a power reserve indicator below this.

Specially marked and numbered caseback.  Not clear what the outer data ring is for (blood type, birthday, name, nationality), though I’d guess it allows for further personalization by the owner.

Seiko Spring Drive took 28 years and 600 prototypes before finally coming into production in 2005.  The most famous watch using “Spring Dive” technology is arguably the Seiko Spacewalk watch.  And indeed you can see that the Miura Everest 2013 watch shares many design elements found in the Spacewalk:  titanium case, GMT function, crown at 12 o’clock, indexes and hands, power reserve and date.

But whereas a 100-piece commemorative edition Seiko Spacewalk was priced at a whopping $28,000, the Miura Everest 2013 Ref SBDB007 will sell for a more modest $4,800.  A non-limited edition “Classic” version will also be offered at $4,460.

“MIURA EVEREST 2013″ engraved on the side of the case

The watch comes in a special presentation package with a message from Miura and a soft strap with “Miura Everest 2013″ patch on it.

You can keep tabs on the Miura 2013 Everest climb here on the specially dedicated website.  It is still unclear if Miura will in fact wear this watch for his climb.  WatchZone wishes him good fortune and a safe trek!

Did you Know?

Yuichiro Miura, most famous for being the first man who skied down Everest (documented in a movie of the same name), is a Japanese living legend who has never stopped testing human limits. On May 6,1970, he skied down from the South Col (elevation over 8,000 m (26,000 ft)). Mr. Miura descended 6,600 feet in two minutes and 20 seconds, using a parachute as drag and then passed another 1,320 feet. The Man Who Skied Down Everest that won the 1975 Academy Award for the best Documentary.

Smithsonian.com has an exhilirating story about The Godfather of Extreme Skiing, here.