Zach Brass
When you think of the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer, all modern Speedtimer Watches in the Seiko catalog are chronographs, so you think of a chronograph. right? . This new ProSPEX SpeedTimer Mechanical SPB513 is not a chronograph that tracks elapsed time. So, what does it do?
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical SPB513 is not a chronograph, but it is a lace-inspired watch and is not just functional. However, to be fair, chronographs are not limited to motorsports only. Instead of a chronograph, the SPB513 marries time and date clocks on a countdown bezel. This can be used to track the duration of a race or target, such as a pit stop, or the duration of the target, as Seiko explains it. In my boring life, I would probably use it to make sure my lunch break doesn’t take too long or that the boiling pasta comes out completely in the dente.
case
The 39.5mm diameter and 12mm thick stainless steel case is neatly faceted and finished with both brush and mirror elements. The lug is fairly compact, ensuring that the span from the lug to the lug is not very wide, and is suitable for most wrist sizes. At the 4 o’clock position there is a second crown that operates the bidirectional inner countdown bezel scale.
How do you use the countdown bezel? Now, let’s say you need to remove the pasta from the pot in 10 minutes. Align the number 10 on the inner bezel to the current position of the middle hand and when the hand reaches the inner bezel scale triangle, the 10 minute countdown is complete. It’s lovely, simple and easy. A surprising feature of the SPB513 is that it has a very robust and impressive depth rating of a racing-inspired watch. It is water resistant to up to 200 meters. So there’s nothing to prevent you from measuring aquatic-related countdowns using the countdown function (even if they’re pasta-related).
Dial
There is also a black SPB515, but here the 513 we hold in our hands has a matte silver white dial that feels like stone white in appearance. The layout is crisp and clean, pops on a light background for better readability, and pops on a light background to make it a little more superficial, which looks really good. At the tip of each index, a bright circular pip is found, and in the middle hour and minute hands there is also a filling of Lumibrite.
The middle second hand has an orange tip and is a tie-in for the final 15 minutes of the inner bezel countdown scale. The outer perimeter of the dial is black, with a ring of outer time that is fully hashed just before the mostly black ring on the countdown timer inner bezel. And yes, at 4:30, there is the complexity of the date that is fairly well mixed into the silver-white dial.
bracelet
The SPB513 is attached to a Jubilee-style bracelet and features a large-shaped brushed link piece connected to each subsequent piece via two narrow, polished link pieces. It offers a certain level of elegance and talent that I think is elevating its appearance in a good way, rather than relying on a more common Oyster-like 3-piece link setup. If the case was more traditional, then the three links probably made more sense. However, the talent for facets in the case feels that there is a need to add a visual plot that Bracelet Seiko has finally chosen to offer.
Movement
On the inside, under the solid, screw-down caseback engraved with Seiko’s name, check the company’s automatic 6R55 movement. This is one of Seiko’s higher automatic movements, and is often found in the luxurious collections of Seiko King and Presage. This is a 3-day movement at 3Hz with a 72-hour power reserve, and is said to have a regulatory range of +25/-15 seconds per day. However, many owners of the 6R55-powered Seiko have reported much better usage accuracy than its range suggests.
verdict
For $1,500, which is about just under $1,000, Seiko offers a 200-meter water-resistant watch. It’s quite a bargain to ask me, at least as long as the movement is performed with reasonable accuracy.
Seiko Prospex SpeedTimer Machine SPB513 Pricing and Availability
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical SPB513 is now available for purchase worldwide. Price: $1,500
Brand Seiko Model Prospex SpeedTimer Mechanical Reference SPB513 Case Dimensions 39.5mm(D) x 12mm(T) Case Stainless Steel Water Resistant 200m Crystal Crystal Curved Sapphire Front, AR Coated Dial Silver White, Black and Orange Accent Strap Stainless Steel Breekellet, 3x Kreisport Release 7255 Opening Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Dates, Countdown Bezel Availability Now Priced $1,500
