Seiko Retrograde Watches

TweetEmailThere aren't a lot of people who need a watch that can survive the airless void of space, but Richard Garriott happens to be one of them. He's headed for the International Space Station and some extra-vehicular activity (spacewalking). Garriott could have just chosen to wear the vacuum-rated Omega Speedmaster, or maybe a Fortis Cosmonaut, but instead he turned to one of my favorite watchmakers: Seiko.Seiko has a long tradition of creating limited-edition watches for explorers in extreme environments. They've made some extraordinary watches, and routinely use the lessons learned in later production models. For example, they made Landmasters for trips to both poles (the GMT hand goes counter-clockwise for the Landmaster South Pole!), an amazing shrouded diver for commercial divers, a ceramic and titanium masterpiece for Mt. Everest, and even a watch specifically designed for hikers of Japan's mountains. As most of these are limited editions, they are tragically hard to find, and rarely even seen.For Garriott, Seiko has designed a true masterpiece introduced this year at BaselWorld: the Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk. Have a look at these features:Spring Drive 5R86 movement for accuracy under the extreme temperature swings of space (-20�� to +70�� Celsius, or about -4�� to 160�� Fahrenheit).Titanium case with the sides etched out by a new CNC (computer numerical control) machine that Seiko built in order to help get the weight down to only 92.5 grams.Completely air-tight case capable of surviving direct exposure to space.Oversized buttons for use while wearing space gloves.Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.Waterproof to 100m, or 330ft (in case of a water landing, I guess).12-hour chronograph.GMT hand for 24-hour UTC time (which is used in both space and aviation).New luminescent material that Seiko says is three times as bright as a typical luminescent watch.A special dial and hand design for maximum readability.53mm by 15.2mm which is huge.Limited edition of just 100 watches (price not yet announced).They made some interesting design decisions on this one, and I'm smitten by the results. The dial is ultra-readable, with unobtrusive chrono hands, a subtle but still readable "there if you need it" blue skeletonized GMT hand, and bold white hour and minute hands reminiscent of the 6S37 Flightmaster. The power reserve subdial is subdued, and the date window is symmetric with the 9 o'clock marker. Blue makes a low-key accent, carefully placed to be non intrusive. The sculpted case and top-mounted buttons and crown (referred to as a "bullhead" design) make for a stunning and unique timepiece.The Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk is to space what the new Rolex Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA is to the ocean. Even at 53mm, I'd happily wear it. It's gorgeous, functional, and built like a titanium tank. Let's hope Seiko introduces a production model soon.Update (June 15): Richard Garriott gives us an update on how the Seiko Spacewalk is performing so far during training.By Paul Hubbard

Seiko Keen Green belongs to a total new line of watches created especially for the U.S. Military. The Keen Green is a tribute to al of the air force members that have lost their life in the Second World War but its properties are made and customize for the use of today modern wa***re. The watch is totally in a green color and it is robust, created to resist in the worst condition of the planet like the air force military guys are. The case of the watch is built from one of the toughest aroid materials and that is stainless steel and titanium and this case can even sustain an entire truck to go past it and it will not take any damage. Also on the case is modeled on the right side, where the wheel is, the U.S. Air Force sign that makes it even rougher then before. That was not an easy thing to do because the titanium-steel aroid can be shaped only at 1500 Celsius degrees and only in some special mold. The perfect way to realize this watch was in a special blacksmith that is tradition is older then 200 years.Like the other watches where the glass is made from sapphire crystal, this glass of the Seiko Keen Green is made from a bullet proof glass that can resist just like the name said, to a firing bullet. The glass is as flat as possible; an exception is made on the edges where it is agglutinated with a special acrylic resin that also plays a water proof part in the isolation of the watch. So the Seiko Keen Green is one of the few watches that don't use a membrane to isolate the watch against water. Actually to make the glass possible to be mounted on the case it was necessary a special groove along the edge of the case, this can only make even more difficult for the case to be executed.Seiko has also made possible that the watch to be personalize on the back cap with the name of the soldier that wears it. The back side of the watch has also inscribed on it the U.S. Air Force emblem and the year when this segment of the army appears. The Seiko Keen Green makes possible that the soldiers can timed their actions or synchronized them. It also can measure air pressure, temperature or even water pressure. The most amazing feature of this watch is that it has a meters measuring device and we will try to explain how it works. When you want to measure the distance with the new Seiko Keen Green you must first take a reference point then when you will act the upper button of the watch two indicators will start. One of the indicators is measuring timed between the point where the button was pressed and the other point when the button is again started. The other indicator is actually a compass that is indicating the direction where you are heading. When the whole system is stopped the entire data are stoked into mechanicals parts. When you will like to go back to the reference point you must act the button again and the timer will go backwards and that it will show you how far you are from that point, and the compass will indicate in witch direction you must attend. This is a most common watch known between the military men and women but if you will like to buy one piece you must order it on-line because the watch can not be found in the stores.The Seiko Keen Green is an exemplar piece of engineering and so it shown to the world that the Seiko is a firm that can developed watches indifferent of the active domain in witch there are.