Seiko are on a roll of reimagining their Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph in interesting styles. The tail end of 2023 saw the European Exclusive edition and then in the spring of this year they released a racing themed trio. Now though, the collection is heading to space with the new Seiko Prospex Speedtimer ‘Pogue’ Solar Chronograph.
For those unfamiliar with the name Pogue, it refers to the Seiko chronograph ref. 6139 6002 from the 1970s and that was worn by Colonel William Pogue in 1973 on his trip to the Skylab Space Station. This means that it is widely credited with being the first automatic chronograph in space. You can read more about this feat in our article on history’s toughest exploration watches. You’ll also see in that article our editor begging Seiko for a reissue and now his prayers are answered. Kind of.
A Seiko “Pogue” attached to a modern bracelet.
The new Seiko Prospex Speedtimer ‘Pogue’ Solar Chronograph features a bright yellow dial with black subdials and a bezel split between blue and red. The combination of yellow, black, blue and red was prominent on the original Pogue, making the new edition a fitting tribute. Although there are some notable differences. The case shape is completely different as the Speedtimer uses the 1969 style whereas the original Pogue features a ‘turtle’ case. Plus, the display is tricompax on the modern version instead of having a single subdial at 6 o’clock.
On top of that there’s the fact that the new interpretation of the design is powered by the V192 Solar Chronograph movement, which means that it’s quartz with a power supply charged by light passing through the dial. I do find it fairly odd to create a tribute to a watch that was famously automatic and not make the tribute automatic as well, especially when there are some really nice automatic Speedtimers in the range like the 1972.
Although there is a justification that can be made for this decision. Of all the many and varied Speedtimers Seiko could have used as the basis for this tribute, zero of the automatic models have an external tachymeter bezel. Which means that there would be a huge aesthetic disconnect between the original Pogue, which did have a tachymeter bezel, and any of the automatic models in Seiko’s modern range. Therefore, the Solar Chronograph was the only real choice for this tribute – that is, if you don’t want to add a new bezel to those other models, which Seiko could easily have done.
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer ‘Pogue’ Solar Chronograph ref. SSC947P1 is priced at £600, which is in line with the existing Solar Chronograph range. The only question is whether you save up an extra £400 or so in order to buy a vintage Pogue instead, as pre-owned models sit at around the £1,000 mark. If you’re buying this watch because you love the Pogue, I would strongly recommend getting an actual Pogue instead. If you want a Speedtimer Solar Chronograph and happen to like this colourway, it’s fine.
Price and Specs:
More details at Seiko Boutique.
“If you’re buying this watch because you love the Pogue, I would strongly recommend getting an actual Pogue instead” I wish I could say this was true but it’s just not good advice. I have a lot of watches and a 72′ birth year Pogue is one of them, the disappointment always comes after wearing a better quality and better made watch, it sits in my watch winder and nearly never gets worn because of the poor quality of the bracelet (replaced with an uncle bracelet, but still bad) the watch it’s self is slightly too small to be functional, this new reiteration looks like what the pogue should have been and I’m talking about use and practicality, not the insides.