IntroducingA Trio Of Limited Edition Seiko Speedtimers Honoring The Datsun 240Z (And More)

The first of the three limited editions is, like the rest, a Prospex Speedtimer, but it's not exactly what you'd expect. The SPB517 takes more design cues from divers in some ways. The stainless steel case measures 39.5mm by 12mm with 200m of water resistance. The watch has a second crown that moves an inner rotating countdown bezel. There's also a middle contrasting white minute track and an inner black dial with the Seiko, Speedtimer, and Datsun logo branding, with a date at 4:30. 

With lume on the hands and at the end of the applied indices, it could function as a dive watch well enough. It's also punctuated with some red on the hands and inner bezel. The automatic Caliber 6R55 movement gives 72 hours of power reserve. The watch is delivered on a leather racing strap, and the caseback carries the Datsun logo. The new SPB517 is limited to 2,500 individually numbered pieces (the second most of all three LEs) and will be released officially in September, and costs $1,150.

If the Datsun branding is too much for you, you'd prefer a stainless steel bracelet, or just missed the boat on the limited edition run, Seiko has also announced two new general-production models with a beige-grey or dark grey dial and orange accents. The SPB513 and SPB515 are a bit more affordable at $995, and are also available in September.

If you've got more specific timing needs (like a tachymeter, for instance), the blacked-out SRQ057 automatic chronograph might suit the bill. It has the script Datsun logo below Seiko, Speedtimer, and Prospex logos, and the dial is packed with other features. This is, in many ways, similar to the SRQ047 through SRQ053, but now with that black tachymeter (with red accents) and because of the change in design, the watch measures 42mm by 14.6mm, with 100m of water resistance. 

The Caliber 8R48 automatic movement is a column wheel and vertical clutch system, and features a date, 30-minute counter at 9 o'clock, and 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock. The power reserve of the movement is 45 hours. There's also the limited-edition Datsun SRQ057 Speedtimer, which is delivered on a leather strap with a three-fold clasp with push-button release, and will retail for $3,200 when it's available in September. It's limited to 500 pieces.

As a standard production edition, the SRQ055 option dials back the branding and is just a purely black-dialed, black-bezeled, solid-built chronograph, offered on a stainless steel strap. The other features remain the same. The SRQ055 Speedtimer Chronograph will retail for $2,500 when it goes on retail the same month.

Seiko Speedtimer Solar Chronograph Datsun 240Z Limited Edition ref. SSC957, which, as the name suggests, is powered by the solar-charged Caliber V192 movement. That movement has a cell storing about 6 months of power without needing to be charged. Features include a 24-hour hand, a power reserve indicator, date, and chronograph counter, with blackened pushers and black coated center links on the stainless steel bracelet. The stainless steel case measures 41.4mm by 13mm. The SSC957 is the most widely produced of all three limited edition models, with 4,000 pieces being made and released in September, and it is the most affordable at $1,000. But it also doesn't have any non-limited edition counterpart released alongside it.

As thematic automotive releases, these are pretty solid. While we've seen other brands go back to the well time and time again with the same logos and companies from automotive history, it's nice to see Datsun get some love. As much as I want to be a car guy like Ben or James is, I think I'll stick to more straightforward releases, which means watches like the SPB513 and SPB515 are more my speed (insert transmission joke here). Hey, if Seiko stays true to one axiom, it's that it's good to have options.

For more information, including all the specs, visit Seiko's special Datsun 240Z limited edition webpage.