The term Youngtimer refers to a car that’s about 20-30 years old, meaning it’s from the late 1980s through to the 2000s, and which is earmarked for becoming a future classic but doesn’t quite have the longevity to qualify for that status yet. Perhaps it’s a term we should adopt in the watch world too – it doesn’t feel right to call a noughties watch vintage. Why do I bring this up? Well, Seiko have launched the Prospex Speedtimer ‘Youngtimer’ Solar Chronograph, a chrono dedicated to the idea of these future classic cars.
So, how do you create a chronograph design that leans in both classic and modern directions? Seiko’s answer is to revisit one of the most recognisable chronograph displays of all time and give it a bit of a twist. I’m of course talking about the panda display, a style of chronograph with black subdials and a white face, mimicking the pattern of a panda bear – a style made popular by icons like the Rolex Daytona in the mid-20th century.
There are three versions of the Prospex Speedtimer ‘Youngtimer’ and while the first is a more typical panda in black and white, the other two introduce that twist I mentioned by swapping the white for slightly more daring colours. There’s a pink version and then there’s the version I’ve been hands-on with here, which is technically a mint green dial though it’s a very desaturated tone that can be mistaken for grey or blue under certain lighting. Pink and green are very unusual colours for a panda display but are very popular in the current zeitgeist – the Seiko 5 Sports Pink Panther sold out in minutes.
Focussing in on the watch in front of me, the mint green edition is an outlier within the collection because it’s the only one with a steel tone bezel. The other two are both black. The steel blends into the 39mm steel case, giving a more industrial vibe to the watch, like an engine rather than the painted livery. The inverted pushers sit flanking the crown at 9 o’clock ready to engage the chronograph function.
The chronograph itself is powered by the V192 solar quartz movement. Solar quartz means that it uses a quartz regulator instead of a traditional balance and it is charged by light passing through the dial of the watch. On a full charge the watch can operate for 6 months without further charging, but assuming it’s not stored in a lightless space, it should never run out of charge. It’s not as prestigious as a mechanical movement but in terms of convenience and also accuracy, it’s a solid piece of utility.
For pricing, the Prospex Speedtimer ‘Youngtimer’ Solar Chronograph is £640 in all of its variants. This new series of watches is ultimately a new set of colours on the existing 39mm Speedtimer, so it isn’t exactly a revolutionary launch, but for all that, the colours are nice and there’s plenty to like.
Price and Specs:
More details at Seiko.
