Speedtimer SPB513: not a chronograph, not an Alpinist, and I'd actually buy it
Not my usual kind of twerp
Today's review is the Seiko Speedtimer SPB513J1. It's £850, or 995 US dollars. A three-hander with the 6R55, automatic with hand winding, hacking seconds, 24 jewels, 72 hours of power reserve, and a date. The case has this lovely super hard coating. They used to call it Diashield. 39.5 mm, a very slim 12 mm, 44.5 lug to lug, 20 mm lugs. 154 g with all links, 145 here with a couple removed.
20 bar on the dial, because it's not a diver. That's 200 metres, which is interesting when it's not even a screw-down crown. It just goes to show even your little Seiko 5s don't need one.
Thank goodness it isn't a chronograph
The Speedtimer came out in 1969 as one of the world's first automatic chronographs, the 6139. None of that is relevant today, because this isn't a chronograph. Thank goodness, because I hate chronographs. It's very similar to the Alpinist series, almost identical in size and function, but instead of an inner rotating compass bezel, you get an inner rotating countdown bezel. Set the time you want to elapse on the minute hand, and when it reaches the arrow, you've reached your destination. Very useful.
The Alpinist is an enduring Seiko, but I've never liked it and never considered buying one. This SPB513, however, I would most certainly consider buying. It is a remarkable looking twerp.
The wearability matrix is beyond thunderdome
Excellent proportions. So comfortable, and a welcome break from the behemoth heavy dive twerps we all love to wear. Look at this Hulk Sumo, weighing about twice as much. Sometimes it's nice to have a little twerp to wear in comfort while you guzzle your brown liquors.
Angular case, multiple facets, lusterously deeply brushed flanks, short sloping lugs. The brush work is sublime, and there's a beautiful high polished bevel all along the side. Two unsigned crowns, neither pull-out nor screw-down, but it's okay. The standout is the dial: applied Seiko logo, applied baton indices with little shoulders, perfectly sized hands filled with loom, an orange-tipped seconds hand, and that raised inner bezel giving the dial wonderful depth. The black one, the SPB515, is quite underwhelming.
Drape for days
I love this bracelet. Look at the drape. It drapes for days, bro. Unreal for the beach. Three-piece, all solid links, pin and collar, brushed on top, polished flanks, and little polished interlopers that flash in the light. Seiko have smashed the bollocks out of this one. Milled swing arm with a nice little bevel. The clasp is stamped, get rid of it immediately. Only two micros, but the short links give perfect fit.
Verdict
I think it's a great watch. In the loom shot next to the Hulk Sumo, the Sumo is going to win, but that's not bad for a racing inspired piece. They're both great. The Speedtimer is definitely for the beach. Never give up.
