• Skip to main content
wwr-logo-black-white-hd

WWR

Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM (Ref. SCED003) by Giorgetto Giugiaro

July 29, 2013

Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM (Ref. SCED003) by Giorgetto Giugiaro watch

This one is good news for numerous fans of the Alien franchise that are also into the watch-collecting business. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their partnership with the Italian industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (this gentleman of many virtues is also responsible for such works of art as the iconic DeLorean DMC-12, BMW Nazca C2, and 1972 Maserati Merak), the watchmaking branch of the Japanese brand Seiko has introduced a limited edition Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM (Ref. SCED003) that looks almost like a re-issue of the famous “Bishop watch” from 1986 Aliens blockbuster.

Comparing the new watch with the original (a photo of the former is below this paragraph and the latter can’t be reproduced for copyright reasons, but you can easily find its numerous images online) that was immortalized in the 1986 sequel to the iconic 1979 movie, I can say that the new watch looks almost like a faithful recreation of the legendary watch.

Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM (Ref. SCED003) by Giorgetto Giugiaro

Sporting the same off-centered case and a grey dial with a tri-compax chronograph layout, a set of highly contrasting, aviation-inspired hour and minute hands, and the signature red hour markers and red Arabic numerals on the unidirectional rotating bezel, the new watch differs from the 1983 model only with the quartz mechanism that powers it (which also means that the setting crown had to be repositioned to a more traditional place at 3 hours), as well as with a new black PVD steel bracelet. As a sort of bonus, you get the superb legibility of the original.

Perhaps, the only thing that may put some people off is the off-centered design of the integrated rubber strap that puts the mid-sized 40 mm case closer to the back of your palm and may make it not particularly comfortable in certain situations.

Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM SCED003 by Giorgetto Giugiaro wristshot (image credit: user 'Rocky555' at watchuseek.com)
Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM (Ref. SCED003) by Giorgetto Giugiaro wristshot (image credit: user ‘Rocky555’ at watchuseek.com)

Offered only as a JDM model, the watch is limited to just 500 pieces and will retail for around $350 USD, although I have already seen one on eBay wearing a heavier price tag of $500 USD. For a piece of living classic (although some will probably challenge the title since a re-issue is never the real thing for the real cork sniffers) the price is justified (and, on a side note, I am fairly sure that the watch will keep getting higher at a price as time goes by, so, if you are interested in getting one, you’d better hurry up!) Even though it lacks millions of functions currently available Japanese watches in this price range may provide, it effortlessly blows most of them out of the water with its subtle mojo and that easily recognizable hand of maestro Giugiaro. And, just for a second, imagine yourself wearing one of these at the next Comic-Con! Yeah, baby!

See also: 2013 Seiko SARZ033 Automatic Series

Photos: Seiko

WWR verdict:

Originality 5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Legibility: 5/5
Value for money: 5/5

Seiko 30th Anniversary Speedmaster Chronograph JDM (Ref. SCED003) specification

Price: $350-$500
Movement: Quartz, in-house, Made in Japan
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Case, Bezel & Crown material: Stainless steel, black PVD-plated
Shape: Round
Case size: 40.00 mm
Case height: 11.00 mm
Lug width: 22.00 mm
Dial: Grey
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Red
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black PVD-treated stainless steel bracelet
Crystal: Hardlex
Back: Solid

Impressions by Evgueni Matoussevitch Filed Under: Japanese, Quartz Tagged With: 100 m, 40 mm, Seiko

Pages

  • About WorldWatchReview.com
  • Privacy policy

Copyright © 2022 · WorldWatchReview.com · Log in

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}