The Seiko Prospex Pogue Solar Chronograph 1969 Re-Interpretation – A Blast (Off) From the Past

Are you familiar with the Seiko “Pogue” story? If not, give this article a read, then secure your very own modern iteration of the watch here at Jura Watches.

The Seiko Pogue Story

Back in 1972, NASA astronaut Colonel William Pogue purchased a Seiko watch and made it a space icon. Well, he probably didn’t do it intentionally, but you find me a Seiko watch that doesn’t beg to be worn on the wrist every single day? The funny thing is, Pogue wasn’t meant to be wearing it, but the fact that he did made it one of the most iconic watches in the brand’s portfolio.

The Seiko 6139 was a sporty-looking chronograph with a vivid butterscotch yellow dial, red accents and a surrounding blue and red bezel. On paper, those colours may sound like an explosion in a paint factory, but in a watch, they had quite the opposite effect. The automatic chronograph Pogue took into space went down in history. Why not an Omega Speedmaster you ask? Well, William Pogue didn’t receive his Omega until after his training, which meant he completed all his training with the trusty Seiko 6139 on his wrist. Even though he took his Omega with him on the Skylab 4 mission from November 16, 1973, to February 8, 1974, he couldn’t resist taking his own personal watch and wasn’t the only one to do so!

Many years after the mission, it came to light that Pogue had in fact used his Seiko Chronograph to time thruster burns. The revelation came long after the mission (2006 to be exact) meaning that it was indeed the first automatic chronograph to be worn in space. It would be another ten years before the Sinn 142 Chronograph flew. The realisation caused some controversy since Seiko was not officially sanctioned by NASA. Nevertheless, Seiko’s magic lever winding system worked an absolute treat up in space, garnering Seiko more respect than ever before. That one watch from Seiko’s 6139 Speedtimer series was something special and to honour that design, Seiko has decided to launch a celebratory timepiece in honour of its unique design, blending the past and the present perfectly.

The New Seiko Prospex Pogue Solar Chronograph 1969 Re-Interpretation

The new Seiko Prospex Pogue Solar Chronograph 1969 Re-Interpretation carries the distinctive colouring of the original. The bezel retains the same aluminium material and presents itself in red and blue hues, complete with white tachymeter scale readings on its surface. The vivid yellow dial, with red chronograph hands, features the three chronograph sub-counters at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock filled in a grey-black colour and offering a 24-hour timer at 3 o’clock, a 60-minute counter in 1/5th increments at 6 o’clock, and a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock. Vintage-style baton hour markers have received plenty of luminous material on their surface. On the inside ring is a chronometer second scale in a matching grey-black colour, protected underneath a strong, slightly curved lens crafted from anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass.

The 41.4mm stainless steel case of the new Seiko Prospex Pogue Solar Chronograph 1969 Re-Interpretation keeps the original style of the vintage watch intact. The case is complete with a screw-down crown that helps the watch retain its 100-meter water-resistant rating. Suffice it to say, you can wear this watch every day and take a quick shower with this watch without the threat of any damage occurring to the internal environment of the watch.

I particularly love the way that Seiko has decided to taper the lugs of the watch, giving the timepiece a classic Prospex aesthetic. This sporty, retro-coloured design is certainly going to turn heads and will prove the perfect conversation starter for anyone intrigued about its design. The stainless steel bracelet with links executed in a mix of brushed and polished finishes concludes its stoic design. At the same time, the bracelet is ergonomically formed to hug the wrist comfortably and is perfect for pairing with something a little more sophisticated at the weekend.

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One modification of the new Seiko Prospex Pogue Solar Chronograph 1969 Re-Interpretation is the in-house movement. The model now features the Calibre V192 – a solar-powered mechanism that promises an accuracy of -15/+15 seconds per month. Once fully charged, this movement is capable of a 6 month power reserve making it one of the most economical options on the market right now. If you’re a space geek, sports watch collector or Seiko Prospex fan, the new Seiko Prospex Pogue Solar Chronograph 1969 Re-Interpretation has to be a watch you add to your collection this season but move fast to be one of the first to wear it.

The Seiko Prospex Series

Here at Jura Watches, we offer an extensive range of Seiko Prospex watches – one of the Japanese watchmakers’ largest and most diverse collections of sports watches. The Seiko Prospex watch collection is ideal for those with active, on-the-go lifestyles and promises a robust case, a legible dial and reliable movement. These core principles have come to be what most collectors look for in a daily beater, making the Prospex a go-to design for all things outdoor and adventurous. Some of the top models in the line are equipped with a 1000-meter water-resistant rating. Others are special re-interpretation models that pay homage to unique designs from the brand’s historic catalogue.

Fans from all over the world have come to love and recognise the reliability and high performance of the Seiko Prospex, and these qualities are all leveraged by the fact that the series offers incredible value for money. Seiko Prospex watches are affordable and constitute the perfect professional sports watch for competing athletes, sporty individuals and Seiko fans alike. There is an abundance of dial colours to explore within the Seiko Prospex range, including automatic versions, quartz, and solar-powered models. For more information on any of the watches from our Seiko Prospex watch collection, call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453 or email us a question at help@jurawatches.co.uk.