This year marks the 19th consecutive World Athletics Championships timed by Seiko.
Seiko’s journey in watchmaking has been marked by a series of pioneering advancements in sports timing. From its pioneering use of a heart-shaped cam for more accurate timing in stopwatches in the early 1960s to the creation of Japan’s first chronograph in 1964 and the original automatic Speedtimer in 1969, Seiko has consistently set and upheld a high standard for precision.
Since 1987, Seiko has been the timekeeper of choice for World Athletics, the world championships of track and field. In 2025, the World Athletics Championships return to Tokyo for the first time in 34 years, and Seiko will once again deploy its state-of-the-art timing equipment in the city of its founding, marking a momentous event in its history in sports timing. In commemoration of World Athletics 2025, Seiko marks the latest chapter in this legacy with a Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph Limited Edition while honoring the performances of the approximately 2,000 athletes who will take part in the championships.
A solar chronograph with a dial rendered in purple
The dial of the limited edition Speedtimer has been created in a beautiful shade inspired by “Edo purple,” a color that was cherished in the ancient city that would become modern-day Tokyo. As a nod to Tokyo’s historical name of Edo, the hue was chosen as the official color of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.
Shaped by heritage, the new timepiece inherits a highly legible style of dial introduced in 1972. The watch finds inspiration in the flowing designs of Speedtimer chronographs from the 1960s to the 1970s. As is the case with all Speedtimer chronographs, every detail of its design reflects the precision required for elapsed time measurement at the highest level. The chronograph seconds hand extends right to the dial’s edge, and the date window sits between the indexes so that the exact time can always be read with ease.
Driven by light, designed for life in motion
Seiko’s solar Caliber V192 powers the new watch, which features a 60-minute chronograph and a 24-hour sub-dial, and, when fully charged, operates for up to six months without being exposed to light. The combination of hairline and mirror polishing on the bracelet links, along with the curved sapphire glass, gives the watch a classic yet sporty presence. The bracelet’s thickness and weight ensure both stability and a high level of comfort on the wrist.
The commemorative chronograph delivers the trusted performance of the Speedtimer while guaranteeing the precision of electronic timekeeping and the reliability and convenience of a watch powered exclusively by light.
This new Prospex Speedtimer solar chronograph will be available from August 2025 as a limited edition of 6,000 at the Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph
World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 Limited Edition: SSC955
Caliber V192
24-hour hand
Power reserve indicator
Solar charge
Specifications
Stainless steel case and bracelet
Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 39.0mm Thickness: 13.3mm
Three-fold clasp with push button release
Recommended retail price in USA: $775
Limited edition of 6,000