This iconic piece of Seiko's history was also revealed to be the US head of Seiko’s favourite watch! It features one of Seiko’s more interesting and high-end movements – the kinetic calibre 9T82.
Model: Seiko Sportura Kinetic aka SBCG001 aka 9T82-0A50
Year: 2000
Features:
The Design. Designed by Shinji Sato (who first joined Seiko in 1983 and is still designing watches for Seiko even now!) the watch features no true “main” dial, opting instead for four sub-dials. Sato took inspiration from the highly accurate instruments found in the cockpit of aircrafts. It’s often described as looking retro-futuristic, but to me there’s something oddly neo-vintage about the design, as its dials have a pilot’s watch simplicity and shape to them. However you want to label it, the need for a unique design was brought about by the truly unique movement…
The Movement. A hybrid between electric and kinetic energy. Often referred to as a “third” chronograph because Seiko sees it as using the “third” movement type; Kinetic. It generates power via a rotor, just like an automatic, but instead of the movement being stored in a wound spring, the energy gets stored in a rechargeable battery. As a result, you get the reliability of a quartz movement, with the longevity of an automatic (the capacitor needs to be replaced every ~15 years rather than every 1-2 years like the battery in a quartz watch).
Limited Edition. If my understanding is correct, the first 1000 SLQ007 and the first 1000 SLQ001 ever produced were marked accordingly on their case backs. This one is marked 405/1000. Later iterations of both designs were unmarked, as they weren’t part of a limited release schedule. I suspect Seiko didn’t anticipate just how popular this experimental design was going to be when they initially scheduled only a 1000 copies of each to be made!
The History. You might have noticed the similarity between this type of hybrid movement and Seiko’s now more famous, fully automatic, “hybrid” movement; the Spring Drive. The two are certainly connected, at least temporarily, although I am not privy to the exact specifics. Seiko created the Spring Drive in the 80s but didn’t commercialise it a few years after the release of these Kinetic movements. It’s definitely fair to describe the Kinetic series as a commercial pre-cursor to the Spring Drive, although the exact creative/historical link between the two would need to be defined by Seiko themselves.
Condition: It's hugely important to consider the inside of this watch rather than the outside. The capacitor is notoriously difficult to replace, as the entire watch needs to be taken apart to access it. Luckily you for, the watch was just fully serviced and given a fresh 15-year capacitor by none other than Seiko Japan itself. Unworn and in great shape overall, but not without the occasional minor surface scratch on the case. The face has two noticeable marks. They aren't so much scratches as they are a flattening of the brushed surface. They could easily be re-brushed if desired.
Scope: No original box or papers.
Movement: Kinetic, 9t82 38 Jewelled Movement
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 42.0mm
- Case Thickness: 13.8mm
- Bracelet Width: 20.0mm
- Bracelet Size: 18cm or 7 inches
Delivered in a beautiful custom stamped (Provenance Watches) leather travel case. Makes for a perfect gift.
