Seiko Revives NASA Astronauts’ 44-Year-Old Digital Watch
▼ Summary
– The Omega Speedmaster Professional is the most famous space watch, but the Seiko Rotocall, known for its unique mode-switching design, is also historically significant.
– Seiko has rereleased the Rotocall, a watch used by NASA astronauts like Sally Ride until 2002, with a slightly updated design but the same core LCD functionality.
– The new Rotocall will be available in three color variants next month for $550, a price increase from the original 1982 model’s $125, but it is not a limited release.
– Its operation involves rotating an octagonal bezel to select modes like time, timer, or alarm, with the selected function positioned at the top.
– The watch uses a quartz movement accurate to ±20 seconds per month, is waterproof to over 300 feet, and has a battery life of about three years.
While the Omega Speedmaster Professional famously journeyed to the moon, another timepiece holds a significant place in spaceflight history. Seiko has now officially revived the Rotocall, the distinctive digital watch worn by NASA astronauts for decades. This reissue brings back the functional design that supported crews from the Space Shuttle era, including trailblazer Sally Ride, until its retirement in 2002. The new model retains the core LCD display and innovative operation of the original while receiving subtle modern updates.
The Seiko Rotocall reissue arrives with a stainless steel case and bracelet, staying true to the tool-watch aesthetic. Its most notable feature remains the knurled octagonal bezel. Each side corresponds to a specific mode, such as time, timer, stopwatch, or alarm. To activate a function, the user simply rotates the bezel to position the desired label at the top. This intuitive design minimized fumbling in a demanding environment. Powering the watch is Seiko’s A824 Quartz movement, promising accuracy within ±20 seconds per month and roughly three years of battery life. It is also rated for water resistance up to 100 meters.
Originally launched in 1982 for $125, the new Rotocall reflects contemporary pricing at $550. It will be available in three color variants: a blue and silver model (SMGG21), a red and black version (SMGG19), and a black and yellow option (SMGG17). For enthusiasts concerned about availability, Seiko has indicated this is not a limited production run, so the watches should be accessible without the pressure of a rushed purchase. The revival celebrates a piece of NASA watch history that offered a unique, user-focused alternative to the mechanical chronographs of its time.
(Source: The Verge)