The Seiko watch that astronauts wore in orbit just got reissued
The Rotocall which came out back in the early 80s (ref. A829-6019 and A829-6029), caught the attention of astronauts like Sally Ride and Wubbo Ockels, among others. Due to its intuitive design, it was worn on the wrists of astronauts in over 150 space missions over the next two decades. This connection even earned it the nickname the “Seiko Astronaut.” In October, Seiko reissued the Rotocall, but with a few updates that ushered the digital watch into the modern era. The Rotocall’s claim to fame has always been its octagonal bezel control system. Instead of fumbling through multiple button presses like you would on a standard digital watch, you simply rotate the knurled bezel to select your function — time, dual time, alarm, daily alarm, stopwatch, counter, or timer — and then use the buttons at 4 and 8 o’clock to operate it. Very appealing for astronauts working in bulky gloves, this is a design feature we see utilized in the modern-day smartwatch space. The new and improved version gives you ±20 seconds per month accuracy with a three-year battery life, and you now get helpful additions like an AM/PM indicator and battery level gauge that weren’t on the original. The digital display remains wonderfully legible with its high-contrast layout and LED backlighting. At 37mm across and 43.5mm lug-to-lug, the stainless steel case proportions are the same as the ’80s models, except for the 10.6mm thickness (up from just 9mm). The case comes with a brushed finishing on the lugs this time around rather than the polished treatment of the original — a smart move that should help hide scratches better. Water resistance a respectable 100m, with a dial covered by a Hardlex crystal. This is not a limited edition, Rotocall reissue is priced at £480 (~$625) and will be available starting in November. There’s no U.S. pricing or release info at the moment. See more here: https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/other/smgg19