For years, Seiko fans have been clamoring for the return of the Pogue. From all corners of the internet, enthusiasts never let an opportunity to request a reissue of Seiko?s classic sports chronograph go to waste. The Pogue, otherwise known as reference 6139-6002, is legendary, famous for being on the wrist of NASA astronaut Col. William Pogue on his flight to Skylab. The watch in question was among the first automatic chronographs and issued in a variety of colorways, but it?s Pogue?s mustard yellow dial with a red and blue bezel that is the most collectible, and certainly the Seiko chronograph most of us picture in our mind?s eye when we think ?Seiko chronograph.? For reasons the community can no doubt speculate on endlessly, Seiko never has relaunched the Pogue proper, but they?ve come about as close as they ever have with their latest release, the Prospex Speedtimer reference SSC947.
We?ll examine the elephant in the room right upfront: this is not a mechanical chronograph, so is perhaps not the true heir to the Pogue legend. What we have in the SSC947 is a new entry in Seiko?s popular and quite good lineup of solar powered sports chronographs. We?re pretty big fans of these watches, which offer a ton of vintage inspired style and endless practicality in a package that?s extremely approachable. The retail price is $700 for watches in this collection, and they?re sized at a versatile 41.4mm. The special sauce with the Speedtimers is really in the vintage adjacent sty...