With WatchTime New York 2019 at the end of last month, the ?Vintage Eye? series had to take a small hiatus, but this week we are back and better than ever ? and for this week’s edition we’re looking at the new Seiko Prospex SRQ029 Limited Edition.

 
As some of you will remember, this new Seiko watch caused quite a stir at the start of last October. It was revealed alongside another vintage-inspired chronograph, the SRQ031, to celebrate the momentous 50th anniversary of the brand?s first automatic chronograph movement (and one of the first to hit the mass market): the 1969-released Caliber 6139.
Funnily enough, the new SRQ029, while commemorating this momentous movement, is aesthetically inspired by a watch that was actually released a year later, the 6138-8020 ?Panda? chronograph brought to market in 1970. This particular watch used the related 6138 movement, and is known for its distinctive black-and-white dial and vertical chronograph. Vintage editions of the watch are highly cherished among Seiko collectors, and I remember during my time at Theo & Harris that it was one of a handful of watches that would almost literally fly off the shelves as soon as we listed it.
As for specifics, the SRQ029 uses a steel 41-mm case complete with the Seiko?s famous zaratsu polishing technique to give its edges their super-sharp look. The case features a modern two-pusher chronograph style on its side, and is strapped with a refined steel bracelet alternating betwe...