Seiko re-releases the Rotocall, a digital watch with a mechanical bezel and NASA history

Seiko has reissued the Rotocall, a digital watch first released in the 1980s and known for accompanying astronauts on NASA’s Space Shuttle missions. The original Rotocall had a 37mm stainless-steel case and rotating bezel, which acted as a function selector for features like stopwatch, timer, dual time, and multiple alarms. The mechanical bezel was a great feature for astronauts because it was easier to use with gloves in space.

The 2025 reissue stays close to the original design, keeping the same 37mm case size and bezel mechanism. It comes in three color options: yellow-black (SMGG17), red-black (SMGG19), and gray-blue (SMGG21) bezels. Instead of sapphire, the glass is Seiko’s Hardlex mineral crystal. The new models also include a 100m water resistance rating, which is an upgrade over the original.

Inside is the Seiko A824 digital quartz movement, similar to the original but more accurate, with ±20 seconds per month precision. The watch comes with the same functions and uses the bezel to cycle through modes, paired with buttons for operation. Seiko plans to release the new Rotocall in November 2025, priced around £480 (~$470). While that’s definitely pricey for a basic digital quartz watch, the appeal to collectors and fans of vintage designs with space history should be clear here.

Regardless, it’s a very tidy reissue that preserves the design language of the original without "modernizing" for the sake of it. The new Rotocall will definitely be a niche product, but there's no denying there will be a market for it. 

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