Seiko’s colorful new “Seitona” Speedtimer Solar chronographs finally go on sale globally

In early September, Seiko expanded its popular Prospex Speedtimer Solar lineup with four colorful panda chronographs. There was no word on pricing or exact global availability at the time. That’s finally changing as all four chronographs are officially going on sale globally, including in the US, UK, Europe, and India.

Interested buyers can pick up the HBJ001, HBJ002, HBJ003, and HBJ004 for $775 in the US, £690 in the UK, €790 in Europe, and ₹85,000 in India. All watches are now available from Seiko Boutiques and authorized dealers. Not exactly bargain-bin territory, but still a compelling way into Seiko’s modern racing-chronograph world.

The new lineup joins an increasingly crowded Speedtimer lineup that already includes fan-favorite models like the panda-dial SSC813 and recently released mechanical offerings such as the HBC003 and HBC004.

Like previous models, the resemblance to vintage Rolex Daytonas is hard to miss here — this is also the reason why enthusiasts refer to the Speedtimer Solar as “Seitona”.

The new HBJx series keeps the familiar 41.4mm stainless-steel case, curved sapphire crystal, three-link bracelet, black tachymeter bezel, and trio of subdials. But their personalities are very different.

The HBJ001 pairs a crisp silver dial with black subdials for the most traditional panda look, while the HBJ002 has a charcoal sunray dial with deep black subdials and gold-tone accents on the bezel, crown, and pushers. Then we have the HBJ003, which gets a deep green dial and matching green-and-black tachymeter accents. And finally, the HBJ004 goes full retro racing with a bright yellow dial and red-and-blue bezel.

The new Speedtimer Solar collection is powered by the V192 solar movement, which is Seiko's answer to Citizen's Eco-Drive tech. The movement boasts a six-month power reserve, 1/5-second chronograph timing, a date display, a 24-hour indicator, and a power-reserve function. The watches are also rated to 100 meters of water resistance.

The modern Prospex Speedtimer Solar has become something of a modern classic since Seiko first introduced it back in 2021. However, its roots go much deeper. Seiko debuted its first automatic chronograph in 1969, and the Speedtimer name has since become synonymous with the brand’s motorsport-inspired watches. The current solar models channel that heritage with vintage racing-watch proportions and a tachymeter bezel.