I’ve never, not once, looked at a purple watch and thought to myself—”hell yeah”. But Seiko has a way of making me reconsider things, especially when there’s a story behind the color. With the new Prospex SSC955, they’ve tied a punchy shade of Edo purple to something bigger: the World Athletics Championships coming to Tokyo in 2025. And the result is a solar chronograph that feels more thoughtful than flashy, which, frankly, is exactly what Seiko’s better at than most.
This new Speedtimer doesn’t reinvent anything mechanically. It leans on the familiar Caliber V192, Seiko’s solar-powered quartz movement that’s been quietly doing its job across several collections. What makes this one stand out is the dial. That soft lavender tone, pulled straight from traditional Edo-era Japanese pigments, gives it an unexpected elegance. It’s the kind of color that could’ve easily gone off the rails, but here, it’s grounded by matte black sub-dials, applied markers, and hands that are both legible and purpose-driven thanks to Lumibrite inserts where you need them.
Sized at 39mm across with a lug-to-lug just over 45mm, the case appears compact and solid. It’s a Speedtimer through and through—clean lines, polished flanks, a touch of sportiness via the black tachymeter bezel. Nothing feels overworked, and the chrono pushers are exactly where you want them, both visually and ergonomically. And for a watch commemorating an athletic world event, the 100 meters of water resistance is a nice insurance policy.
The V192 movement does its thing quietly. Six months of power on a full charge, no need to fuss with battery changes, and it’ll let you know when it needs a recharge with a two-second tick. The chronograph tops out at 60 minutes, and there’s even a sneaky little power reserve indicator baked into the 6 o’clock sub-dial.
Flip the watch over and you’ll find the Tokyo 2025 emblem stamped on the caseback, along with a number letting you know where your piece falls among the 6,000 made. That’s limited, but not precious. Which is exactly how I like it—available enough to find, but still special enough to feel like you caught it at the right moment.
The bracelet sticks to the Seiko playbook: brushed links with polished centers, solid feel, deployant clasp. It’s nothing revolutionary, but it gets the job done and honestly, I’d love to see what this looks like on a soft NATO or maybe a distressed leather strap to play off the dial’s tone.
At $775, the SSC955 isn’t aiming for anything crazy. But that’s not what makes it interesting. It’s the kind of release that reminds you Seiko knows how to tell a story—through color, proportion, and practical design. And if you’ve been itching for a sporty chrono with a little soul (and a little sun power), this might be the most quietly confident one to land in a while.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.