Seiko 5 watch Sports Speedtimer Soccer 7017-6000

SPECIFICATION

THE WATCH

This fantastic watch is remarkable for its age. The dial and hands are original and wonderfully preserved with very little wear. The case has minor polishing but retains its original geometry well. The inner bezel is correct and rotates freely, there is some slight paint degradation and losses on it. 

It’s powered by the calibre 7017 movement which is an automatic, 21 jewel, 21,600bph, day/date movement with a flyback chronograph feature. The way to time something using this is to line up the inner ring with the minute hand, you can then read off the elapsed minutes against the basketball or soccer timer. Flyback means you can reset the seconds counter to zero without actually stopping the chronograph from running

In 1970, Seiko’s Daini Seikosha factory created the thinnest automatic chronograph movement up to that time: the 7017. With a thickness of just 5.9 mm, the 7017 was a marvel of packaging and engineering to achieve the small form factor. To achieve this small form factor, Seiko dropped the minute counter sent on 6138/9 chronographs in favor of sophisticated rotating inner bezel designs such as this one.

During the 1970s this 7107A was featured in a number of JDM only models including this rare reference 7017-6000. It has been serviced and is now ready for you to take it on into the future.

The 7017-6000 is known as the ‘Basketball’ or 'Soccer' due to the two timer tracks on its graduated rotating inner bezel designed to time either basketball games or soccer matches. The inner 'SOCCER' ring is delineated in alternating white and black (the color of soccer balls) for 45 minutes, the time for each half of a FIFA game. The basketball section is marked 'BASKET BALL' and is graduated in the two colors of a basketball, orange and black. It is divided into two 20 minute sections with a ten minute break in between. However, we need to remember that the 7017-6000 was marketed exclusively in Japan, so it would make sense that it was calibrated to time Japanese basketball games. The Japan Basketball Association (JBA) has been around since 1930, and throughout its history its rules have differed slightly from those elsewhere. 

OUR THOUGHTS

This vintage chronograph boasts the reliable performance of a Seiko 7017, making it a valuable addition to your collection. Don't miss out on this opportunity to own a piece of the past and make a statement with this timepiece!