Seiko in F1: Honda and Toyota - Grand Prix Watches

Seiko was founded in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori as a watch and jewelry shop called K. Hattori in Tokyo. Hattori started producing clocks under the company name Seikosha in 1892, and officially changed its trade mark to Seiko in 1924. In addition to being a household name today even amongst non-watch enthusiasts, Seiko has the distinction of releasing the world’s first commercial quartz watch in 1969.

Seiko has previously owned French brand Yema from 1986 until 2004.

Association with François Cevert

French Formula 1 driver François Cevert is widely associated with the Seiko Speedtimer (ref. 6139-6000 and 6139-6009), nicknamed the “Cevert”. According to a detailed article on DC Vintage Watches, many notable photographs of Cevert wearing a Seiko Speedtimer can be dated to 1971.

Honda F1

While primary documentation appears to be unavailable, Seiko is widely known to have produced Honda-branded Formula 1 team watches around the late 1980s. While branding is absent, a number of case backs show reference numbers that can be traced back to Seiko.

Known examples include Honda F1 Grand Prix Racing Team digital models (refs. A781-4010 and A781-405A), which share the same A781 module with the Seiko Racing Master digital chronograph line which were released in the same era. Analog quartz chronographs (refs. 7A28-7160 and 7A28-7170) were also produced, as well as a dual time model (ref. VX11-5A00).

Pulsar Techgear F1 Chrono

Seiko-owned Pulsar released the Techgear F1 Chrono in the early 1990s. While a connection with the Honda arrangement is feasible, there appears to be no publicly known documentation to support this.

Bridgestone Motorsport

At some point, a Bridgestone Motorsport chronograph (ref. 7A28-7140) was also produced. This model is not well documented, and whether or not there is a connection to Formula 1 is not immediately known.

Toyota Racing

Multiple Toyota F1 editions have also been released by Seiko. While the exact time frame is not well documented, it most likely coincided with the early years of the team.

At least one particular example was based on a Lukia chronograph (ref. 7T92-0AA0), a sub-brand which was originally launched in 1995 as a line of women’s watches. The Toyota Formula 1 team logo is featured on both the dial and case back.

One model that likely coincided with Toyota’s inaugural Formula 1 season is based on a Seiko 7T62-0AC0 chronograph. The white dial features black subdials and Toyota’s Formula 1 logo next to the 3 o’clock date window. The case back features the text “Toyota F1 Team”, the team logo, “Toyota 2002 Debut Drivers”, and the reproduced signatures of Allan McNish and Mika Salo.

Another known model appears to be based on a ref. 7T32 chronograph, in at least three different dial and case color combinations. The version with the black case and dial (ref. 7T32-7G5A) feature “2003 DRIVERS” on the case back, along with reproduced signatures of Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta.

Sponsorship of Lucky Strike BAR Honda

Seiko began sponsoring the Lucky Strike BAR Honda F1 team in 2005, which included the release of multiple BAR Honda edition models across their Sportura and Ignition lines. They included the Seiko F1 BAR Honda chronograph (ref. 7T92-0GE0) and the Seiko Ignition F1 BAR Honda (ref. 7T92-0GJ0).

Takuma Sato

Also announced in 2005 was the Seiko Ignition Takuma Sato (ref. SBHS013), named after the Japanese driver who was racing for the team. The atomic solar model featured Sato’s name and signature on the case back, and was limited to 3,000 pieces.

Team Watch Partner of Honda Racing F1

Honda bought the remaining shares of BAR after the 2005 season, and announced a new agreement with Seiko for 2006 and 2007. Multiple Honda Racing F1 editions were released around this time, such as the Seiko Sport F1 Honda Racing edition (ref. SND661P1), Seiko Ignition Honda Racing F1 Team Limited Edition (ref. SBHV005), and the Seiko Sportura Honda F1 Racing Limited Edition (ref. SNA749).

At least two models such as the Seiko Sportura Honda Racing F1 Ultimate Kinetic Chronograph (ref. SLQ021) had limited runs and shipped with an authentic Honda F1 gear ratio wheel, complete with a certificate of authenticity signed by both Seiko CEO Shinji Hattori and Honda GP Ltd. CEO Nicky Fry.

Another known release was the Seiko F1 Honda Racing Team Chronograph Limited Edition (ref. 7T82-0AD0). The words “F1 Honda Racing Team” features on both the dial and case back, and had a limited run of 2,007 pieces.

The Seiko Brightz Honda Racing F1 Team Limited Edition (ref. SAGA019) was announced in 2008, suggesting that the partnership had been extended for another year. The solar-powered radio-controlled watch had a limited run of 500 pieces.

Collaboration with Super Aguri F1

A watchcharts.com listing of a white dial Seiko Super Aguri F1 Team limited edition appears to indicate that Seiko was a watch partner of the Japanese Formula 1 team. Team-branded paperwork is dated 2006.

In 2007, Seiko also released the Ignition Super Aguri F1 Team (ref. SBHP023) exclusively in Japan, and limited to 200 pieces.

Takuma Sato drives the Super Aguri SA07. (Photo: by MATSUOKA Kohei, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Jenson Button

Seiko’s partnership with Honda would continue until the end of 2007, during which time F1 driver and then-future world champion Jenson Button also served as a Seiko ambassador for the Sportura line.

Unbranded Toyota Formula 1 Chronograph

At some point between 2005 and 2007, an unbranded Toyota Formula 1 ana-digi chronograph was released that was based on the Seiko ref. SNJ003P1. The case back featured the engraved signatures of Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, who formed the Japanese team’s driver lineup during those seasons.

While details are not well documented, the Seiko name was likely absent to avoid conflict with the brand’s partnership with Honda.