An Innovative Chronograph Graces The 2008 Velatura Collection

At Baselworld 2007, SEIKO launched a new marine collection, Velatura, to great acclaim. Over the past year, Velatura has found favour among the world's sailing and marine community with its distinctive design and its high functionality. The 2007 collection included two new calibers, the Yachting Timer and Kinetic Direct Drive. For 2008, these are joined by a new Diver Chronograph and new design innovations in the collections for both men and women. In addition, the 2008 Velatura collection includes an important new automatic chronograph which is offered as a limited release special edition.

SEIKO Velatura Automatic Chronograph SRQ001J
The new automatic chronograph Caliber 8R28 sets a new standard
of race timing performance.

The Velatura Collection is the choice
of the fastest of the Olympic sailing classes, the 49er.

The Velatura Automatic Chronograph

The new Velatura watch houses one of the most advanced automatic chronographs ever built. For 2008, it is offered as a limited edition of just 2,000 pieces in the Velatura range.

Calibre 8R28 has all the attributes of the world's best chronographs. It has a column wheel and a vertical clutch system to ensure maximum accuracy and precision operation. It has an industry-leading power reserve of over 45 hours and it has one entirely new innovation - a thin one-piece three-pointed hammer which allows all three chronograph hands to re-set instantly and in perfect unison.

The new chronograph shares all the attributes that have made Velatura such a success, especially the use of the combination of materials that optimizes performance in the very best sailing craft. The case construction brings together stainless steel, carbon and urethane. The dial is made of carbon and the bezel of carbon and steel, while the bracelet combines urethane for lightness and steel for strength.

The technical perfection of this new movement is reflected in the high quality of the engraving on the rotor, which is visible through the sapphire case back.

The Velatura Diver Chronograph

The chronograph calibre 7T92 is well suited to the Velatura design and the 200 meter water resistance offered by the screw crown, screw button, and screw caseback completes this new offering in the Velatura collection. Perfectly designed for all marine sports, the new Diver Chronograph has all the features that have made the collection so successful - the sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, the high-legibility dial, and the design touches that reflect the world of high-performance marine sport. It is offered in two executions, one with a urethane strap and the other with a steel bracelet, inset with urethane panels.

SEIKO Velatura Diver Chronograph
SNDA59PSNDA63P
Designed for racing and all high-performance marine sports.

The Velatura women's collection

The women's Velatura collection also welcomes a chronograph calibre for 2008. 3 new timepieces are added, each with SEIKO's celebrated 7T92 caliber, offering the convenience of a 12 hour chronograph within a steel case. The leading models have 42 diamonds on the bezel and a mother-of-pearl dial with 11-diamond hour markers. In addition, a new three-hand women's model is added.

SEIKO Velatura Women's Chronograph SNDZ37P
53 diamonds and a mother-of-pearl dial add elegance to the new Velatura chronograph.

Velatura. The choice of the best racers.

In 2007, SEIKO was chosen as the watch partner of the International 49er Association and Velatura has become the watch of choice for the leading exponents of this, the fastest of all Olympic sailing classes. In 2008, SEIKO and the International 49er Association renewed the agreement and the gold, silver and bronze medallists at the 2008 World and European Championships in Australia and Spain respectively, received Velatura Yachting Timers in recognition of their achievements. The feedback from the 49er Class Association and its leading sailors will help to shape future generations of Velatura designs.

SEIKO has supported both the World and European 49er Championships in 2008.

New Calibre:
Automatic Chronograph Caliber 8R28

· With column wheel and vertical clutch

· 28,800 vibration per hour

· 34 jewels

· Hour, minute and second hands with calendar

· Instantly changing date

· Chronograph measurement up to 12 hours

· Power reserve for more than 45 hours

· Hand winding capability

Specifications:
Automatic Chronograph Calibre 8R28 (SRQ)

· Case : Stainless Steel + Carbon fiber plate with carbon fibre dial

· Band : Stainless Steel + Urethane (SRQ001J)

· Glass : Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

· Water resistance : 10 Bar

· Screw crown and screw buttons

· Screw see-through caseback with sapphire crystal

· The recommended retail price in Australia will be approximately AUD $4,300 (including GST)

Chronograph Calibre 7T92 (SND)
Men's

· Case : Stainless Steel

· Band : Stainless Steel + Urethane (SNDA59P) with three-fold clasp with secure lock and push button release adjuster Urethane Strap (SNDA63P)

· Glass : Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

· Water resistance : 200 meter diver

· Screw crown and screw button

· Screw caseback

· The recommended retail price in Australia will be approximately AUD $1,100-$1,300 (including GST)

Women's

· Case : Stainless Steel with 42 diamonds on the bezel (SNDZ37P)

· Band : Stainless Steel with three-fold clasp with push button release (SNDZ37P)

· Glass : Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

· Water resistance : 10 Bar

· 11diamonds on the mother-of-pearl dial

· Screw caseback

· The recommended retail price in Australia will be approximately AUD $1,500 (including GST)

Press Releases 2008

An Innovative Chronograph Graces The 2008 Velatura Collection