Seiko Pays Tribute to Pogue with New Watch

July 17, 2024 at 1:22 am

Seiko has unveiled the Prospex Speedtimer SSC947, a premier watch that pays homage to the legendary Seiko 6139, famously associated with NASA astronaut Bill Pogue. The SSC947 features a color scheme reminiscent of the original golden yellow, red, and blue watch that Pogue wore during the Skylab orbital workshop mission in 1973. This modern tribute, however, comes with a solar-powered movement highlighting a six-month power reserve, a notable advancement from previous generations.

Seiko 6139

The Seiko 6139, later nicknamed the “Pogue” after the astronaut, was not officially sanctioned by NASA. In a 1993 letter, Pogue detailed how he managed to bring the watch into space. “Although this was not an officially sanctioned watch and it was not authorized, I put it in the pocket of my space suit during launch prep and put it on shortly after inserting into orbit,” he wrote. This letter accompanied the watch when it was auctioned in 2008, fetching $5,975, with proceeds benefiting the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

During his Skylab 3 mission, Pogue was issued an Omega Speedmaster Professional by NASA, which he wore on his right wrist set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). On his left wrist, he kept his Seiko, set to Central Time. He found the Seiko particularly useful for timing the burns of the Apollo Service Module Propulsion System (SPS), noting that the bezel made it more simpler to track time precisely.

A Newfound Appreciation of Space

The watch community and space enthusiasts were unaware of Pogue’s Seiko until it was spotted in post-mission photos, sparking a newfound appreciation for the timepiece. Pogue continued to wear the watch for 19 years after his mission, before retiring it along with his other mementos, nearly two decades before his death in 2014.

The original 1973 Seiko Speedtimer featured a 30-minute subdial, a chronograph seconds hand, and a day-date display. The new SSC947 retains the iconic golden-yellow face and “Pepsi” red and blue bezel with a tachymeter scale. However, it introduces modern features, including three registers with a 60-minute chronograph, a 24-hour hand, and a power reserve indicator, along with a date display.

Seiko’s new release is not just a tribute to Pogue but a celebration of the watch’s unique history and its unexpected journey into space.