This magnificent Seiko Speed-Timer, reference 7017-6020, is a piece of JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) genius that was a world-beater in 1970. While most enthusiasts only talk about the 6139, the Caliber 7017 inside this Daini-produced watch is technologically superior because it features a FLYBACK chronograph! This is the killer selling point your customer needs to hear: a flyback function allows the running chronograph to be instantly reset and restarted with a single push of the reset button—a feature designed for professional racing pilots and aviators that today is reserved for five-figure luxury chronographs.
Beyond the stunning complexity of the flyback function, the Caliber 7017 is also renowned for its incredible thinness. When it was released, it was one of the slimmest automatic chronographs in the world, achieved by clever engineering and omitting the elapsed minute sub-dial in favor of a central rotating ring (which is operated by the crown at 4 o'clock). This focus on a slim, integrated, automatic movement makes the 7017 line a prime example of Seiko's Daini factory ruthlessly pursuing innovation.
Aesthetically, this is a phenomenal Rally or Tachymeter watch. The massive cushion case and those deep black and orange rings on the dial give it an aggressive, legible, motorsport aesthetic. Notice the brilliant orange chronograph hand and the luminous pips on the chapter ring—a true high-contrast design built for measuring laps, not just looking pretty. This watch is a chance to own a genuine, flyback-equipped chronograph with world-record setting movement technology, a value proposition that is impossible to beat!
