u/AudaciousCo

Three watches from three greatly different backgrounds of watchmaking, all three with different complications but with one common similarity, a white dial contrasted with blue elements.

Seiko's first Chronograph wristwatch - 1964 Olympic Torch

This is the Seiko Crown Chronograph Reference 45899, introduced in 1964 to commemorate the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The first generation of this model features an embossed Olympic torch on the caseback for being Japan's first chronograph wrist watch released for the Tokyo Olympic games in 64.

This 45899 first generation features a black plastic/acrylic bezel which were notoriously fragile, causing them to crack or bend over time, the bezel was changed to a steel bezel in the following production 5717 and 5719 models ( featured on my previous post )

At 37mm this watch wears surprisingly well for a 60 year old watch and the sunburst grey dial holds up extremely well.

⌚️1964 Olympic - Seiko First Chronograph

Wako（和光）and Seiko's founder Mr.Kintaro Hattori are tied in history as inseparable entities,
Kintaro Hattori first located his watch business in the now iconic Seiko House Ginza watch tower location in 1895, after the destruction caused by the great kanto earthquake of 1932 the building would have to be reconstructed and somehow survives the air raids of the worldwar with minimal damage.

In 1952 Seiko and Wako one of Japans most prestigious luxury retailers established in 1947 officially move back into the Ginza clock tower building beginning a tightknit relationship that continues till this day.

Wako has consistently made small batch limited editions of GrandSeiko's since 2002 mainly for its loyal clientele, if you are familiar with their watches you would see that their signature is using Arabic ( Breguet Style ) numerals and sometimes Roman numerals ( just like todays example )

It is said that these distinctive typography is used as a nod to vintage pocketwatches and to the aesthetic of the Ginza clock tower.