This new Seiko watch is inspired by vintage Italian racing cars

It may not be the brighter ‘Rosso Corsa’ red associated with today’s Ferrari supercars, but the darker red of Seiko’s latest Prospex watch is sure to appeal to any vintage racing enthusiast.

The new dial color is close to the darker red used by Alfa Romeo’s pre-war racing cars – including those of then Grand Prix team manager Enzo Ferrari – and is called Factory Red and is exclusive to the European market.

Priced at £730, it’s available to pre-order now watch is an addition to Seiko’s Prospex Speedtimer family. It is a timepiece said to be inspired by the aesthetics of classic cars, and features a matte textured dial with bright orange indexes. There’s sapphire crystal glass, a 39mm stainless steel case and the watch comes with a matching bracelet and a brown leather strap designed to mimic the interior of classic cars.

The Prospex Speedtimer in Factory Red is limited to 2,400 units and is powered by Seiko’s own Japanese V192 movement. This is a quartz movement whose power is supplemented via a solar panel integrated into the dial; Seiko says this gives the watch a power reserve of up to six months.

The watch features a tachymeter around the bezel, which in combination with the stopwatch function can be used to calculate the average speed of an object traveling a known distance, such as a racing car traveling a mile, or a sector of a road rally, where average speed is the key to victory. The stopwatch and sub-dials are operated via a pair of pushers at the two and four o’clock positions, either side of the crown.

Presented in a special edition, the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer European Exclusive in Factory Red retails at £730 and is available to pre-order now.