Seiko Spirit X Giugiaro Design 'Ripley' Chronograph

Forget the Speedmaster for a second. Well, forget that Speedmaster. 

Sure, Omega’s ‘Moonwatch’ is an icon, beloved by space geeks, watch lovers and just about everyone else in equal measure. (And rightly so.) But there’s another ‘Speed Master’ that deserves your attention — especially if you’re a sci-fi fan. 

The Seiko ‘Speed Master,’ sometimes called the ‘Ripley,” was released in 1983 as part of a series of four watches, two of which were analog and two digital. It’s referred to as the ‘Ripley’ because — you guessed it — Signourney Weaver’s famed Ellen Ripley wore it in 1986’s Aliens, the James Cameron-directed sequel to Ridley Scott’s seminal 1979 Alien. Designed by Italian industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, the original Reference 7A28-7000 notably featured the world’s first analog quartz chronograph movement, the Cal. 7A28.

The ‘Ripley’ was admittedly an oddball upon its debut: Featuring a protruding, rectangular housing on the case’s right flank, it orient’s the watches chronograph pushers vertically — an unusual but immediately recognizable design. A yellow seconds track and a bright orange handset offered a bright pop of color against an otherwise subdued, brushed steel background, making for a watch that’s now known far and wide as one of Seiko’s wonkiest (and coolest) references. 

In 2015, Seiko debuted a modern variant of the ‘Ripley’ within its Spirit collection, offering an all-black take on the funky quartz chronograph at an accessible price point. The Seiko Giugiaro Design SCED043 that we have here is housed in a 42mm black PVD case with red gold-toned square pushers, a stepped bezel, a Hardlex crystal, an unsigned crown, and an integrated, PVD folded-link bracelet with a signed, push-button clasp. Its matte black dial still features excellent contrast, with a white minute track, an outer tachymeter scale, a rose gold-toned handset, a triple-register chronograph display with scales in white, and a date display at 3 o’clock.

In outstanding, lightly worn condition, this tactical, all-black version of the classic ‘Ripley’ ranks up with the original as one of the coolest chronographs ever designed. But don’t take our word for it…

Try it on for yourself!

For over 140 years, Seiko has been cranking out innovative and impeccably engineered watches at every price point, from entry-level Seiko 5s to world-class haute horlogerie pieces under the Grand Seiko brand. Underpinning the company’s efforts has been the mass production of reliable and accurate movements paired with a wide array of case and dial configurations.
Founded in 1881 by clockmaker and businessman Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Japan as “K. Hattori,” Seiko began importing Western timepieces and selling them in the local market. In 1892, Hattori changed the name of the firm to Seikosha (“house of exquisite workmanship”), which was further altered to “Seiko” in 1924. Following the Second World War, during which Seiko produced watches for the Japanese military, the company began its streak of innovations based upon affordable, in-house movements and Japanese savoir faire. These included myriad dive watches such as the famed 6105 and the fan-favorite 6139 chronograph.

Later, in 1969, Seiko would go on to produce the Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. This technological innovation was followed by the Seiko Kinetic in the 1980s, which married quartz accuracy with automatic, self-powering functionality. Today, Seiko’s product offerings are vast, including dress watches, dive watches, chronographs and much more, all of which are powered by in-house movements comprising different types of technology.

Despite a move toward luxury positioning and pricing in the brand’s modern offerings, vintage Seiko classics can still be had at incredibly reasonable prices today, making them a favorite entry point into the vintage watch world for myriad collectors. From their availability in post exchanges on military bases around the world to their fame from films such as Apocalypse Now to their presence at six Olympic Games, Seiko watches are deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the contemporary collector.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.