The Seiko Rotocall, a Cult Favorite From the 1980s, is Back
Seiko’s latest is as surprising as it is satisfying. The reissue of the Rotocall, a digital watch born in 1982, worn by astronauts, and beloved for decades by fans of oddball 80s quartz, is completely unexpected, but finds Seiko working in the register we love to find them in. Which is to say, raiding the archives in a meaningful way that breathes life into classic references and references you might not actually know too much about. I have a feeling the Rotocall might fit into both camps. That’s the nature of a cult favorite, after all. The original Rotocall reference, A829-6019, was conceived as a digital watch that would be a bit easier to operate and use but not lose any of the inherent functionality of a watch meant to perform in multiple disciplines. Rather than a complex menu system or arcane mode switching using a series of buttons, the Rotocall’s functions could be changed quickly by rotating the distinctive octagonal bezel. Setting the time, using a countdown timer, activating stopwatch functionality, and more are all clearly defined by the bezel position. Once you move the bezel to the desired function, a pair of buttons on either side of the case control the action. Think about some of the more complicated digital watches out there and how you might actually navigate from the time display to, say, a calendar, and you start to realize the value here. The simplicity, according to Seiko, was favored by many astronauts, and the Rotocall saw action on well ove...
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