At first glance, it resembles a the 5 Sports automotive collection more than a Speedtimer, but the movement alone puts it well above Seiko’s entry-level collection. It is powered by the same caliber 6R55 automatic movement, which is seen throughout Seiko’s mid-tier Presage collection.
The obvious comment is that this isn’t a chronograph, but the internal bezel is an adequate low-tech mechanism for measuring elapsed time. It can mark a second, minute, or hour that something occurred or began.
In that regard, I think the SPB517 is actually a clever and novel addition to the Speedtimer family. It also has the coolest Datsun insignia on the logo, using the brand’s racing logo. It evokes a connection to one of the most iconic racing watches, the TAG Heuer Monaco.
It comes on a perforated black leather racing strap with a crimson suede liner visible through the holes. The SPB517 is essentially a significantly upgraded version of a 5 Sports racing watch with a double-signed dial.