Seiko Giugiaro Speed Master- An Underrated Motorsport Legend

Looking up and down the grid of a modern F1 grid and you'll see the likes of Tag Heuer, IWC, Casio Edifice, Richard Mille, Bell and Ross, Bremont, and Girard-Perrigeux.

But what if I said there existed a watch that has a F1 heritage all its own, and that the watch is a Seiko? Enter, the Seiko A828 Speed Master.

This unique piece from the 80s was the personal choice of the legendary Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. It was designed by the equally legendary industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro who designed a ton of vehicles as well as other watches like the Seiko "Ripley."

As a Formula 1 fan I like scooping out the brands that sponsor various teams and of course being a watch enthusiast I look for branding from watch brands as well. What I've found it that every brand and watch on the grid today just seems off. Maybe it's because there's the general feeling that they are purely there for the branding.

However, the Seiko Speed Master hits me different. You genuinely feel like this was a watch designed for racing. While the current brands feel more like watches drivers simply wear because they have to, the Seiko Giugiaro feels like a watch meant FOR racing drivers. The angled glass for easy viewing while your hands are on the wheel and the rotating bezel for choosing the mode for your stop watch are purposeful and planned for racing.

The practical design itself was a draw for me. Then there's the tie to Aryton Senna. A champion through and through, Senna's personal watch choice speaks volumes of not only the usefulness of the watch in motorsport but also as a piece of the era itself. Wearing it and you feel not only connected to motorsport but to the 80s in general and that's pretty rad!

While not super common, you can find a high quality piece on ebay and it is surprisingly affordable. So before you drop 1 million bucks on the Richard Mille worn by Lando Norris, consider the choice of Senna. The humble, unassuming, purposeful, Seiko.