In addition, the NE88A uses a vertical clutch for starting, stopping, and zeroing the chronograph. Although much more demanding to manufacture, it gives the whole mechanism added quality. Seiko also includes its own, more unusual zeroing solution, i.e. returning the hands of the small minute and hour counters and the big central second hand. It is common to use only a pair of hearts; these are also turned with hands to the 12 o’clock position by a single lever. Then they immediately jump back to “zero”. But only the chronograph second and minute hands, of course – not the hour hand. The Japanese movement can also do this. It has a three-arm lever that turns three hearts in one moment, and thus all the chronograph hands.

Seiko and this chronograph movement can boast one more feature that you would usually find in movements made by brands such as IWC, Cartier and the like. This is eccentric winding – which Seiko was indeed only the second company to introduce, shortly after IWC. It involves an additional mechanism that greatly accelerates the automatic winding of the drive spring during the standard movement of the rotor. This guarantees the movement’s power reserve. Quick winding, like you get in the NE88A, then dramatically affects the accuracy of the watch, since it ensures a tremendous power reserve shortly after putting the watch on the wrist.

So what does the SII NE88A offer? Modern high frequency, power reserve for more than 45 hours and a huge number of jewel bearings (34 synthetic rubies) to reduce the possible friction of shafts and other components. The movement has a modern construction and is accurate and reliable. Owners will doubtless appreciate the precise operation of the chronograph buttons.

Author of article about the NE88A: Igor Sirota, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Hodinky & Šperky