Vintage Watch |Seiko 5 Sports Speed Timer 7017 (Pulsation Dial)

Seiko 5 Sports Speed Timer 7017-8000: Rare Pulsation Dial Flyback Chronograph – A Doctor’s Sporty Classic from the Early 1970s (Fully Serviced)

Discover a true standout from Seiko’s golden era of sports chronographs: the vintage Seiko 5 Sports Speed Timer 7017-8000. Produced by Daini Seikosha around 1970–1971 exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, this automatic flyback chronograph answers Suwa’s famous 6139 with a thinner, sleeker package. Its Caliber 7017A movement measured just 5.9 mm thick—the thinnest automatic chronograph in the world at the time—while delivering reliable day/date and a practical central-seconds chronograph.

Seiko 7017 A Rare Medical-Sport Hybrid

What makes this example especially special is the rare pulsation scale on the outer ring of the blue dial. While most Speed Timer variants carried tachymeter or decimal scales suited to motorsport, this one is calibrated for measuring heart rate (base 15). Start the chronograph, count fifteen beats, stop it, and the orange central hand points to the pulse rate per minute. Combined with the sporty “Speed Timer” branding in vivid orange and the matching orange second hand, the dial immediately suggests a previous owner who valued both athletic performance and medical precision—perhaps a doctor who appreciated functional tools with genuine style.

7017 with Clean Flyback Functionality

The stainless-steel tonneau/cushion case measures approximately 40 mm across (without crown), with a comfortable ~43–44 mm lug-to-lug and 18 mm lug width. This particular watch presents in very mint condition: the case retains sharp original finishes with minimal signs of wear, and the crystal is completely free of scratches, offering a crystal-clear view of the striking blue dial with orange text and accents.

Condition of the Seiko 7017

Powered by the 21-jewel Caliber 7017A automatic movement beating at 21,600 bph, it features flyback functionality (reset and restart with a single push without stopping first), quick-set day (English/Kanji) and date via the crown, and the signature Diashock protection. No sub-dials keep the dial clean and purposeful—pure tool-watch clarity with 1970s Japanese flair.

This rare pulsation-dial Speed Timer is more than a collectible chronograph; it is a conversation piece that bridges sport and science. Whether worn as a daily driver or displayed as a highlight of early automatic chronograph history, it delivers presence, history, and genuine usefulness on the wrist.

Specifications

Maker: Seiko (Daini Seikosha)

Model: 5 Sports Speed Timer 7017-8000

Era: 1971 May

Case Diameter: ~40 mm

Lug-to-Lug: ~43–44 mm

Lug Width: 18 mm

Case Condition: Very mint with original finishes largely intact. The watch comes with original bracelet

Crystal: The dome crystal is well preserved with no scratches on the surface 

Dial: Blue with orange text, orange second/chrono hand, rare pulsation scale

Movement: Automatic Caliber 7017A, 21 jewels, 21,600 bph, flyback chronograph, day/date. Just serviced by our watch maker in Japan.