Giorgetto Giugiaro and His Famous Designs for Seiko
Seiko Giugiaro Speedmater ‘Ripley’ 7A28-7000 Chronograph / Credit: Grailium
While car designers have worked with watch brands in the past, the combination of Japanese watchmaker, Seiko, and famed Italian car designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro was certainly distinct, resulting in a series of very unique timepieces, even for the time.
Giorgetto Giugiaro was born in 1938, from an early age following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were painters and taking up an interest in art and design himself. While studying in Torino, he impressed Fiat’s Technical Director at the time and got himself a job in their Special Vehicle Design department. As his career progressed, he worked on more impressive projects in the automotive world, started his own company in 1967, and even designed products outside of cars, like watches and cameras…
Screenshot of the Seiko Giugiaro Speedmater ‘Bishop’ 7A28-6000 Chronograph from the 1983 Seiko JDM catalogue, originally 50,000 yen
Giugiaro is responsible for the famous Seiko Giugiaro Speedmaster ‘Ripley’ 7A28-7000 Chronograph that appeared in James Cameron’s 1986 hit, Alien! This was one of Giugiaro’s first watch designs, a stunning Seiko quartz chronograph powered by the venerable Seiko quartz Cal. 7A28. The Seiko 7A28 quartz chronograph movement was the world’s first analog quartz chronograph movement and had been released only a few years earlier. In the film, Alien, the watch was worn by protagonist Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. In my opinion, the watch has a very steampunk look to it, which is not as present in the modern reissues (the Seiko x Giugiaro ref. SCED035 and SCED037).
While the Seiko Speedmaster ‘Ripley’ 7A28-7000 may be the most popular Seiko x Giugiaro watch, there were several others designed by Giorgetto Giuigaro for Seiko, even others worn in Alien. The Seiko x Giugiaro ‘Bishop’ 7A28-6000, for example, in black and red, was also worn in the film. Another notable Seiko x Giugiaro vintage Seiko quartz chronograph was the 7A28-5000, a square-shaped chronograph with a slight ‘military’ look to it. Thus, along with the release of the Seiko Cal. 7A28 chronograph movement in 1983, Seiko and Giugiaro actually released some of his most famous watch designs that same year; namely the Seiko Giugiaro 7A28-7000 and 7A28-6000.
Seiko Giugiaro 7A28-5000 Chronograph / Credit: Worn and Wound
Fundamentally, Seiko and Giugiaro’s collaboration centered on automotive-themed timepieces, often chronographs, with the dial tilted slightly clockwise to accentuate the motorsport look and make it more practical for drivers. A very distinctive look, even for the 1980s. Seiko has also, however, released many re-issues more recently, some keeping with the original automotive theme, like the Seiko ‘Rider’s’ Chronographs; limited editions released to mark the 30th anniversary of the Seiko Cal. 7A28 in 2013 – featuring the Seiko 7T12 chronograph movement. And others that stray from the original inspiration for the partnership between the two companies. Despite this, the Seiko Giugiaro watches continue to be inspiring retro watch designs, highly sought after by collectors.
By: Andres Ibarguen
Read more:
“Giorgetto Giugiaro.” Automotive Hall of Fame, https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/giorgetto-giugiaro/.
See 1980s Seiko catalogues.
Love, Zen. “This Italian Car Designer Is Responsible for Some of the Funkiest Seiko Watches Ever Made.” Gear Patrol, July 26th, 2020, https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a33314365/seiko-giugiaro-design-watches/.
“Seiko 7A28 Collector’s Guide.” The Spring Bar, https://thespringbar.com/blogs/guides/seiko-7a28-collectors-guide/#SEIKO_7A28_WATCHES_BY_GIUGIARO.
Brendan, Dave. “Seiko Spirit Giugiaro Design Limited Edition ‘Rider’s Chronograph’ Watches.” aBlogtoWatch, November 1st, 2016, https://www.ablogtowatch.com/seiko-spirit-giugiaro-design-limited-edition-watches/.
A vintage Seiko ‘Blue Pogue’ for sale on Toronto Vintage Watches.