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Japanese Timepiece Label Seiko is Bringing Back Steve Jobs’ Favorite Watch

Jesse Jernigan
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Seiko Steve Jobs
It’s not the original, but it’s pretty damn close.

If you didn’t live under a rock through the latter part of the 20th century, you probably remember the iconic black and white portrait of Steve Jobs and the Macintosh computer.

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In 1984 in Jobs’ California home, photographer Norman Seeff captured an image that will forever be a part of pop culture history. It was that exact image that graced the cover of TIME Magazine following his untimely death in 2011.

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While Jobs will forever be remembered for his technological innovations, no one will forget his classic pairing of a black mock-turtleneck and stonewashed blue jeans. But, the one item that made a splash then and is making another in 2017 is Jobs’ favorite watch – the Seiko Chariot.

Seiko Steve Jobs

Japanese watchmaker Seiko has partnered with Tokyo based retailer Nano Universe to bring the past back to life by re-releasing a limited edition replica of the minimalist Chariot strap watch made famous by Apple founder Steve Jobs.

It features the Chariot’s original specs of 33mm as well as a new size in 37.5mm. Units were produced with both black and white faces, but quantities are extremely limited – apparently in the ballpark of just a couple thousand.

There’s just one more catch to the re-release. If you were hoping to get your hands on this rare timepiece, you better pack your bags and your passport. You’re going to have to book a flight to Japan, because this watch is exclusive to the Japanese market.

Bummer, right? While it won’t be sold anywhere in the US, there’s a good probability that many will be resold through online marketplaces such as eBay and Grailed. The re-released Seiko Chariot will retail in Japan for ¥ 20,000 (or approximately $180), but that relatively inexpensive price is likely to jump when sold the second time around. Keep in mind, after Jobs’ death, the exact watch pictured above sold at his estate sale last year for a staggering price tag of $42,500. Now that’s pricey.

It sounds like there are a lot of hoops and tricks to go through for a piece of wrist candy, but if you’re willing to accept the challenge, keep your eyes peeled online or book a spur of the moment vacation to Tokyo.

We hope you like a little bit of spontaneity in your life, because this watch drops March 10, 2017.

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