As part of Seiko’s R&D to prepare for the 1964 Summer Olympic Games - the first time the Games would be in Asia - Seiko developed several advanced wristwatches for the Olympics, such as this full-serviced 1968 Seiko 5719-8992 mono-pusher chronograph here.  Making this watch even more special, this was Seiko’s first chronograph…ever!
 
Let's go back a bit - 1964 marked the emergence onto the world stage of a post-war Japan as a first-rate economic power, most readily apparent in Tokyo hosting the Summer Olympics that same year. Seiko – despite having no prior experience in sports timing (much to Heuer’s chagrin, we're sure) – was named the official timekeeper, and began research and development in preparation for the games in 1961.
 
The Olympic Technical Committee head noted, "We are not assigning official timekeeping to a Japanese manufacturer because the Olympics will be held in Tokyo, but because these are actual functional [timepieces], backed up by solid theory."
 
Despite the head of Seiko's Watch Design Section noting his reluctance Seiko could devise suitable timepieces in time for the 1964 Summer Games - only a few years away - legendary Seiko President Shoji Hattori could not be dissuaded.

The 5719 was released for a short period of time during and after the Olympics, and then discontinued. Seiko also released concurrently another variant of the 5719, the 5717; the ultra rare 5718 (the ultimate grail of most Seiko collectors); and its first World Time GMT, Ref 6217-7000 - all for the Olympics.  Never one to pass up on an advertising opportunity, Seiko naturally advertised and associated the 571x and GMTs with the games.

Seiko’s 5719 chronograph is powered by a smoothly operating column-wheel movement and operated by a single mono-pusher, which starts, stops, and resets the sweeping-seconds hand – while minutes are timed on the rotating bezel.  Although the mono-pusher design was both efficient and easy to use, it remains rather difficult to find clean, original examples with the plastic bezel intact - but the example here bucks this trend.

Of historical note, according to the Official Report of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVIII Olympiad 1964, 50 “Seiko Crown Chronographs” were presented as commemorative Torch Relay gifts. While the record doesn’t specify Seiko model numbers, it’s an easy assessment to make that the watches presented were likely the 5719, like the one on offer here. As such, it is an important piece of history with a place in any sophisticated collection.

This Seiko 5719 comes on a leather-backed beige canvas strap, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.