Seiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to space | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Seiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to spaceComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsSeiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to spaceThe retro timepiece carries forward a unique rotating bezel design that quickly switches between eight different modes.The retro timepiece carries forward a unique rotating bezel design that quickly switches between eight different modes.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMar 25, 2026, 4:43 PM UTCLinkShareGiftThe Rotocall returns. Image: SeikoAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.The Omega Speedmaster Professional, worn by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 lunar landing, is the most recognized watch to go to space. But the Seiko Rotocall, featuring a unique design that made it easier to switch between the watch’s various modes, could be a close second. Seiko has resurrected and rereleased the watch used by several NASA astronauts up until 2002, including Sally Ride. The new version has a slightly updated design, but it carries forward the same basic LCD display and functionality as the original.The original version of the Seiko Rotocall debuted in 1982 for $125. The new version, available in three versions called the SMGG21 (blue/silver), SMGG19 (red/black), and SMGG17 (black/yellow) starting next month, slightly outpaces inflation with a $550 price tag. If you’re interested but aren’t in a position to splurge just yet, you don’t have to worry about the watches being all snapped up by scalpers. Seiko isn’t limiting their rollout to a limited number.The new version of the Rotocall has a stainless steel case with a matching metal bracelet. Image: SeikoThe new version of the Rotocall features the same knurled octagonal bezel dial with each side labeled with a unique function including the time, a mode for setting the time, a timer, counter, stopwatch, dual-time-display, and daily or single alarms. Selecting a mode simply requires that side of the dial to be in the top position. The watch runs on Seiko’s A824 Quartz movement whose accuracy is rated at ±20 seconds each month with about three years of battery life. It’s also waterproof to a depth of over 300 feet, but Seiko doesn’t specify how long it could survive the vacuum of space.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWearableCloseWearablePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All WearableMost PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’Welp, I bought an iPhone againOpenAI just gave up on Sora and its billion-dollar Disney dealDonut Lab’s solid-state battery could barely hold a charge after getting damagedAyaneo says selling its Windows gaming handheld ‘is no longer sustainable’The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Seiko Rotocall, a digital watch originally released in 1982, is experiencing a resurgence thanks to a rerelease by Seiko, coinciding with the 44th anniversary of its initial debut. This particular timepiece gained notoriety for its use by NASA astronauts during the Apollo 11 mission, notably worn by Buzz Aldrin, and subsequently employed by various astronauts through 2002, including Sally Ride. The watch’s unique design, particularly its rotating bezel, facilitated rapid switching between eight different operational modes – time display, time setting, timer, counter, stopwatch, dual-time display, and alarms – by simply positioning the bezel to the corresponding marked side. The core functionality was driven by Seiko’s A824 Quartz movement, known for its accuracy of ±20 seconds per month and a projected battery life of approximately three years. Furthermore, the watch boasted a depth rating of over 300 feet, though Seiko refrained from specifying its operational limits in the vacuum of space. The contemporary rerelease, available in three distinct colorways – blue/silver, red/black, and black/yellow – carries forward the core design elements of the original, including its stainless steel case and metal bracelet. Despite a price point of $550, reflecting a slight increase in inflation, Seiko isn't implementing strict limitations on production, making the watch accessible to a wider consumer base. The original Rotocall debuted for $125, highlighting the value evolution of this historically significant timepiece. Seiko’s decision to revive this model speaks to a renewed appreciation for its innovative design and its association with a pivotal moment in space exploration, signaling a blend of nostalgia and technological appreciation.