Today we’re going to be comparing the new Seiko Speedtimer SSC963 against the outgoing, and very popular SSC813. These are two watches that I’ve personally spent time with and handled, having just recently completed a full hands-on review of the SSC963 after spending significant time with it in the WRB studio.
Before we get into the nuanced details, I will say that on the macro level, these two watches are more similar to each other than they are different, with really the only difference being very subtle differences in the finishing technique and pigmentation of their dials. The remaining specs are essentially the same, sharing the same case sizes of 39mm, lug to lug, thickness, crystal material, V192 solar movement, and even the bracelet.
The outgoing SSC813 was extremely popular amongst collectors over the span of its production period from September 2021 until the end of 2025. The SSC963 on the other hand is yet to prove itself as an equally popular watch, mind you it’s had a pretty successful launch period and has not been around nearly as long, since it was released in early 2026.
My theory regarding the popularity of the SSC813 comes down to its resemblance to the iconic Rolex Daytona white dial variant, often referred to as the “panda” amongst collectors. It’s also simply a very handsome watch with a rather sought after black subdial against white dial configuration, packaged into a compact chronograph configuration at an affordable price point. The new version, takes away some of this prestige by moving away from the white dial layout and into a colored pale pink, or salmon dial, in the case of the SSC963, and two other available colors, SSC961 and SSC965, in the new collection. Salmon dials are no slouch in terms of desirability from collectors, but the white dial panda configuration is generally considered more desired by the masses.
Dissecting The Dial Changes
After extensive scrutinization of both dials, the obvious main difference is the color, which has gone from an off white to a very pale pink. One interesting point to note is the extremely minor shift in the black used on the subdials. First renditions of the SSC813 had a slightly lighter black that at times could look purple, and they were slightly more translucent to allow more light to reach the solar charging cells. Later variants then shifted over to a less opaque subdial color, which also seems to be the case for the current SSC963.
On my example of the SSC963 I noticed the subdials were ever so slightly glossier than the older model, and that they had very clear brown undertones. Actually, I really appreciated the brown hue as it paired very well with the pink dial, it was a classy touch, rather than just having ordinary black subdials. Both dials are finely sandblasted, but I find the sandblasting technique a little more obvious on the SSC963, which I’m going to assume is due to the color simply being brighter and exaggerating the matte finish.
Even the architecture of both dials remain identical, with minor details such as having stepped subdials sitting slightly below the main dial, remaining the same. The overall layout is also the same, with an unchanged date window, applied baton-style hour markers, the use of LumiBrite on both watches, hand-set style, printing and fonts, steel PVD coated bezel, and overall proportions and sizing within the dial itself – everything here remains identical.
Final Thoughts
If you’re between these two watches, you need to decide if you prefer the iconic look of the black on white panda dial SSC813, or if you want a little playfulness with the splash of pale pink on the SSC963. Both are excellent watches within their price parameters, with the SSC813 the easier daily wearing watch due to the restrained color pallet, and the new salmon dial variant a little more daring or better for selective use. You should also be mindful of earlier vs newer generations of the SSC813, and try to view the new pink dial in person as it’s extremely lightly pigmented, and can shift quite a bit from soft pink into an almost khaki like color.
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