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This Seiko-Powered Affordable Auto Chronograph Is Back and Better Than Ever

Lorier introduces the streamlined case design for the Olympia Series II with a limited-edition black dial.

Close-up of a stainless steel wristwatch with a black bezel featuring white numerical markings. The watch face has three white subdials with black and red accents, and silver hands. The watch is set against a red background.Lorier
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By Brad Lanphear

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Bang-for-your-buck is the underlying ethos of the “microbrand” watch industry, but Lorier accomplishes this goal with such efficiency that I’m amazed it can afford to keep the lights on.

Every watch in the New York-based brand’s catalog is an exceptional value, but none more than the Olympia chronograph. It fits the highly sought-after “affordable Daytona alternative” mold but has more in common with another legendary racing watch.

Silver Lorier Olympia chronograph watch with a black dial and three white subdials, featuring a tachymeter bezel. The background includes two vintage race cars, one red and one blue, and the Scuderia Olympia logo with a winged red foot and lightning bolt. Text highlights the watch's automatic chronograph movement and tachymeter bezel for measuring speed.
Lorier introduced the Olympia Series II with the limited-edition black-dial Contrasto.
Lorier

Lorier introduces the second generation of the Olympia with a limited-edition reference called the Contrasto. The panda dial found on the standard model, which is also now available in the Series II case, is inverted for a black background with white subdials.

Red detailing on the 30-minute totalizer, chronograph seconds hand and Olympia logo are carried over, but provide more emphasis against a black dial. The blue 15-minute segment on the 30-minute totalizer is the only missing flourish.

Stainless steel wristwatch with a black dial featuring three white subdials, one with a red segment. The watch has silver hour markers and hands, a black bezel with white markings, and two push buttons on the right side. The brand name "Lorier" and the word "Automatic" are visible on the dial. The watch is worn on a wrist with a gray knitted sleeve.
The Olympia has a 39mm steel case.
Lorier

Ironically, the 1960s auto racing-inspired chronograph is the most expensive watch Lorier currently offers, priced at $999. But the Olympia’s value comes from the movement, which has no business being in a sub-$1,000 watch.

This high-performance timer is powered by a TMI Caliber NE88 automatic movement, the wholesale version of the Seiko Caliber 8R48 found in the top-tier automatic Speedtimer collection.

A hidden gem of a movement

Most watch fans are familiar with Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII), the wholesale wing of Seiko’s movement manufacturing, but Time Module Inc. (TMI) is another wholesale movement business that Seiko acquired in 2015.

Stainless steel wristwatch with a black dial featuring three white subdials, one with a red segment. The watch has a black bezel with white markings and a brushed metal bracelet. The dial shows the brand name "Lorier" and the words "Automatic" and "Old School." The watch is placed on a blue fabric background next to a brown leather item, a red stopwatch, and a patch with the word "Olympic.
The Olympia is powered by a TMI Caliber N88 automatic movement.
Lorier

As with SII, TMI provides other watchmakers with duplicate versions of Seiko movements. The movements are functionally identical unless brands choose to customize them for an extra charge.

After years of using disreputable Sea-gull movements for the discontinued Gemini chronograph, Lorier switched to a default TMI Caliber NE88 for the Olympia, which debuted in 2024.

Stainless steel Lorier automatic chronograph watch with a black dial, three white subdials, and a tachymeter scale on the bezel. The watch has silver hour and minute hands, a red-tipped second hand, and a brushed metal bracelet. The left subdial features a red segment.
The Olympia has a 30-minute totalizer at nine o’clock and a 12-hour totalizer at six o’clock.
Lorier

The TMI NE88 is distinguished by a column wheel with a vertical clutch and a SPRON (Seiko’s proprietary cobalt and nickel alloy with exceptional elasticity) hairspring. It beats at a pleasant 28,800 vph.

It provides a 30-minute totalizer at nine o’clock, a 12-hour totalizer at six o’clock and a running seconds at three o’clock. The Olympia maximizes the movement’s performance with a tachymeter scale under the Hesalite bezel insert.

A streamlined racer

Less than a year after its introduction, Lorier updated the Olympia with a more streamlined build. While the case still measures 39mm wide and 13.8mm tall, the lugs are raised 1mm, and the bezel is 1mm thinner. It also has larger pushers with curved edges.

Stainless steel Lorier automatic chronograph watch with a black dial, three silver subdials, luminous blue hour markers and hands, and a black tachymeter bezel. The watch has a brushed metal link bracelet and two pushers on the right side of the case.
The Olympia has Super-LumiNova on the hour hand, minute hand and hour markers.
Lorier

According to Lorier, the Olympia’s case dimensions are the smallest that can accommodate an NE88 movement. By comparison, the Seiko Speedtimer SRQ series measures 42mm wide by 14.6mm tall.

Of course, Lorier is a tiny operation compared to Seiko, and certain concessions had to be made to offer the Olympia for a dollar under a grand. The most notable is the Hesalite crystal, a form of acrylic, which sacrifices durability for affordability and weight.

However, as Lorier argues, an acrylic crystal is more faithful to vintage watch design, as it was the default for iconic tool watches like Rolex and Heuer in the 1960s.

Silver metal wristwatch with a linked bracelet, shown from the side. The watch has a round case with two push buttons and a crown featuring a logo. The watch is placed on a blue fabric surface, with part of a brown leather item and a printed image visible in the background.
The lugs of the Olympia Series II are more centered, creating a streamlined fit and appearance.
Lorier

Thanks to its criminally underrated movement, the Olympia has two significant advantages over the top-tier Seiko Speedtimer. The obvious one is price, with Lorier’s chronograph costing less than half the $2,500 MSRP for the latest SRQ055.

The other draw of the Olympia is its size. Small watch fans like myself are finally winning over the industry in 2025, and a 39mm chronograph is more on trend than Seiko’s 42mm offering.

Availability and price

The Lorier Olympia Series II Contrasto is available now for $999. It comes on a tapered steel three-link bracelet equipped with Lorier’s Perfect Fit clasp, which utilizes the same tool-free pins as a quick-release strap for micro adjustments.

The black dial Contrasto is a limited edition, but the standard white dial Olympia is not. That said, Lorier produces its watches in small batches that tend to sell out quickly.

Lorier also offers custom engraving on the case back of any watch for an additional $35.

Stainless steel wristwatch with a black dial featuring three white subdials, one with a red segment. The watch has a black bezel with white markings and a stainless steel link bracelet. The brand name "Lorier" and the word "Automatic" are visible on the dial. Two pushers and a crown are located on the right side of the case.Lorier

Lorier Olympia Series II Contrasto

Specs

Case Size 39mm
Movement TMI (Seiko) caliber NE88 automatic
Water Resistance 50m
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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