Celebrating 55 years of Seiko diver’s watches, three legends are re-born in Prospex.

Fifty-five years ago, Seiko introduced its, and Japan’s, first ever diver’s watch. With an automatic movement and water resistance to 150 m, it proved its reliability when it was used by members of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from 1966 to 1969. In the years that followed, Seiko created many other diver’s watches that became favorites of professional divers and adventurers of all kinds, thanks to their high quality and reliability.

Three landmark designs from Seiko’s first decade as a maker of diver’s watches are now re-created as a trilogy in celebration of the 55th anniversary of that first achievement – the original 1965 design, Japan’s first 300m water – resistant watch from 1968 and the revolutionary 1975 saturation diver. And, fittingly, they are offered as part of the Prospex collection, synonymous today with timekeeping excellence for sports and all types of challenging environments.

Pushing back the boundaries in diver’s watches, 1965-1975. 

Although proud that their watch had proved itself in the Antarctic, Seiko’s engineers continued their development work to better meet the demanding requirements of the professional diver. This was the goal that lead in 1968, to Seiko’s first diver’s watch with 300 m water resistance and a 10-beat automatic movement, used successfully by the first person from Japan to climb Mt. Everest. That same year, however, came a letter from a professional diver who explained to the engineers that no diver’s watch yet created could withstand the conditions that he faced every day in his job as a saturation diver.
The Seiko team realized that nothing less than a technical leap was needed to create a diver’s watch that could truly be called “professional.” It took seven years but, at last, in 1975, Seiko produced a 600 m diver’s watch that pushed the boundaries further than any other diver’s watch in history. It had a one-piece titanium case and an outer case protector. Among a host of innovations was a specially developed L-shaped gasket to make the watch impervious to helium without the need for an escape valve, as well as an accordion-style strap that kept the watch secure on the wrist whatever the ambient pressure. This unique watch changed the world’s expectation of what a diver’s watch could deliver forever and its distinctive construction led watch fans across the world to give it the nickname “Tuna.”

Seiko’s Ever-Brilliant Steel: the world’s most corrosion resistant steel, perfectly suited for a diver’s watch for deep sea use.

While faithful to the original designs, all three new watches offer upgraded specifications and execution. The greatest advance is in the grade of stainless steel used in the construction of the three watches. Known as Seiko’s “Ever-Brilliant Steel,” thanks to the brilliant white hue that gives this trilogy of watches its unique look, this grade of steel is more corrosion resistant than that used in most of the highest-end watches today. * It will be used for the first time** in the watch industry for the cases of the 1965 and 1968 re-creations as well as the bezel of the 1975 re-creation, which, like the original, has a titanium case. This material has been used extensively in the surfaces, linings, bolts and other components of marine structures and vessels to avoid corrosion in a chloride-rich environment such as sea water. It poses many challenges in the manufacture of watch cases but, thanks to the experience and innovative techniques of the Seiko team, Ever-Brilliant Steel is now set to bring a new level of durability to the diver’s watch.

The 1965 and 1968 re-creations are powered by the high beat 8L55 movement and the 1975 re-creation includes a Caliber 8L35, both developed and assembled expressly for diver’s watches at Seiko’s Shizukuishi Watch Studio. All three have sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface. Thanks to its pure iron dial, the 1975 re-creation also has an increased anti-magnetic resistance of 40,000 a/m. 

• * This stainless steel has a PREN (Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number) value 1.7 times higher than that of the grade of steel used in most high-end watches. PREN is a widely accepted standard used to measure corrosion resistance. 
• ** as of December 2019, based on Seiko’s research.

Designs that capture the beauty and mystery of the deep sea 

All three re-creations share the same blue-gray dial, evoking both the beauty of the sea and their ability to perform at the darkest depths. In particular, the subtle gradation of the dial color on the 1965 and 1968 re-creations dramatizes the way that light gradually fades as one dives deeper into the dark, mysterious world of the ocean.

All three watches will be made available in limited editions of 1,100. The 1965, 1968 and 1975 re-creations will be introduced sequentially in June, July and August 2020.

A new contemporary version of the 62MAS

In addition to the limited edition trilogy, the 55th anniversary of Seiko’s first diver’s watch is being celebrated with an all-stainless steel modern re-interpretation. This new version is characterized by a slim profile and lowered center of gravity that makes it comfortable to wear on even a smaller wrist. It features the same special 55th anniversary blue-gray dial
Offered in the commemorative trilogy and comes with both a stainless steel bracelet and a silicone strap. Powered by Caliber 6R35, which delivers a power reserve of 70 hours, it will be available in June 2020 in a limited edition of 5,500. 

Seiko Diver’s Watch 55th Anniversary Limited Editions 

The 1965 Diver’s Re-creation 

Caliber 8L55
Driving system: Automatic
Vibrations: 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second)
Power reserve: 55 hours
Number of jewels: 37

Specifications
Ever-Brilliant Steel case
Box shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
Screw-down crown, screw case back
 LumiBrite on hands and indexes 
Water resistance: 200m diver’s 
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m 
Diameter: 39.9 mm, Thickness: 14.7mm 
Silicone strap
Approximate recommended retail price in United States: 
$6,300 Limited Edition of 1,100. Available June 2020

The 1968 Professional Diver’s 300m Re-creation 

Caliber 8L55
 Driving system: Automatic
 Vibrations: 36,000 vibrations per hour (10 beats per second)
 Power reserve: 55 hours
 Number of jewels: 37

Specifications
 Ever-Brilliant Steel case
 Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
 LumiBrite on hands and indexes
 Water resistance: 300m saturation diver’s
 Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
 Diameter: 44.8mm, Thickness: 15.7mm
 Silicone strap
Approximate recommended retail price in United States:
$6,800 Limited edition of 1,100. Available July 2020

The 1975 Professional Diver’s 600m Re-creation 

Caliber 8L35
 Driving system: Automatic
 Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
 Power reserve: 50 hours
 Number of jewels: 26

Specifications
 Titanium inner case (super hard coating) with Ever-Brilliant Steel bezel
 Sapphire crystal
 LumiBrite on hands and indexes
 Water resistance: 1000m saturation diver’s
 Magnetic resistance: 40,000 A/m
 Diameter 52.4mm, Thickness: 17.2mm
 Silicone strap
Approximate recommended retail price in United States:
$4,500 Limited edition of 1,100. Available August 2020

1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation

Caliber 6R35
 Driving system: Automatic
 Vibrations: 21,600 vibrations per hour (6 beats per second)
 Power reserve: 70 hours
 Number of jewels: 24

Specifications
 Stainless steel case and bracelet with super-hard coating
 Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
 Screw-down crown, screw case back
 Lumibrite on hands and indexes
 Water resistance: 200m diver’s
 Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
 Diameter 40.5mm, Thickness: 13.2mm
 Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with push button release,
 secure lock and extender, with a silicone strap included
Approximate recommended retail price in United States: 
$1,350 Limited edition of 5,500. Available July 2020