Seiko’s Legendary Dive Watch Gets A Refresh
The legendary Japanese watch brand Seiko has refreshed and crafted modern interpretations of its iconic diver’s watch with new beautiful and lustrous dials.
The watch industry pioneer released its diver’s watch 60 years ago, which was meant to help professional divers keep time reliably during deep sea expeditions.
Seiko’s SLA081, which is currently a limited edition pre-order piece under the Prospex collection, goes for about P262,200 at Seiko Philippines’ website.
Its newly crafted textured blue gradient dial is inspired by the Japanese concept of shinkai, or deep sea, and is meant to capture the outer edges of the sea.
The Japanese watchmaker will also release two other 60th anniversary models, namely the SPB509 and the SPB511, and all are available for pre-order.
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“What began as a bold step into uncharted waters would evolve into a legacy of innovation, precision, and purpose,” Karl Dy, the president and chief executive officer of official Seiko distributor and retailer Timeplus Corp., said at the event presenting the new watches.
“Culminating in today's Prospex collection, we can see that the divers and adventurers around the world are being trusted by Seiko so that we can come up with these beautiful three watches.”
The SLA081 is also fashioned out of a one-piece titanium case to ensure water resistance for depths of 600 meters, which would be appropriate for saturation diving.
The timepiece is powered by the new Caliber 8L45 Seiko mechanical movement, which has a power reserve of 72 hours.
The SPB509 and the SPB511 will be outfitted with Caliber 6R55 and Caliber 6R54 movements, respectively, both of which are equipped with a 72-hour power reserve and water resistance of about 300 meters.
Both watches, powered by the 6R family, will be on a limited run of 6,000 pieces at Seiko boutiques and selected retail stores starting in June.
“So although they are modern reinterpretations, they have been given new designs that fit the contemporary theme of 2025,” said Seiko Philippines Operations Manager Daniel Perez. “At the same time, in terms of the technology, we have moved leaps and bounds.”
A Lookback at the Legacy of Seiko’s Dive Watch
Seiko’s 1965 diver’s watch, known to enthusiasts as the 62MAS, burst onto the scene with its reliable and heavy-duty 150-meter water resistance and was designed to withstand the harshest conditions. It was even used in the Antarctic during the 1960s to test its reliability and cement Seiko’s reputation as a landmark watchmaker. The watch was used in four Japanese Antarctic research expeditions, among other endeavors.
The time-honored diver's piece sports a traditional design with a crown positioned at 3 o'clock.
The Japanese juggernaut then refined its diver’s watch in 1968 with a high-beat mechanical movement and 300-meter water resistance, a rotating bezel, and a screw-down crown at 4 o’clock, which was widely seen as a benchmark for dive watch innovation.
Seiko then renewed its offerings in 1970 with an iteration featuring a streamlined silhouette and durable functionality. It was worn by adventurer Naomi Uemura during his 12,000 km solo dogsled run in the Arctic Circle from 1974-1976.
It was then followed up by one of Seiko's most innovative models with its 1975 diver's watch, which had the world's first titanium case capable of diving depths of 600 meters.
