Revolutionary Diashock technology, in-house manufactured movements, proprietary mainsprings, and the world’s first mechanical wristwatch to feature a day date function. These are just a few of globally renowned manufacturer Seiko’s milestones. But the story of the Seiko Prospex watch represents its very own chapter in the brand’s history. It is the name of Seiko’s innovative family of rugged water ready luxury diving watches. Seiko’s first dive watch was created in 1965. Its broad, robust case was ideal for extreme outdoor exploration as well as for exploring great depths under the water’s surface. Ever since then, Seiko has continued to extend within this field of expert watchmaking, evolving the diver’s watch and its indispensable robustness, reliability and accuracy.
To fully appreciate the success of the Seiko Prospex watch it is first necessary to understand its story from the beginning. Seiko launched the 150M Diver’s 62MAS model in 1965. It features an easy grip screw down crown and readable bezel and luminous markers and hands on the dial. Additional features came after Seiko collaborated with Ikuo Tokunaga to combine ideas along with material research and development, bettering the then existing range of diver’s watches. These additions included a helium escape valve later added to the watch, enabling it to perform during compression diving. Following this came the Seiko Professional Diver 600M dive watch in 1975, which, as its name suggests, promised a 600 meter water resistance. A total of 20 patents were involved in the making of this innovative dive tool. It boasted a tuna can appearance crafted from titanium which afforded a lightweight feel on the wrist. The standard helium escape valve was replaced by an L shaped single crystal gasket which outshone the valve by miles.
Not so long after, a bi colour version of the Seiko Professional Diver 600M watch was released and in 1986 Seiko released its first 1000 meter water resistant diver’s watch, which set benchmarks throughout the industry. Other models also made an indelible mark within Seiko’s fascinating history of the dive watch. The SLA033 model, for example, first designed in the mid 1960s, had a recognisable cushion shaped case. The watch was later redesigned in a larger size in the 1970s. This second iteration was worn on the wrist of Martin Sheen in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 war film, Apocalypse Now. Seiko then retransformed its design once again in the popular SRP777 Diver’s watch, nicknamed the “Turtle”.
The Seiko Prospex watch collection is still going strong. Models like the recreated limited edition SLA033 combines the best of the manufacturer’s past, current and future craftsmanship with a 200 meter water resistant case, the automatic 8L35 movement and an executed finish carried out in the company’s refined Zaratzu polishing technique. This specialist technique is famously carried out on models from the brand’s range of Grand Seiko watches. Also recreated was the Seiko H558 model, equipped with an alarm function a chronograph, an ability to track three time zones and a 100 meter water resistant case equipped to withstand dramatic temperature changes. These qualities made it a suitable companion for summiting Mt Everest with, as well as exploring the North Pole and South Pole. The Seiko Prospex SNJ025 Hybrid Diver’s watch remains true to the original H558 in many ways but features solar powered technology that promises a full six months of power once fully charged.
Seiko is continually on a quest to better improve its research and technology. Evolving and growing as a manufacturer, it has improved features like water resistance, shock resistance and robustness. The legible range of diving tools known as the Seiko Prospex watch collection continues to tell its story through new models that promise legibility and reliability underwater, as well as serving the wearer with a crisp, clean and modern aesthetic for wearing on dry land too.
