Back in 1965, a professional diver’s letter pointed out a big problem: the watches used during deep-sea expeditions were prone to damage. Instead of waiting for a better solution to come along, Seiko answered the call by designing Japan’s very first diver’s watch, complete with an automatic movement and 150 metres of water resistance.
Fast forward 60 years, and Seiko is celebrating that milestone with three stunning limited-edition timepieces that pay homage to their dive watch legacy.
The first, the Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s 60th Anniversary, is a modern reinterpretation of the original ‘62MAS’ 1965 Diver. With the theme “The Great Wave”, a nod to Hokusai’s iconic woodblock print, this watch beautifully bridges past and present.
It features Seiko’s in-house 6R55 automatic calibre, offering an impressive accuracy of -15/+25 seconds per day, a three-day power reserve, and a water resistance of up to 300 metres.
Next up is the Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT 60th Anniversary. Inspired by the same wave motif, this model celebrates another significant chapter in Seiko’s history: the 1968 Diver, renowned as Seiko’s first one-piece case hi-beat watch with 300 metres of water resistance.
Unique dial patterns and an intricately adorned case back pay tribute to that legacy, while the inclusion of a short-pitch length bracelet with a micro-adjustable clasp ensures modern-day comfort without compromising on style.
Finally, the flagship of this celebration is the Prospex Marinemaster ‘Shinkai’ 60th Anniversary 600m Saturation Diver. Drawing inspiration from the breakthrough of the 1968 Diver, the Marinemaster ‘Shinkai’, named after the Japanese word for deep sea, pushes the boundaries even further.
Its striking blue dial, crafted with a layered transparency effect, is designed to evoke the mysterious depths of the ocean. Built at Seiko’s Shizukuishi Watch Studio, this model features a robust construction made from lightweight titanium, a superhard coating on both the case and bracelet, and a diamond-like bezel coating for superior scratch resistance. With a water resistance of up to 600 metres and powered by the new in-house 8L45 movement boasting a three-day power reserve, it stands as Seiko’s most advanced diver’s watch to date.
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