It was in 1965 when Seiko made Japan's first dive watch, the 62MAS. This timepiece was reborn in 2020 with the brand's Prospex SPB143, which received worldwide acclaim for its functionality and vintage-style design.
Fast forward to this year, Seiko introduces to the Prospex collection a range of watches based on the fan-favorite SPB143, featuring multiple enhancements in design, technology, and construction. Black (SPB453) and blue (SPB451) dial versions join the main Prospex line, along with a commemorative special edition with gold-colored accents that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Seiko brand.
Just like the SPB143, the new creations reimagine the design of Seiko's original 1965 dive watch. Each is powered by one of Seiko's latest in-house movements, Caliber 6R55, which has a power reserve that extends to 72 hours or 3 days.
The watches are further enhanced to ensure water resistance to 300 meters, a first for the Prospex collection's non-saturation dive watches. The location of the date window from the 3:00 position to the space between 4:00 and 5:00 also allows for a more symmetrical design and more space to be filled with Lumibrite, ensuring high legibility even in dark conditions.
The new releases have also been made more compact with a diameter of 40mm. lug-to-lug length of 46.4 mm, and thickness of 13mm. Each watch has a stainless steel bezel with an aluminum insert, with laser-engraved minute markings extending under the numerals of the bezel display.
The commemorative edition SPB455, which has a charcoal gray dial and gold colored accents, has the same specifications as the two other versions. It comes with an additional strap made entirely of recycled plastic bottles which is created using a Japanese braiding technique called seichu.
All three watches will be available in Seiko boutiques and select retail stores worldwide starting June 2024.