In the grand timeline of Seiko, the year 1924 holds significant importance. It marks a special milestone, particularly for a watch manufacturer that decided to feature its name on the dial of a wristwatch for the very first time exactly 100 years ago.
To commemorate this significant anniversary, Seiko has introduced the SPB455J1, a special edition of the Prospex collection featuring an anthracite grey dial. The golden details reflect the numerous advancements in watchmaking that the Japanese company has achieved over the past century. For Seiko, this progress has included a series of innovations, particularly evident in their renowned Prospex diver collection. In addition to this celebratory edition, two new references are being launched this year to expand the offering of the iconic diver’s timepieces.
The new models include various enhancements in techniques, design, and construction, drawing inspiration from a famous Seiko diver released in 2020, the SPB143J1. With water resistance up to 200 meters and a 70-hour power reserve, this watch has been highly praised for its functionality and particularly for its vintage-inspired design, influenced by Seiko and Japan’s first diver’s watch, the legendary 62MAS.
Looking to the present, the Seiko Prospex SPB451J1, with a blue dial, and the SPB453J1, featuring a black dial, are equipped with one of the brand’s latest in-house movements, the calibre 6R55, which offers a 72-hour power reserve. Notably, this is the first time this movement has been incorporated into the Prospex collection. The new watches have also been refined to ensure water resistance up to 300 meters, marking another first for divers in the Prospex collection that are not intended for saturation diving.
The date display has been repositioned between four and five o’clock, creating a more balanced design and allowing more space for the Lumibrite, which now fully covers the index at 3 o’clock, enhancing readability even in low light conditions. Seiko’s research also focused on making the watch more compact. The result is a case with a diameter of 40 mm, a lug spacing of 46.4 mm, and a thickness of 13 mm, ensuring the reliability, safety, and ease of use required from a Seiko diver’s watch. Each timepiece features a stainless steel bezel with an aluminum insert, providing a lightweight and classic appearance.