In 1965 Seiko delivered to the world its first “diver,” the Seikomatic Selfdater better known as the 62MAS. A predestined timepiece, which become part of the brand’s history and set new technical-stylistic standards in the entire panorama of diving watchmaking. Sixty years later, the Japanese maison celebrates the 62MAS, the forerunner of the “Prospex” line, with a traveling exhibition and two resounding limited editions.
“Let’s dive in” to discover the Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Exhibition and the new: Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch and Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT Watch.
60th Anniversary Exhibition and The Four Pillars of Seiko’s Legacy
The Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary – Special Watch Exhibition, developed in collaboration with the Seiko Museum Ginza in Tokyo, is a unique experience that brings together and recounts sixty years of Seiko’s technical challenges, innovations, and successes. An ideal journey between past and present, between Japan and Italy, between the genesis of the diver’s watch and its evolution as an icon and precision instrument.
The first stop is based in the Seiko Boutique on Via della Spiga in Milan, which for the occasion has been transformed into an authentic exhibition-museum space. A scenographic set-up designed to accommodate the four milestones, symbols of the maison’s identity and historical memory, coming directly from the Seiko Museum Ginza.
Curious to find out?
It all began with the 1965 62MAS (ref. 6217), the first automatic diver’s watch ever produced in Japan. It featured a one-piece steel case, guaranteed water resistance to 150 meters, and extraordinary legibility. For the time, it was not just a dive watch but a statement of intent of a brand that wanted to establish itself in the world of professional watchmaking.
Seiko overcomes its technical limitations and after only three years makes the reference 6159-7001, the first professional diver’s watch equipped with a hi-beat automatic movement. The 44 mm case remains one-piece, but the specifications in terms of precision, readability, and resistance are significantly improved.
The third specimen is Seiko’s most iconic model. In the collective imagination, the 6105 is known by the nickname “Captain Willard” and is associated with the illustrious Martin Sheen in the film Apocalypse Now. The 6105 has become the archetypal “diver” watch with its unforgettable asymmetrical case with crown at 4 o’clock, bezel and tropic strap.
In 1975, Seiko again subverted standards by introducing Reference 6159-022, the first professional diver with a titanium case. The atypical design, protected by an external shroud, earned the nickname “Tuna” (tuna, in English), because of its shape resembling a tin can. This model is a true masterpiece of engineering, designed to withstand 600 meters depth and the most extreme pressures, thanks in part to the patented “L” gasket that guarantees unprecedented water resistance.
Enriching the boutique experience are images dedicated to the whale, the symbol of the Seiko Prospex line. The choice of the whale is not random; the cetacean is an allegory of longevity, endurance and resilience-all values that echo in Seiko’s history. Completing the exhibition is a scale reproduction of the new 8L45 caliber, a testament to the Japanese maison’s research and study.
Seiko Prospex 60th Anniversary Limited Edition: The Tribute to 1965 and 1968
Sixty years after the first dive into the deep blue, Seiko celebrates the iconic “Prospex” line with two limited editions (of 6,000 pieces each). The new references SPB511J1 (silver dial) and SPB509J1 (blue dial) are born, expertly interweaving tradition and innovation.
The Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch is an elegant and faithful reinterpretation of Japan’s first automatic diver: the legendary 62MAS of 1965. The 40mm steel case echoes the vintage lines with new proportions that are more balanced and comfortable on the wrist. The silver dial is extraordinary and evokes, through its three-dimensionality, the sublime image of the stormy sea.
The Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT Watch fits into the same celebratory project, but with a different language: more assertive, sportier and more technical. The 42 mm steel case has a greater impact, with sculpted lugs and alternating polished/satin surfaces. Here, too, we find on the dial the same motif declined in a blue coloring.
On both watches we find the case back bearing the wave symbol and the numbering of the specimens.
The watches are powered by the proven Calibre 6R family of movements (with gmt function in reference SPB509J1), with a 72-hour power reserve and are water resistant to 300 meters.
On the technical front, it is interesting to note the new adjustable clasp, which allows extension up to 15 mm in six 2.5-mm increments, offering maximum adaptability even on diving suits.
Conclusions and Price
Seiko’s quiet strength lies in its pricing and “value for money” concept. The price lists for the two limited editions are respectively €1,900 for the Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT Watch reference SPB509J1 and €1,500 for the Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch reference SPB511J1 and both are unmatched.
In a market that is inexorably moving toward higher brackets, Seiko remains consistent with its vision and confirms itself as a cross-sectional reference: appreciated by young enthusiasts and fervent collectors alike!
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