Seiko Gets Dark with Prospex Black Series Limited-Editions
Seiko debuted a trio of night diving-inspired watches celebrating iconic ’60s and ’70s silhouettes.
A durable dive watch has to be able to go the distance in matters of functionality as well as style, but what happens when a lauded watchmaker like Seiko takes things a step further and actually pulls inspiration from the great, deep unknown?
The precise result is the new Seiko Prospex Black Series, three new models that reinterpret dive watches from decades gone by.
Watches from 1965, 1968 and 1970 get their time in the sun, so to speak, as part of the collection, which also includes the rugged and tactically minded Seiko all-black stainless SLA061J1 model.
The black DLC finish of each watch is inspired by the great depths of the ocean and adventurous night diving itself, with hits of orange to play off the rich black dial.
As Seiko itself notes, the “black case expresses the darkness and silence of the night ocean, and the orange color is inspired by the lights that illuminate it.”
The Caliber GR35 movement is really what cements the precision and stylish-yet-rugged legacy of the new Seiko Prospex Black Series, with a power reserve of 70 hours that keeps things moving full-speed ahead even the watch isn’t on your wrist (not that you’ll want to take it off, of course).
The Seiko Prospex line in its own right has an illustrious history — you might recognize the Seiko “Arnie” Watch as worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the brand also has quite the impressive back catalog of stylish dress watches.
The reimagined Seiko Prospex line celebrates the beauty of the ocean while incorporating craftsmanship throughout — the three reinterpreted models come equipped with a water-friendly, adventure-minded fabric strap made using the traditional Japanese braiding technique Seichu.
Each timepiece is also available with a durable and hard-wearing rubber strap, but the Japanese fabric strap is designed with optimal resistance and longevity in mind.
Luminous markings amplify the dial visibility of these newly iconic timepieces, and while it’s hard to select favorites, we especially appreciate the revamped 1968 mechanical diver’s model (SPB255J1).
That particular model boasts 300 meters of water resistance, just like the innovative original, yet also sports a toned-down 42mm case diameter.
The three reimagined models will be available in March 2022, with just 5,500 pieces of each made and a retail price of roughly $1,520. It’s a worthwhile price to pay for your own piece of history — especially one made to go deep time and again.
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