There should be a dive watch in every watch collection, even if the user never goes diving. A dive watch generally has very rugged construction and can withstand all elements, not just water. Most affordable dive watches max out at 200 m or even 300m, but beyond that depth rating, watches get rather expensive because manufacturers have to account for the huge pressures of the deep beyond 300m.
Seiko, a world leader in dive watches, released its first ever dive watch, known as the 62MAS, 60 years ago. It was, in fact, the first dive watch manufactured by a Japanese company. The Swiss – Blancpain, Rolex and Zodiac – had already done that.
Seiko has just released a stellar new watch under its Prospex Marinemaster line to celebrate that milestone. But it will cost you US$ 7,200 (LKR 2 million approx) to get your hands on the new Prospex Marinemaster Professional Titanium SLA081, the new king of dive watches at Seiko. It is limited to 600 pieces worldwide. Yes, even entry-level Rolexes are available for that kind of money, but there is something very appealing about this Seiko.
With a new calibre 8L45 movement (+10 to -5 seconds per day), one-piece titanium case construction, 600 metres of water resistance, and an L-shaped gasket to prevent helium infiltration and eliminate the need for an escape valve, the Seiko Marinemaster 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (ref. SLA081J) is technically the most impressive release of Seiko’s new Prospex line-up. This movement, with 35 jewels, measures 28.4mm in diameter and 6mm in thickness and is actually derived from the Grand Seiko Calibre 9S65 (with the same jewel count, same dimensions and the same 72-hour power reserve).
This is a true professional dive watch made for saturation diving, equipped with every technology Seiko can imagine. It measures no less than 45.3mm in diameter and 16mm in thickness. To reduce weight on the wrist, the brand has made it in lightweight titanium with a super-hard Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating. The crown is at 4 o’clock and the date, as usual, is at 3 o’ clock.
At this price range, the watch has a few competitors. The Tudor Pelagos FXD, Citizen Promaster Dive Super Titanium, and Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (which we featured last week), Oris Prodiver GMT, Delma Blue Shark II and of course, the Rolex Sea Dweller are among them. But be aware that the Rolex costs around three times more than the Seiko.
Seiko has basically sourced the design from its 1968 Hi-Beat 300m Diver 6159-7001 and modernised it with technical elements borrowed from the famous 1975 “Tuna Can”. The new Marinemaster Professional Titanium SLA081 relies on a fairly complex construction, and not a classic 3-part case. It actually uses a one-piece titanium case design. There are black-coated elements between each lug, which are secured by the back with screws, and that holds the whole watch and bezel together to ensure its resistance to pressure. There is a unidirectional bezel, which is obligatory on a dive watch.
The dial itself evokes a vision of the deep sea, with an embossed, almost 3-D wave pattern. The gradient blue effect deepens toward the outer edge. The hands are coated with LumiBrite, which will light up the watch in the dark depths of the ocean.
The Prospex Marinemaster Professional SLA081 comes with a metal bracelet, which is also made in titanium with the same super-hard DLC coating. It features rounded links, a complex clasp with a push-button release, a secure lock, and a slide adjuster for extending when worn over a diving suit. Seiko also released a few non-limited 300M watches with this watch, which we will feature next week.
