Free Car Mag’s favourite watch brand? That would be a Seiko. At the last count we were into double figures, but you can never have enough of a good thing. Here is our new favourite Seiko…
This design, offered in three colours, is the latest interpretation of Seiko’s 1965 diver’s watch, which was also Japan’s first-ever diver’s watch. Now, the new Prospex 1965 Revival Diver’s 3-day 300m builds on Seiko’s history of durability and practicality with increased water resistance and power reserve.
Worn by 1966 – 1969 Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition members, the original Seiko diver’s watch excelled in reliability, safety, and professional specifications. It later became the standard for adventurers braving the severe conditions of Mount Everest and the North and South Poles. In the 2024 revival, the Prospex design includes a more sophisticated specification, heightened water resistance, and improved power reserve, all while being thinner than previous models.
The Prospex 1965 Revival Diver’s 3-day 300m is in line with professional ISO diving specifications. It features a 72-hour power reserve, 300m water resistance, and glow-in-the-dark Lumibrite coating on hands and indices. The watch offers a diverse array of colours to choose from, available in Scuba Blue, Cove Black, and a 100th Anniversary Tide Grey Special Edition accompanied by an-eco friendly strap made of 100% recycled materials.
Each watch is powered by one of Seiko’s latest in-house movements, Caliber 6R55, which has a power reserve that extends to 72 hours, or three full days. This marks the first time that Caliber 6R55 has appeared in the Prospex collection. The new watches are further enhanced to ensure water resistance to 300m, a first for the Prospex collection’s non-saturation diver’s watches. A change in the location of the date window from the three o’clock position to the space between four and five o’clock now allows a more symmetrical design and more space to be filled with Lumibrite, ensuring high legibility even in dark conditions.
Even with the many upgrades that enhance performance, each watch has been redesigned to be more compact, with a diameter of 40mm, lug-to-lug length of 46.4mm, and thickness of 13mm, while maintaining the reliability, safety, and ease of use required of a Seiko diver’s watch. Each watch features a stainless steel bezel with an aluminum insert for a slim design that delivers a classic feel and appearance, with minute markings that now extend under the numerals of the bezel display. The bezel’s minute markings and numerals are laser-engraved to prevent their wear from long periods of use. Thanks to a new bracelet with shorter links and a smaller clasp, the watch achieves a higher level of comfort as it conforms to the wearer’s wrist.
Since the beginning of Seiko in 1881, the company has continued to innovate in line with the founder’s philosophy to be “Always one step ahead of the rest.” In 1924, the company intro- duced the first wristwatch with “Seiko” on the dial, signifying the beginning of the Seiko brand. The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of this landmark event. In celebration, a third creation with a charcoal-grey-colored dial is introduced as a special edition. Its gold-col- ored accents are intended to evoke the many watchmaking advances brought forth under the Seiko name over the last century.
The special edition comes with an additional strap made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. It was created using a traditional Japanese braiding technique called Seichu, familiar in Japanese culture for its use in fabric designs. The rich texture and sheen that result from the technique can be observed in the traditional obijime, the decorative cord that holds a kimono sash in place. The strap presents a uniquely Japanese aesthetic and texture and is specially manufac- tured to have a tensile strength nearly four times that of regular Seiko fabric straps*. The strap’s strength and resistance to the degradation caused by exposure to sunlight meet the demanding standards required of Seiko diver’s watches, and it is perfect for use underwater.
The Seiko Prospex 1965 Revival Diver’s 3-day 300m will be available 7th of March at Seikoboutique.co.uk, £1,200 – £1,380.