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Seiko Unveils New Designs In Their Collections Celebrating 110 Years Of Watchmaking

THM Desk

9 Mar 2023 |

5 min read

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Seiko has a revered reputation among seasoned collectors for its product quality and portfolio diversity. There is no shortage of passion for Seiko timepieces and their gorgeous dive watches and exquisite dial finishing rival the Swiss counterparts at best.

Seiko watches are also wonderfully rich in local character, something that is rare in the industry. This adoration of true Japanese artistry, culture, and craftsmanship can be cherished in maxima with the latest releases from the Japanese manufacturer. Celebrating its 110 years of watchmaking, the brand has introduced its highlight creations for its 2023 collection.

The latest timepieces with a rich connection to Japanese heritage and crafts

Seiko has introduced sincere re-interpretations of its classic 1968 diver’s watch, now featuring the practical GMT movement. This is the first mechanical GMT Prospex diver’s watch. Also introduced as a contemporary take on its 1970 diver’s watch, is a tribute timepiece celebrating the bold accomplishments of legendary Japanese mountaineer Naomi Uemura.

For the dressier and classy segment of its portfolio, Seiko has introduced a quadruple of watches from its Presage Craftsmanship Series. The new series bears a sincere homage to the brand’s country of origin.

Seiko Prospex GMT - The First Mechanical Prospex Diver’s Watch With GMT Functionality

The 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT is a testament to Seiko’s omnipresent innovation that makes its Prospex diver’s watch collection garner infinite praise from professional as well as recreational divers.

A Travel-Ready Diver’s Watch

A GMT watch with diving capabilities or vice-versa is a favorite feature assortment in the industry. The long-trusted 6R family of the Calibers from the brand now gets GMT functionality along with a power reserve extended to a full 72 hours with the new Caliber 6R54.

Very few watches embody the quintessential sports watch or aquatic “get wet” appeal as Seiko divers do.
The latest renditions GMT SPB381, SPB383, and SPB385 with their scratch-resistant ceramic inserts on the unidirectional bezel, 200 meters of water resistance, lumibrite on the hands, and all 12 markers purposefully feel diver friendly. Each watch is presented on a new three-link stainless steel bracelet for comfortable and secure wear.

Twin Colour Variations and a ‘Save the Ocean’ Limited Edition

The SPB 381, and SPB 383 watches are available in classically styled green and black creations.

The SPB 385 is a ‘Save the Ocean’ limited-edition watch that celebrates the 110th anniversary of Seiko’s, and Japan’s, first wristwatch. The watch features an ice-blue color dial, with a delicate striated texture for depth. This watch captures the glacial polar landscapes where Seiko’s reputation for reliable and durable watches was forged in the 1960s and ‘70s.

The additional strap (constructed from recycled plastic bottles) created using a traditional Japanese braiding technique called Seichu complements the dial in capturing the beauty of glacial ice.

Availability and Pricing:

Seiko Prospex GMT SPB381, SPB383: €1,700

Seiko Prospex GMT SPB385: €1,900, Limited Edition of 4,000

Available from June 2023.

Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver's Modern Re-interpretation The Naomi Uemura Limited Edition (SLA069)

Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver's Watch Naomi Uemura Limited Edition - 4

A diver built for deep sea exploration, the SLA069 is a tribute to the achievements of Naomi Uemura are remembered in a classic 1970 Seiko design. The cushion case shape with the crown at the four o’clock position is a signature feature of the watch.

This 1970 diver’s watch re-interpretation honors Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura who the age of 29, had climbed Mont Blanc, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Aconcagua, and, in 1970, he became the first Japanese mountaineer to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. After his ascent of Alaska’s Denali (then known as Mt. McKinley), he became the first mountaineer in the world to reach the summits of all these five peaks.

Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver's Watch Naomi Uemura Limited Edition - 2

Seiko commemorates Uemura’s ascents of these five mountains with a modern re-interpretation of the 1970 diver’s watch. The dial of the SLA069 depicts the silhouette of Mont Blanc, the first of these climbs.

This commemorative watch resonates with the original 1970s aesthetic with a contemporary execution. The textured dial features an image of Mont Blanc at the very same angle from which Uemura began his ascent.

Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver's Modern Re-interpretation The Naomi Uemura Limited Edition (SLA069)

The case sides are carefully polished, and the watch is born on a five-row steel bracelet for a sharp profile. The signature four-thirty positioning of the date window makes all the 12-hour markers visible even in the dark, thanks to their generous coating of Lumibrite.

The timepiece is powered by Caliber 8L35, developed especially for diver’s watches and hand-assembled by Seiko’s most skilled craftsmen and women. The case features a scratch-resistant coating along with an AR coated curved sapphire to ensure uninterrupted legibility from every angle. The watch comes in a special presentation box featuring a saying of Naomi Uemura’s: “When one dream is realized, other dreams will follow”.

Availability and Pricing:

Seiko Naomi Uemura Limited EditionSLA069, Limited Edition of 500

Approximate recommended retail price in Europe: €3,000

Available from May 2023.

The 2023 Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series - A celebration of 110 years of Seiko watchmaking

The watchmaking origins of Seiko can be traced back to 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Ginza to repair and sell timepieces. In 1913, his company introduced Japan’s first wristwatch, the Laurel. Marking the 110th anniversary, Seiko has introduced four new watches in the Presage Craftsmanship Series each showcases a traditional Japanese handcraft combined with Seiko’s mechanical watchmaking skills, for a unique balance of beauty and precision.

The Presage Craftsmanship Series features four traditional Japanese decorative techniques. With each of the four crafts, a different master and his team demonstrate the painstaking skill required to practice their technique on the miniature canvas that is a Seiko Presage dial. For this special anniversary series, Seiko is presenting a limited-edition Presage watch in each of the following four materials: enamel, Urushi lacquer, Arita porcelain, and Shippo enamel.

A Hallmark Creation In The Presage Craftsmanship Series

The limited-edition watches feature an updated case shape with refined angles and a dressier sense of proportion. The case structure emphasizes the craft dials which feature alternating roman numerals and indexes. Thanks to dual-curved sapphire crystals, the dials are more legible, bringing a truly striking appearance to the craftsmanship on display.

The Enamel SPB393

The captivating white enamel dial created by master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team highlights a red roman numeral at 12 o’clock, reminiscent of the original Laurel wristwatch of 1913. Caliber 6R24 powers the timepiece with functions for the date, the day of the week, and the power reserve. The watch exhibits an enduring aesthetic.

The Urushi SPB395

Urushi lacquer is a timeless Japanese decorative art. Transposing this aesthetic prominently observed on fine objects such as soup bowls or furniture, Seiko makes its dial come alive through an innovative Urushi method employed to achieve a flat surface. Urushi master Isshu Tamura and his team employ techniques to make some of the most distinctive Urushi lacquer in all of Japan.

The Arita porcelain SPB397

This dial’s new ivory color transports the wearer to the Izumiyama Ceramic Stone Field in Arita, a small town in Saga Prefecture that is, after more than 400 years of history, inseparable from Japanese porcelain. Master craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi and his team make the dials in a multi-stage process that requires tremendous skill and patience, and several firings in a scorching kiln, to lock in rich color, texture, and depth for years to come.

The movement in this watch is Seiko’s high-performance Caliber 6R27, with a sub-dial at 6 o’clock for the date and a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. The watch is presented on a dark brown leather strap.

The Shippo enamel SPB399

Firing the Shippo enamel after polishing sets it apart and gives the watch its distinctive aesthetic. This dial’s intense blue calls to mind a vast ocean and is fitting to the origins of the art of Owari Shippo which was sparked by a blue plate that came to Japan from the Netherlands hundreds of years ago by sea. From there, the craft evolved in a Japanese way.

Master craftsman Wataru Totani and his team repeat a multi-step process of glazing the surface of the dial by hand, firing the dial, and polishing its surface to bring out the distinctive wave pattern.