Seiko Debuts New Prospex U.S. Particular Version Dive Watches Impressed By Cave Diving

It’s laborious to think about a model that has began extra watch-collecting journeys than Seiko. Though the fan-favorite Japanese producer produces nearly each sort of timepiece possible and operates at an impossibly wide selection of various value factors, it’s Seiko’s numerous dive watches that persistently rank among the many hottest fashions for collectors, and Seiko has a wealthy historical past of manufacturing underwater timepieces that rivals that of nearly any model throughout the trade. Somewhat than having only one well-known mannequin, Seiko’s archives are filled with well-known dive watches, and every one has its personal nickname that developed organically by the model’s passionate collector and fanatic group. Seiko isn’t any stranger to producing restricted and particular version timepieces, and through the years, a lot of its divers have served as the muse for numerous particular version fashions. Becoming a member of the lineup throughout this closing stretch of 2022 are three new Seiko Prospex dive watches which might be impressed by underwater caves and completely produced for the U.S. market.

All three of the brand new U.S. Particular Version Seiko Prospex divers characteristic the identical case, which can be immediately recognizable to Seiko followers as being the mannequin nicknamed the “Shogun” inside collector circles. Whereas the unique Seiko Shogun debuted again in 2008, a second era was launched in 2020, and it’s this mannequin that now serves as the idea for these three new U.S. Particular Version watches. Crafted from titanium and that includes Seiko’s “tremendous laborious” coating for elevated scratch resistance, the case of the brand new watches measures 43.5mm in diameter by 13.25mm thick, with an general lug-to-lug distance of 51mm. Like different fashions from the second era of the Seiko Shogun, the three new U.S. Particular Version Prospex watches characteristic sapphire crystals defending their dials, with cyclops magnification bubbles fitted to the floor with a view to enlarge the date show. Surrounding the crystal is the compulsory unidirectional rotating timing bezel, and all three fashions are fitted with the identical two-tone insert that includes a totally demarcated elapsed time scale and is darkish grey in coloration, with a lighter shade of grey showing for the primary fifteen minutes as a reference to the duality of sunshine and darkish that exists throughout the undersea world. A screw-down winding crown at 3 o’clock mixed with a strong titanium caseback assist present the brand new U.S. Particular Version Seiko Prospex divers with an ISO-certified 200 meters of water resistance, and all three of the brand new fashions characteristic solid-link titanium bracelets fitted to their drilled 22mm lugs, which characteristic wetsuit extensions constructed into their clasps and are completed with Seiko’s tremendous laborious coating for added resistance to put on and scratches.

The place the trio of recent U.S. unique Seiko Prospex dive watches differs is with regard to their dials, and all three fashions characteristic a special coloured dial that’s impressed by underwater caverns and the environments that encompass cave divers. The SPB349 includes a gentle inexperienced dial, whereas the SPB351 is fitted with a lightweight blue-gray dial, and the SPB353 receives a dial that could be a deep blue-green coloration. All three of the dial colours are impressed by the assorted hues which might be revealed when underwater caves are illuminated by divers’ flashlights, and the dials themselves characteristic a texture on their floor that resembles the pure formations and mineral deposits discovered on undersea cave partitions. The hour markers observe the identical type as these on the second era of Seiko Shogun watches and seem as massive factors which might be oriented in direction of the middle of the dial that work along with the trio of enormous centrally mounted fingers to show the time. The tip of the seconds hand on all three fashions is completed shiny crimson for a small extra pop of contrasting coloration, and all three of the watches characteristic white calendar discs that seem by the window within the dial on the 3 o’clock location. Moreover, simply as you’d anticipate from any Seiko dive watch, the hour markers and all three of the fingers are completed with Seiko’s LumiBrite luminescent materials to supply a brightly glowing show at nighttime, no matter whether or not you end up in an underwater cavern or just your native movie show.

Powering the trio of recent Seiko Prospex U.S. Particular Version divers is the model’s Caliber 6R35 computerized motion. Representing a noticeable step up from the model’s entry-level 4Rxx sequence, the Seiko 6R35 is a 24-jewel, self-winding motion that runs at a frequency of 21,600vph and is designed and manufactured completely in-house by Seiko. Just like the ever-present 4Rxx vary of actions, the Caliber 6R35 provides the comfort of hacking, hand-winding, and a quickset perform for the date show; nonetheless, the 6R35 additionally advantages from an prolonged energy reserve of roughly 70 hours. Seiko actions are identified for his or her reliability and ease of service, and the Caliber 6R35 guarantees to be no totally different, as it’s presently the motion of alternative for a lot of of Seiko’s higher-end Prospex fashions. Whereas the somewhat spartan ending of the 6R35 doesn’t provide a lot when it comes to visible intrigue, Seiko Prospex dive watches are in the beginning designed to be useful instruments, and because the motion is hidden behind a strong titanium caseback anyway, the Caliber 6R35 looks as if a completely acceptable alternative for these three new U.S. unique Shogun fashions.

Lots of watch manufacturers draw criticism for producing what is usually thought-about to be an extreme variety of restricted or particular version items; nonetheless, Seiko is such a big and various producer that the handfuls of various fashions the model places ahead every year have nearly turn into an integral a part of the corporate’s larger DNA. Moreover, the best way that Seiko chooses to create some watches particularly for sure regional markets provides extra pleasure for lovers of the model, and I wouldn’t be stunned if there have been a variety of non-American collectors on the market that can attempt to get their fingers on these new Seiko Prospex U.S. Particular Version watches — identical to what number of Individuals avidly acquire the assorted JDM-exclusive Seiko fashions. All three of the brand new cave diving-inspired U.S. Particular Version Seiko Prospex watches can be accompanied by an official retail value of $1,500 USD, and they are going to be accessible from choose Seiko retailers beginning in October 2022. For extra data, please go to the model’s web site.