Seiko Prospex Trilogy Re-Creates First Dive Watches, Including Iconic ‘Tuna’
Seiko recreates its first dive watches from 1965, 1968 and 1975 with a trio of modern, vintage-inspired Prospex editions that, while faithful to the original designs, include upgraded movements and materials.
Seiko was one of the pioneers of the dive watch, developing its first, the 150M Diver, in 1965. It was used by members of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from 1966 to 1969. Seiko followed up in 1968 with the 300M Diver, but aimed to go deeper. After seven years of research, the company debuted the Professional Diver’s 600M Titanium in 1975, the first divers’ watch in the world to have a titanium case. It was shock-resistant, corrosion-proof and anti-magnetic. It was built for saturation diving, and could operate at 600 meters without a helium valve. This model would eventually be depth rated to 1,000 meters. Its distinctive construction – a one-piece case with a special gasket that eliminated the need for a helium valve – led watch fans across the world to give it the nickname “Tuna.”
The watches in the new Prospex trilogy use Seiko’s Ever-Brilliant Steel, a special grade with a brilliant white hue and is more corrosion resistant than other grades of steel. It has a PREN (Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number) value that is 1.7-times higher than that of the grade of steel used in most high-end watches. PREN is a widely accepted standard used to measure corrosion resistance. It will be used for the first time in the watch industry for the cases of the 1965 and 1968 re-creations as well as the bezel of the 1975 re-creation, which, like the original, has a titanium case. The special steel has been used in marine structures and vessels (for surfaces, bolts and other components) to avoid corrosion in chloride-rich environments, such as sea water.
The 1965 edition is water resistant to 200 meters, and the 1968, to 300 meters. Both are powered by Seiko’s high-beat movements, a nod to the 1968 model, which contained a high-frequency automatic movement. The 1975 re-creation is water resistant to 1,000 meters, and has increased anti-magnetic resistance. All three re-creations share the same blue-grey dial, evoking the beauty of the sea and their ability to perform at the darkest depths. All have silicone straps. The 1968 and 1975 re-creations have crowns in the 4 o’clock position, a nod to the originals. The trilogy of watches can be bought together in a special commemorative box, or separately. The 1965 diver’s re-creation, SLA037, is priced at $6,300. The 1968 re-creation, SLA039, is $6,800 and the 1975 re-creation, SLA041, is priced at $4,500. The limited-edition boxed set is $19,000.
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