Join CHRONOHOLIC today!
All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
Picture credit - Analog:Shift
In 1965, Seiko created Japan’s first-ever diver’s watch—It was the 62MAS housed with an automatic mechanical movement and offered water resistance of 150m. This year, the Japanese watch brand celebrates the 60th anniversary of its iconic dive watch. To mark the occasion and pay tribute to its legacy of making exceptional diver’s watches, Seiko has unveiled three limited-edition timepieces—the Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (Ref. SLA081), the Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (Ref. SPB511), and the Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (Ref. SPB509).
Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (SLA081)
The first model, the Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition, takes inspiration from two of Seiko’s vintage diving models from 1968 and 1975. The Seiko 1968 model was renowned for its high-beat automatic movement, 300m water resistance, a rotating bezel, and a screw-down crown at 4 o'clock. The 1975 model, Seiko Professional Diver's 600m, was the brand’s first professional diver's watch with an airtight titanium case, and offered corrosion resistance, shock resistance, and water resistance up to 600 metres.
This new professional-grade diver’s watch offers 600m water resistance, making it a suitable tool for saturation diving. The word “PROFESSIONAL” is also inscribed on the dial to emphasize its purpose.
The watch features a 45.4mm one-piece titanium case and an L-shaped seal to prevent helium intrusion in the pressure chamber, eliminating the need for a helium escape valve. It is equipped with a unidirectional rotating stainless steel bezel with a diamond-like carbon coating which not only makes it robust but offers enhanced scratch resistance.
The gradient blue dial, darkening toward the edges, mimics the shinkai or the deep ocean, while a thick clear paint gives it a depth effect and a lustrous finish. The dial also integrates luminescent indices directly into its surface through a molding process to keep them in place under pressure. It is powered by the Caliber 8L45, running at 4Hz frequency, with a +10/-5 seconds daily accuracy and a 72-hour power reserve.
SLA081
To support marine conservation initiatives by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)—of which Seiko Prospex has been an avid supporter—the new timepiece will also be a part of JAMSTEC’s Arctic research program in 2025.
SPB511 and SPB509
The other two timepieces, references SPB511 and SPB509, take inspiration from the brand’s iconic dive watches from the years 1965 and 1968 respectively, with the former in blue and the latter in silver. These models come with subtle modern upgrades while staying true to their vintage roots.
The SPB509 (42mm) and SPB511 (40mm) feature a bold wave-pattern dial, found on the caseback of Prospex diver’s watches. Both models have a stainless steel unidirectional rotating bezel with an aluminium insert and offer 300m water resistance. The indices and hands are coated with Lumibrite for legibility in the dark. Both watches come with adjustable bracelets for enhanced wearability.
SPB509
The SPB509 is powered by the automatic Caliber 6R54 with a 72-hour power reserve and a GMT function, while the SPB511 houses the Caliber 6R55, also with a 72-hour reserve.
SPB511
Both are limited to 6,000 pieces, with the SPB511 priced at approx. ₹1,22,000 (available for purchase from May 2025) and the SPB509 at approx. ₹1,52,000 (from June 2025). The SLA081 can be purchased starting July 2025 for ₹4,00,000 (approx.)
____________
What we think -
For the 60th anniversary occasion, Seiko has blended heritage and modern innovation with utmost craftsmanship. The SLA081 truly stands out as a professional dive watch with an impressive 600-metre water resistance, and the ocean-inspired dial gives it a striking appeal. The SPB511 and SPB509 bring in the vintage charm, making for great timepieces for enthusiasts of diving watches.
Picture credit - Analog:Shift
In 1965, Seiko created Japan’s first-ever diver’s watch—It was the 62MAS housed with an automatic mechanical movement and offered water resistance of 150m. This year, the Japanese watch brand celebrates the 60th anniversary of its iconic dive watch. To mark the occasion and pay tribute to its legacy of making exceptional diver’s watches, Seiko has unveiled three limited-edition timepieces—the Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (Ref. SLA081), the Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (Ref. SPB511), and the Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (Ref. SPB509).
Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition (SLA081)
The first model, the Prospex Marinemaster Professional Seiko Diver’s Watch 60th Anniversary Limited Edition, takes inspiration from two of Seiko’s vintage diving models from 1968 and 1975. The Seiko 1968 model was renowned for its high-beat automatic movement, 300m water resistance, a rotating bezel, and a screw-down crown at 4 o'clock. The 1975 model, Seiko Professional Diver's 600m, was the brand’s first professional diver's watch with an airtight titanium case, and offered corrosion resistance, shock resistance, and water resistance up to 600 metres.
This new professional-grade diver’s watch offers 600m water resistance, making it a suitable tool for saturation diving. The word “PROFESSIONAL” is also inscribed on the dial to emphasize its purpose.
The watch features a 45.4mm one-piece titanium case and an L-shaped seal to prevent helium intrusion in the pressure chamber, eliminating the need for a helium escape valve. It is equipped with a unidirectional rotating stainless steel bezel with a diamond-like carbon coating which not only makes it robust but offers enhanced scratch resistance.
The gradient blue dial, darkening toward the edges, mimics the shinkai or the deep ocean, while a thick clear paint gives it a depth effect and a lustrous finish. The dial also integrates luminescent indices directly into its surface through a molding process to keep them in place under pressure. It is powered by the Caliber 8L45, running at 4Hz frequency, with a +10/-5 seconds daily accuracy and a 72-hour power reserve.
SLA081
To support marine conservation initiatives by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)—of which Seiko Prospex has been an avid supporter—the new timepiece will also be a part of JAMSTEC’s Arctic research program in 2025.
SPB511 and SPB509
The other two timepieces, references SPB511 and SPB509, take inspiration from the brand’s iconic dive watches from the years 1965 and 1968 respectively, with the former in blue and the latter in silver. These models come with subtle modern upgrades while staying true to their vintage roots.
The SPB509 (42mm) and SPB511 (40mm) feature a bold wave-pattern dial, found on the caseback of Prospex diver’s watches. Both models have a stainless steel unidirectional rotating bezel with an aluminium insert and offer 300m water resistance. The indices and hands are coated with Lumibrite for legibility in the dark. Both watches come with adjustable bracelets for enhanced wearability.
SPB509
The SPB509 is powered by the automatic Caliber 6R54 with a 72-hour power reserve and a GMT function, while the SPB511 houses the Caliber 6R55, also with a 72-hour reserve.
SPB511
Both are limited to 6,000 pieces, with the SPB511 priced at approx. ₹1,22,000 (available for purchase from May 2025) and the SPB509 at approx. ₹1,52,000 (from June 2025). The SLA081 can be purchased starting July 2025 for ₹4,00,000 (approx.)
____________
What we think -
For the 60th anniversary occasion, Seiko has blended heritage and modern innovation with utmost craftsmanship. The SLA081 truly stands out as a professional dive watch with an impressive 600-metre water resistance, and the ocean-inspired dial gives it a striking appeal. The SPB511 and SPB509 bring in the vintage charm, making for great timepieces for enthusiasts of diving watches.
