Latest news with #62MAS
Man of Many
6 days ago
- General
- Man of Many
The $1,995 Seiko That Every Watch Collector Needs in Their Collection
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 24 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link 0 Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Seiko launched the 150m 62MAS Diver's watch in 1965 Advanced swiftly with 300m in 1968, titanium 600m 'Tuna' in 1975 New 1965 Diver reimagined packs Calibre 6R55, 72-hour power reserve, 300 m rating Fan vote decides 2026 Diver's model colour addition No watch collection is complete without a Rolex, OMEGA, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and at least one Seiko. We'd happily throw in a Casio G-Shock too, but what we're trying to say here is that at its core, true watch enthusiasts appreciate history, craftsmanship, and performance before they even consider what anyone thinks about the watch on their wrist. If a watch tells a story, has history, and the performance numbers to back up any claims a manufacturer wants to make about its intended use, we watch nerds think that's pretty cool too. While its famous for its Speedmaster Moonwatch, OMEGA was the first brand to release a commercially available divers watch in 1932 with the release of the cork-sealed, double-cased Marine, which was tested in Lake Geneva to a depth of more than 70 metres. Then, twenty years later, after learning from the Swiss, Seiko released the first Japanese dive watch in 1965, the self-winding 150M Diver's called the 62MAS. Seiko 1965 Diver 62MAS | Image: Supplied / Seiko We can't forget that at this time, these watches weren't worn for style: they were concerned with function only. Divers were making personal requests to the brands, and Seiko was the one that became known for meeting these requests in Japan. They could be trusted to deliver a product that would meet or exceed those of the professional divers, and they proved it by making watches that could be used with a diving capsule and saturation diving techniques at depths of up to 600 metres by 1975. However, we have to trace our steps back to 1965 to get a better picture of just how quickly Seiko innovated in this space. A Brief History of the Seiko 62MAS Three years after debuting the 62MAS, which was capable of 150 meters of water-resistance, they released the 1968 Professional Diver 300m. Then, less than ten years later, they released the world's first professional Diver's 600M with titanium case (nicknamed the Tuna) that was corrosion-proof, shock resistant, and airtight. It featured more than 20 patents on the exterior alone, and three years after its release it was updated with a quartz movement, making it the world's first saturation diving watch to feature that style of battery. Seiko 1965 Diver ref. SPB453J | Image: Supplied / Seiko Seiko 1965 Diver Specifications Movement : Automatic Calibre 6R55, +25/‑15 s per day, : Automatic Calibre 6R55, +25/‑15 s per day, Power reserve : 72 hours : 72 hours Case : Stainless‑steel : Stainless‑steel Case diameter : 40 mm (46.4 mm lug‑to‑lug) : 40 mm (46.4 mm lug‑to‑lug) Case thickness : 13 mm : 13 mm Weight : 168 grams : 168 grams Band : Stainless‑steel bracelet : Stainless‑steel bracelet Water resistance : Diver's 300 m : Diver's 300 m Dial: Black with Lumibrite hands & markers; date display; timer scale on bezel Many watches followed, but the 1965 Seiko Diver's watch probably remains the most iconic of all divers on the market to this day. It's hard to acquire in good condition these days, but there's good news: Seiko has re-released the 1965 Diver's and updated it for the modern day with one of the latest in-house automatic movements, the Calibre 6R55 with 72 hours of power reserve, and they've even upgraded the water resistance to 300 metres, which is a first for Prospex non-saturation diver's watches. Seiko 1965 Diver | Image: Supplied / Seiko Seiko 1965 Diver | Image: Supplied / Seiko Seiko 1965 Diver | Image: Supplied / Seiko Seiko 1965 Diver | Image: Supplied / Seiko It's not a replica of the original, but it's what Seiko would've released back in 1965 if they had today's capabilities. You'll notice how they've moved the date window to the space between four and five o'clock to allow for a more symmetrical design and to allow more Lumibrite in the space for high legibility in dark conditions. We also love how they've slimmed the 40.0mm case down (46.4mm lug-to-lug) to 13.0mm, which is remarkably thin for a diver at this price point and these specs. Even the bracelet links are shorter for comfort, and the clasp has a conformed shape. This watch celebrates 60 years of Seiko diver's, and next year, the brand will release one of the colourful colourways teased above. You can choose the watch they release through a fan vote that is currently running on the brand's website. Alternatively, pick up one of the existing Seiko 1965 Diver watches available right now for AUD$1,995 at the retailers listed below.
Rakyat Post
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rakyat Post
Still Ticking, Still Diving: Seiko's Diver Hits The Big 6-0
Subscribe to our FREE You know, 60 years is a lifetime… and quite a milestone. Back in 1965, the world was changing fast. Malaysia was heading into a decade of independence. The first commercial satellite had just gone into orbit. The Beatles were rewriting the music scene, miniskirts were flipping fashion on its head. And in Japan, something quieter but just as revolutionary was rising to the surface. (Credit: tawatchai07/freepik) That year, Seiko introduced Japan's first professional diver's watch built for one purpose: survival . Because, when you're deep underwater, a watch isn't just for telling the time. It tells you when to surface. When to breathe. When to live. The original,1965 and 1968 diver's watches, the 62MAS. Complete with automatic mechanical movement and 150m water resistance. Fast-forward to 2025, and Seiko's Prospex line is marking its 60th anniversary not just by looking back at its deep-sea legacy, but by diving headfirst into the future. The Letter That Changed Everything Seiko's longstanding legacy in the seas, believe it or not, started with a simple letter. As the story goes, a diver from Hiroshima wrote to Seiko, saying that most watches just couldn't survive a saturation dive—a kind of deep-sea mission where divers live in pressurised environments for days or weeks. See, helium gas would slip past the seals, build up inside the watch case, and eventually blow the glass clean off. Which, you know, is not great when you're hundreds of metres underwater. (Credit: freepik) Now, Seiko didn't just ignore him. They did what few brands would: they listened and then they went to work. After years of research, they unveiled the world's first 600m professional diver's watch with a titanium case. It was lighter, stronger, smarter. A watch that didn't just handle the pressure, it mastered it. A Legacy Forged in the Deep Now, Seiko's dive watches didn't just tell the time, they defied it. They went places. Cold, high, and impossibly deep places. In 1966, their first diver's watch joined four Antarctic expeditions. By 1970, one was strapped to the wrist of the first Japanese climber to summit Everest. (Credit: In 1983, Seiko watches dove with Japan's Shinkai 2000 submersible to depths of 1,062 metres, far beyond their official 600m rating. Then in 2015, Seiko's 1,000m saturation divers were sent on a mission with Kaiko 7000 II, a remote submersible, where they hit over 3,000 metres deep, and the watches still kept ticking. (Credit: Seiko Prospex – Marinemaster 1000m Depth testing 2015/YouTube) Now Surfacing: The 2025 Marinemaster SLA081 To celebrate 60 years of conquering the deep, Seiko's diving back in… literally. Their Prospex line (short for Professional Specifications) is going back to its roots with the release of the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster Professional, SLA081. Now, this watch isn't meant to be just a tribute piece. It's a modern masterpiece made to be worn in style. Inside you'll find the Calibre 8L45, a premium mechanical movement with 72 hours of power reserve and elite-level accuracy. Its components are made from Spron—a proprietary Seiko alloy that resists breakage, corrosion, and wear. Outside, a one-piece titanium case rated to 600m, built tough without needing a helium escape valve, thanks to Seiko's unique L-shaped gasket. It's a quiet flex referencing their game-changing 1975 model, complete with the word 'PROFESSIONAL' inscribed on the dial. The dial itself is a rich, ocean-deep gradient of blue, inspired by shinkai , the Japanese word for 'deep sea.' And it's finished with glossy textures and raised, wavy markers, making it a dashing looker. And if you want one, you'll have to move fast. Only 600 pieces will be made, launching in July 2025. One of them is already headed to the Arctic on JAMSTEC's (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) latest research mission. Vintage Spirit, Modern Masterpieces Also joining the 60th anniversary lineup are two more limited editions, each drawing from different moments in Seiko's diving history. First up, the SPB511, Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver's Watch. A tribute to the 1965 original. It comes with a clean silver dial, modern Calibre 6R55 movement, and a 72-hour power reserve. Its 300m water resistance is a nod to how far we've come since the original's 150m rating. Then there's the Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver's GMT Watch, SPB509. Inspired by its bold predecessor. This one adds a GMT complication, powered by Calibre 6R54, with an independently adjustable 24-hour hand that's perfect for those tracking multiple time zones. The blue dial, with its wave motif, pays homage to the signature Prospex feel. Both models are limited to 6,000 pieces each and feature upgraded bracelets with adjustable clasps that can be tweaked on the go. 60 Years, Still Making Waves The world has changed a lot since 1965. But Seiko's core values of precision, resilience, and purpose have stayed remarkably consistent. Because some things don't get old. They just get better. Dive deeper into the collection here: Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Seiko's Most Extreme Dive Watch Gets a Celebratory Makeover
The deep-sea diving Prospex Marinemaster is getting a limited edition dial and impressive new movement. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more Unfortunately, you can't light candles at the bottom of the ocean. So Seiko is celebrating the 60th birthday of the legendary 62MAS, the brand's first true dive watch, with a trio of limited-edition Prospex Marinemaster references. The most impressive is, hands down, the reference SLA081J1, a 60th Anniversary Prospex Marinemaster equipped with Seiko's newest and most advanced automatic movement and decorated with an engraved dial steeped in Japanese art history. Already Seiko's highest-performing dive watch, with a 600m dive rating vetted by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), this special edition Marinemaster now boasts a 72-hour power reserve. Over the past 60 years, Seiko has produced some of the best-performing dive watches of all time, along with a pantheon of approachable classics suited for casual diving and everyday wear. A heritage that illustrious should be celebrated with a watch that blows the rest out of the water, which is exactly what the 60th Anniversary Prospex Marinemaster does. The hulking 16mm thick case, which measures 50.4mm lug-to-lug, is built from a single piece of titanium and has an L-shaped gasket that prevents helium infiltration during saturation diving, negating the need for an escape valve. The stainless steel bezel is coated with a 'diamond-like carbon' that makes it six times harder and more scratch-resistant than steel. To prevent weak spots, the bezel is secured in place with two external clamps, which screw into the back of the case. Inside the case is Seiko's newest 8L automatic movement series evolution, the 8L45. It boasts a 72-hour power reserve and an accuracy of +10 to -5 seconds per day. It is effectively a less decorated version of the movement found in Grand Seiko automatic watches outside of the Hi-Beat and Spring Drive lines. Seiko equipped this limited edition Marinemaster with a new curved-link stainless steel bracelet that is designed to contour to the wrist, and closes with a traditional three-piece clasp. In a tradition borrowed from Grand Seiko, the dial on the 60th Anniversary Prospex Marinemaster is inspired by the natural aura of the deep ocean, known in Japanese as shinkai. The dial texture is based on horimono, a traditional Japanese woodworking and metal engraving technique, which is also used colloquially in reference to tattoo art. Horimono creates very shallow reliefs that appear to have great depth by utilizing light and forced perspective on a miniature scale. It is an art form with a strong cultural heritage and significance in Japan. The dial of this limited-edition Marinemaster is only a couple of millimeters thick but creates the appearance of rolling waves over a dark ocean. A clear coating enhanced the effect with a lustrous finish. To prevent the hour markers from coming loose, they are set into the dial rather than applied on top. The hour and minute hands have a new design for the Marinemaster line with flat tops, beveled off at the edges, and rounded lume inserts. The 60th Anniversary Prospex Marinemaster may look like just another classic, beautiful dive watch fit for everyday wear. But there is nowhere on or below the surface of planet Earth where this watch can't go. Seiko's 60th Anniversary Prospex Marinemaster, reference SLA079J1, will be released in July 2025. The limited edition of only 600 units will be sold exclusively at Seiko boutiques and through a very select group of authorized dealers for $4,600. $4,600 at Seiko
