The Europe-Exclusive Seiko Prospex Tortoise SRPK77

When it was first presented back in 2021, the Seiko Prospex Land Series was a slightly confusing watch. Mixing elements from dive watches – the emblematic Turtle case with 200m water-resistance – with features from exploration watches – like the compass bezel usually found on the Alpinist –  this amphibian model was hard to pin down. For this reason, the watch was nicknamed (officially) the Tortoise, also known as a land-dwelling turtle… Nevertheless, the result was a cool watch with a distinct personality available in earthy tones. It is now back in a Europe-only limited edition, which pays tribute to Silfra in Iceland (more about that in a few), with the Seiko Prospex Tortoise SRPK77.

Before we dive into the details (pun intended… sorry about that), let me quickly paraphrase Seiko regarding the inspiration behind this new limited edition. The Prospex Tortoise SRPK77 is “influenced by the landscape of one of the world’s most iconic diving destinations. It takes its inspiration from the surrounding craggy moss-covered terrains of Silfra in Iceland, between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which continue to drift further apart each year. Silfra remains the only place in the world where divers can explore the fissure between two continents – the water is filtered through lava over the course of 100 years, making it the clearest water in the world – whilst adventurers explore the challenging terrain.” In short, an astonishing natural spot at the crossroads between land and sea. The perfect spot for the crossover Tortoise, right?

Now, on to the specs of the SRPK77. While the construction is built around the Prospex Tortoise architecture, the original design elements make it unique. As such, we’re still looking at a watch belonging to the Land series with an emblematic Seiko case shape. Despite being advertised first as an exploration watch, this Tortoise, just like aquatic Turtle models, comes with very decent diving capacities, being rated at 200m and equipped with a screwed crown and caseback.

In line with models from the standard collection, this European limited edition retains great proportions for its steel case, measuring 42.4mm in diameter and a reasonable 11.7mm in thickness. The 45mm L2L measurement is what matters, resulting in a comfortable watch. It is equipped with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal framed by a bezel that differs from proper diving models. Here, it’s not only equipped with a compass bezel, but it’s also bidirectional, slightly limiting the diving credentials of this model. The scale is printed on an anodized aluminium insert in bicolour grey and greenish-brown – identical to the reference SRPG13K1.

The other point of differentiation of this Europe-only version is its dial. While the layout and display remain the same, the base of the dial has a dark brownish colour with a horizontal striated texture. The earthy tones of the dial and bezel are complemented by the cream-toned LumiBrite on the hands and embossed markers. Power comes from the well-known automatic calibre 4R35 with a 41-hour power reserve and a 3Hz frequency.

The Seiko Prospex Tortoise SRPK77 “Silfra” is presented on a 3-link steel bracelet with a three-fold clasp and push-button release. An additional textile strap is also included in the presentation box. A limited edition of 1,400 pieces will be available in Europe and the UK, priced at EUR 780 or GBP 650. For more details, please visit seikowatches.com.