The Seiko Prospex Black Series SLA067, SPB335 and SPB337 (Live Pics & Price)

Seiko has made it a habit of diversifying most of its collections through all sorts of combinations of textures, materials and colours. These sub-collections can be quite expansive and basically run for years with updates coming every now and then. Just think of the Save the Oceans program, and the regular new models introduced under that moniker, as well as The Black Series, another popular class of watches. New to 2023 is a trio of watches sharing a blacked-out theme, just as we’ve seen with the King Samurai and Tortoise in 2022, for instance. We welcome the Seiko Prospex The Black Series Limited Edition 2023 Collection, with the 1965 Divers SLA067, the Divers SPB335 and the Alpinist SPBJ337. 

The Black Series sub-collection is part of a long-lasting range of watches all sharing a common theme. The blackened watches in this series can originate from pretty much anything Seiko does, from relatively low-end to higher-end models and from field to dive watches. In the past, we’ve seen models being launched in the Presage, but the fan favourites are arguably the Prospex models. It feels very fitting to coat a dive or field watch in stealthy black, and the trio we show you today are just that. The first is a higher-end model based on the famous 62MAS from 1965. Second, we have a watch based on the reference 6105-8000 dive watch from 1968, and finally, a blacked-out interpretation of the dual-crown Alpinist first seen in 1995.

Seiko Prospex 1965 Divers Black Series Limited Edition SLA067

Being based on the 62MAS, this new SLA067 shares its construction with models like the recently introduced SLA065. This means we have a 41.3mm wide and 13.1mm tall stainless steel case, but this time coated in black obviously. The black dial has a unique texture, which to us, resembles the floor of an ocean or lake in a way. The applied indices and hands all have a mint-green LumiBrite insert, a fun little tone of colour to the otherwise fully black SLA067. The water resistance is rated at 200 meters.

Power comes from the Calibre 8L35, which beats at a rate of 28,800vph and delivers 50 hours of running time when fully wound (automatically). It is worn on a textile NATO strap with black hardware. Limited to 600 pieces, the Black Series SLA067 retails for EUR 3,200. It will be available from Seiko boutiques and selected retailers worldwide later this year.

Quick Facts – 41.3mm x 13.1mm – black coated stainless steel case – unidirectional bezel with black insert – dual-curved sapphire crystal – solid caseback – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – textured black dial with applied indices – sword-shaped hands – mint-green LumiBrite – Calibre 8L35, in-house automatic – 26 jewels – 28,800vph – 50h power reserve – black textile NATO strap – limited edition of 600 pieces – EUR 3,200

Seiko prospex Diver black series limited edition SPB335

Second in line for this trio is another dive watch, but this time a bit more affordable. Based on the 1968 reference 6105-8000, which we know from watches like the SPB333, this one features the new and slightly more compact 41mm case. It’s again coated in black, obviously, and fitted with a unidirectional bezel with a black and anthracite two-tone insert. The crown is at 4 o’clock, and the case is finished with a solid caseback and sapphire crystal on top. This time around the black dial has a simple yet attractive, grained texture, with again mint-green LumiBrite in the applied indices and hands.

The SPB335 is powered by Seiko’s Calibre 6R35 automatic, which offers a very healthy 70 hours of running time. Instead of a textile strap, it comes on a black silicon strap, with black hardware. Priced at EUR 1,000 and limited to 4,500 pieces, it’s both more affordable and more widely available.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 12.3mm – black coated stainless steel case – unidirectional bezel with black insert – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – grained black dial with applied indices – sword-shaped hour and minute hand, paddle-shaped seconds hand – mint-green LumiBrite – Calibre 6R35, in-house automatic – 24 jewels – 21,600vph – 70h power reserve – black silicon strap – limited edition of 4,500 pieces – EUR 1,000

Seiko Prospex Alpinist Black Series Limited Edition SPB337

Rounding up this trio of blacked-out tool watches is another Seiko classic, the Alpinist. This new reference SPB337 combines the iconic dual-crown look of the modern Alpinist collection with stealthy attire. At 39.5mm in diameter and 13.2mm in height, it’s sized rather pleasantly. The signature cyclops over the date is there, as well as the secondary crown to manipulate the inner bezel. The dial shows a similar texture as the Diver SPB335 above, with again applied indices and mint-green LumiBrite touches. This too is rated at 200 meters of water resistance.

The Alpnist SPB337 stands out from the others as it is the only one that reveals its mechanical heart. A smoked sapphire crystal offers a view of the Seiko Calibre 6R35 inside, which runs at a rate of 21,600vph. The power reserve is 70 hours. Another distinction is the blacked-out steel three-link bracelet it comes on. Limited to 5,500 pieces, this one will set you back EUR 950.

Quick Facts – 39.5mm x 13.2mm – black coated stainless steel case – sapphire crystal with magnifier – screw-down crown for setting with secondary crown for the inner bezel – grained black dial with applied indices and numerals – cathedral hands – mint-green LumiBrite – Calibre 6R35, in-house automatic – 24 jewels – 21,600vph – 70h power reserve – black coated stainless steel bracelet – limited edition of 5,500 pieces – EUR 950

For more information on all three of these new releases, please visit seikowatches.com.