Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT HBC001 and HBC002
The upgraded 1968 Heritage Diver's GMT joins the permanent collection in classic black and green, bringing together all the recent improvements.
Over the past year, Seiko has refined its Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT with several editions, including the 60th Anniversary SPB509 and the SPB534 Seashadow. Following the white-dialled SPB519, the latest additions, the non-limited references HBC001 and HBC002 in classic black or green colourways, offer the familiar design of the 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT with meaningful upgrades, including 300m water resistance and a new micro-adjustable clasp, making them complete versions of the watch to date. These come as replacements for the inaugural black and green GMT Divers released in 2023, the SPB381 and SPB383, which were the first mechanical Prospex Diver models with a GMT function.
The stainless steel case retains the dimensions that have proven right for the collection, measuring 42mm in diameter, 13.3mm thick and 48.6mm lug-to-lug. Inspired by Seiko’s landmark 1968 professional diver, it features sharply defined surfaces with mirror-polished case sides, a screw-down crown at 4 o’clock and a unidirectional bezel with a deeply knurled edge for improved grip, with a ceramic insert featuring a diving scale. One of the key updates introduced earlier this year is the increase in water resistance from 200 to 300m, bringing the watch closer to Seiko’s professional dive watch specifications.
Both models stay true to the collection’s classic aesthetic. The HBC001 pairs a black dial with a matching black ceramic bezel, while the HBC002 opts for a rich green dial and bezel (a colour that has been rather difficult to capture during our photoshoot). Large applied indices, broad hands and generous LumiBrite on the hands, hour markers and bezel ensure excellent legibility. The bronze-coloured GMT hand with the luminous triangle tip follows the 24-hour flange, and the discreet date display at 4:30 maintains the layout introduced with the original GMT model. The central seconds hand with a paddle-like red and white tip adds just a bit of playfulness to the otherwise serious appearance. While some recent limited editions featured textured or themed dials, these references favour a clean appearance.
Powering both watches is Seiko’s Calibre 6R54, an automatic movement with manual winding and an office or caller-style GMT function, allowing a second time zone to be displayed via the independently adjustable 24-hour hand. Operating at 21,600 vibrations/hour, the movement offers a 72-hour power reserve and hacking seconds.
The Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT HBC001 and HBC002 stainless steel bracelet also benefits from one of the collection’s most welcome recent improvements; the redesigned three-fold clasp incorporates a six-step slide-adjustment mechanism with approximately 15mm of tool-free extension. Both new references are priced at EUR 1,900 and are now available. For more details, please visit seikowatches.com.
