The Seiko Prospex Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation Save the Ocean SPB297, SPB299 & SPB301 Special Editions

Seiko has dedicated a large portion of the Prospex diving collection to the protection and preservation of the world’s oceans. Through the Save the Ocean program, Seiko delivers financial and other support to a selection of charity organizations with a focus on marine life. This perfectly ties in with Seiko’s reputation for robust and reliable diving watches, as they’ve adorned the wrist of numerous adventurers and explorers. Seiko now introduces three new references to the Prospex Save the Ocean line and vowed to extend the charitable donations of sales across the entire Prospex range. Let’s take a first look at the Seiko Prospex Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation Save the Ocean SPB297, SPB299 & SPB301 Special Editions.

Seiko repeats its party trick with these three new references with yet again very appealing results. The brand uses three of the modern re-interpretations of some of the most iconic dive watches from its archives and turns them into icy cold novelties. Each one has a dial inspired by glaciers and ice structures witnessed by pioneers exploring the Arctic and Antarctic. Most of the architecture should be familiar territory by now, as it’s similar to the recently introduced Black Series.

Seiko 62Mas 1965 ref 6217 – Seiko’s First Dive Watch

The ref. 6159-7001 introduced in 1968

An example of Seiko 6105-8110 – image by Fratello Watches

Seiko Prospex 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation Save the Oceans Special Edition SPB297

The SPB297 is directly modelled after the legendary 62MAS, Japan’s first-ever mechanical dive watch, introduced in 1965. This was the start of Seiko’s storied history in the field of divers. In recent years it has revived this icon through a series of modern re-interpretations. It features the typical skin-diver design, with a 42mm wide and 12.5mm tall case in stainless steel. The unidirectional rotating bezel has a black insert, contrasting with the dark ice blue textured dial. The applied indices and facetted hands are given a LumiBrite insert. It’s equipped with Seiko’s 6R35 automatic movement, which provides 70 hours of running time. The stainless steel bracelet has a diving extension built into the clasp. The SPB297 retails for EUR 1,300.

Quick Facts – 40.5mm x 13.2mm – stainless steel case with super-hard coating, brushed and polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with black insert and 60min diving scale – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – dark ice-blue textured dial – applied indices with LumiBrite – large faceted and polished hands with LumiBrite – Seiko Calibre 6R35, automatic – 21,600vph – 24 jewels – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – stainless steel bracelet – EUR 1,300

Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation Save the Oceans Special Edition SPB299

The SPB299 moves up the timeline about three years, as it is modelled after the 1968 ref. 6159-7001. This sees the crown shift from 3 o’clock to 4 o’clock and has a more angular case shape. It measures 42mm across and 12.5mm in height and has a sapphire crystal on top. The bezel insert is finished in glossy dark blue, paired with a medium ice blue textured dial. Again we see applied indices and hands with LumiBrite inserts. As with the SPB297, this too comes with the 6R35 automatic movement and is worn on a stainless steel bracelet with diving extension and safety clasp. The price is also similar, at EUR 1,300.

Quick Facts – 42mm x 12.5mm – stainless steel case with super-hard coating, brushed and polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with glossy blue insert and 60min diving scale – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – medium ice-blue textured dial – applied indices with LumiBrite – large faceted and polished hands with LumiBrite – Seiko Calibre 6R35, automatic – 21,600vph – 24 jewels – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – stainless steel bracelet – EUR 1,300

Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation Save the Oceans Special Edition SPB311

The last of the three new Save the Ocean divers is the SPB311, which takes inspiration from the 1970 reference 6105, worn by Naomi Uemura on his 12,500km solo dog sled run from Greenland to Alaska. This style is affectionately known as the “Captain Willard” however, made famous by the movie Apocalypse Now. It has a 42.7mm wide and 13.2mm steel case, with an integrated crown protector. The bezel has a pale blue insert with a slight grooved texture and a 60-minute scale in white. Featuring the same texture for the dial as the other two, this time it’s given an ice white colour. Indices and hands are once more finished with LumiBrite inserts. Power comes from, you’ve guessed it, the 6R35 calibre. This too is worn on a steel bracelet and retails for a slightly higher price of EUR 1,400.

Quick Facts – 42.7mm x 13.2mm – stainless steel case with super-hard coating, brushed and polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with black insert and 60min diving scale – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – ice-white textured dial – applied indices with LumiBrite – large faceted and polished hands with LumiBrite – Seiko Calibre 6R35, automatic – 21,600vph – 24 jewels – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – stainless steel bracelet – EUR 1,400

All three will be available from June 2022 through Seiko Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide. For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com