In 1965, Seiko made its foray into the world of diver’s watches, marking the inception of a journey that has seen continuous evolution. Over the years, Seiko has pioneered new technologies, designs, and features, establishing its Seiko Prospex diver’s watches as favorites among both professionals and enthusiasts globally. Through a commitment to innovation and improvements in safety, reliability, and user-friendliness, Seiko has risen to prominence as a leader in the category. At the forefront of Seiko’s diving timepieces is the Marinemaster series, distinguished by its robust, high-performance movement designed exclusively for diver’s watches. This series stands as the pinnacle within the Prospex collection, playing a vital role in Seiko’s historical and cultural connection to diving.
Originally launched in Japan, the Marinemaster series now embarks on its global debut with three new creations – one limited edition and two mainline introductions.
Each of these new watches draws inspiration from the iconic 62MAS of 1965, Seiko’s inaugural diver’s watch and Japan’s first in this category. The dial of each watch features a textured horizontal stripe pattern, reminiscent of lapping waves, adding a stylish touch to the design. The label “Marinemaster” is proudly displayed just below the Seiko logo at the 12 o’clock position. The limited-edition version, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Seiko, boasts a silvery-white dial, while standard versions come in light blue and black.
Honoring the legacy of the 1965 diver’s watch, each watch inherits the hour, minute, and seconds hands design, with Lumibrite-filled indexes ensuring legibility in low-light conditions. The automatic Seiko Caliber 6L37 powers each timepiece, belonging to the slimline Caliber 6L series tailored for diving, combining a slender profile with comfort on the wrist. Adapted from the earlier Caliber 6L35, the 6L37 enhances shock resistance without compromising on thickness.
A notable feature in these Marinemaster creations is the exhibition case back, a first for Seiko diver’s watches, providing a view of the finely finished, high-performance mechanical movement. Despite the challenge of maintaining water and shock resistance while incorporating a see-through case back, Seiko achieved its thinnest mechanical diver’s watch to date (12.3mm) through thoughtful case structure and the slimline Caliber 6L37.
The 39.5mm case design combines functionality and aesthetics with dramatic chamfering on the bezel and case, offering a sleek and modernized appearance while preserving the essence of the classic 62MAS from 1965. The combination of hairline and mirror finishes on the case and bracelet adds sophistication and elegance to the overall design.
Addressing wearability and comfort, Seiko introduces a new bracelet for the Marinemaster, featuring ellipse-shaped links with mirror-finished, dual-curved surfaces. This, coupled with the slender case and high-performance movement, ensures that the new Marinemaster encapsulates the spirit of a Seiko classic while looking forward to the future.
The limited-edition Marinemaster with a silvery-white dial will be offered in a quantity of 1,000, and all three watches are slated to be available at select retail partners worldwide in 2024.
For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com.