Hands-on: Seiko releases new GMT diver

Text/picture: Ola Jacobsen

Today the Japanese giant releases three new models with a completely new three-day automatic GMT movement in the slightly smaller version of its classic diver's case from 1968. At the same time a new variant of the asymmetrical Captain Willard/Naomi Uemura case is released in a luxurious SLA version. 

Eqotime's Ola Jacobsen has had the opportunity to get his hands on the new releases.

One of Seiko's most beloved cases, the one from the frist 300-metre diver from 1968, once again gets to act as the carrier of a new movement. This time it is about the Seiko 6R54, with three days of power reserve and an individually movable GMT hand.  

Dials in green, black and light blue

The Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT, reference SPB381 has a green dial and bezel. In weaker light it looks black, but in sunlight it is clearly dark green. The sibling SPB383 has a black dial and bezel. Both watches have, just like the original, a red blob on the seconds hand. 

The Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition, reference SPB385, has the so-called glacier dial, an ice-blue and heavily textured affair, which was introduced on several models last year. Here the red blob of the seconds hand is swapped for a light blue one. A fun detail for this limited version. 

Wears smaller than the measurements suggest

All three watches share the case, which one is a smaller version of the original 6159-7000 from 1968. Unlike the original's monocoque case these have a screwed case back. 

The cases are 42,0 millimetres in diameter and together with the boxed crystal build 12,9 millimetres in height. As usual when it comes to divers from Seiko they wear a few millimetres smaller than their measurements. In this case largely because of the chamfers on the side of the case and the lugs. 

The new GMT divers are in shops from June. 

Mont Blanc in relief on the dial of the Uemura Limited Edition

The art of the dial reaches new heights when Seiko now depicts Europe's highest mountain Mont Blanc in relief on the dial to once again honour the Japanese adventurer and alpinist Naomi Uemura and his historic feats. The watch is the latest in the line of watches based on the case from the Seiko 6105-8110, also called Uemura, after the real user of the original watch. The case design is however perhaps even better known as Captain Willard after the fictional user of the original watch, played by Martin Sheen in the film Apocalypse Now.

With its 44 millimetres it is close to the dimensions of the original case, but the white dial with relief together with the petrol blue bezel and crown gives the watch an expression entirely of its own. For my own part I wonder whether Seiko would not do best to let Uemura rest a little now, rather than to continue on this psychedelic track. 

Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT and Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition

Brand: Seiko
Reference number: SPB381 (green), SPB383 (black) and SPB385 (light blue)

Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 12,9mm
Case material: Steel

Dial: Green (SPB381), black (SPB383) and light blue with a deep texture (SPB385).
Bracelet: Steel bracelet with a diver's extension, SPB385 also comes with a braided strap of recycled polyester

Movement: 6R54, in-house
Complications: Date and GMT
Power reserve: 72h
Winding: Automatic
Water resistance: 200m

Edition: Unlimited with SPB381, SPB383. SPB385 is limited to 4,000 examples
Price: 18,998 kronor for SPB381 and SPB383
21,950 kronor for SPB385
Availability: In shops from June

Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation The Naomi Uemura Limited Edition

Reference number: SLA069

Diameter: 44mm
Thickness: 13,0mm
Case material: Steel with Seiko's ”super-hard coating”

Dial: White with Mont Blac in relief
Bracelet: Steel with Seiko's ”super-hard coating”

Movement: 8L35, in-house
Complications: date
Power reserve: 50h
Winding: Automatic
Water resistance: 200m

Edition: Limited to 500 examples
Price: 34,950 kronor
Availability: In shops from May