Hands-on: The new releases from Seiko on the wrist

This week we got the opportunity to take a closer look at all of Seiko's new watches in an exclusive and covid-adapted way at a hotel in Stockholm. All under the direction of Klockmaster Globen and Optura Watches. Eqotime's photographer Ola Jacobsen has picked out his favourites. Here are his first impressions.

Text and photo: Ola Jacobsen

Prospex The 1959 Alpinist Re-creation, SJE085

The new edition of the 1959 year Alpinist is exactly as good as it seemed on paper. On the arm the date doesn't bother me, which is the biggest difference from the original. The so-called bund strap makes the watch wear larger than its 36,6 mm. Perfect for smaller and medium-sized wrists.

Prospex The 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-interpretation, SPB245

Among the three other Alpinists it is the green one that impresses most. I can't remember when an ordinary three-hander awakened such a want-it craving. The deep green dial with a light sunburst in combination with slightly yellowed steel-clad indices. The simple case shape with its narrow long lugs gives at the same time an elegant as well as powerful impression. A bullseye.

Prospex First Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation, SPB213

After last year's success with the SPB14X series the first new model now arrives. The watch has the same white and blue colour scheme as the others in Seiko's 140th anniversary quartet and precisely in diver's guise it completely screams summer. The case, small measured by Prospex standards, works well on my (19 cm) wrist, but also on considerably slimmer ones. This could be the summer's best swimming watch.

Seiko 5 Sports: SRPG47

The Seiko 5 Sports variant of the 140th anniversary watch is really successful too. The classic case shape, which stems from the SKX era, has worked as a gateway for generations of watch enthusiasts has never looks crisper than in the SRPG47. Just like the other watches in the anniversary series it is much better in reality than in the pictures that were released at the launch.

Seiko Prospex The 1970’s Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation, SLA051

Seiko are not slow to realise when they have struck a commercial gold vein. With the SLA049 and SLA051 they use the legacy of the national hero Naomi Uemura and the new dial structure brings to mind his barren mountain adventures. The case sits like a glove on the wrist and the narrow ceramic bezel gives the watch several notches more luxurious than the original.

Don't miss listening to Urbildningsradion's broadcast from the event. Interviews and good talk! You'll find the episode here!