When the watch that Seiko is now presenting in a modern version as part of the Prospex collection was created in 1970, the Japanese company's designers had only one goal in mind: to design an instrument that would guarantee the highest levels of reliability, durability, precision and legibility, just as true adventurers demanded. They had no idea of the reputation that the watch they were creating would have in the future; in those months, their focus was exclusively on achieving the highest performance, equipping the watch with a form that pursued functionality in every respect. Therefore, in order to protect the crown positioned at 4 o'clock, the case was given a wide, flowing shape, not imagining that a later version of the watch, with a case design with the same aesthetic characteristics, would be destined to be acclaimed worldwide, earning it an affectionate and unforgettable nickname: 'turtle' (turtle in English). Today, this diver's watch from 1970, the father of the 'turtle', is reintroduced as part of the Prospex collection, with a high level of functionality precisely to pay tribute to the determination and skill of the team that designed the original 1970 model. The uniqueness of the design of the original model stemmed largely from the way the crown, placed in the unusual position at 4 o'clock, was protected by the extension of the case around it. With a design that proved to be as unforgettable as it was functional, this diver's watch, water-resistant to 150 metres, quickly found favour with those in need of an exceptionally durable product. The watch was in fact on the wrist of the Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura when he reached Alaska from Greenland on a sled pulled by a single dog: a journey of 12,000 km that took him eighteen months to complete.The revamped version of the 1970 Prospex diver's watch is slightly wider than the original but faithful to its design in every respect. Its technology, however, is totally up-to-date. It employs the 8L35 calibre, designed specifically by Seiko for use in diving watches. The case has an extra-hard coating and a double-curved sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating and is water-resistant to 200 metres. The top surface of the bezel is polished using the Zaratsu technique for a perfect mirror finish. Equipped with a high-strength silicone strap, this Prospex is hand-assembled in the Shizukuishi Watch Studio in northern Japan. It is produced in a limited edition of only 2,500 pieces and is available at Seiko boutiques and leading retailers worldwide.
Seiko Prospex (original 1970 model re-edition)
Ref. SLA033J1
Movement
- Calibre 8L35
- Charging system: automatic
- Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 oscillations per second)
- Power reserve: 50 hours
- Number of rubies: 26
Technical Specifications
- Stainless steel case with super-strong coating
- Double-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Screw-down back
- Screw crown
- Water resistance: 200 metres
- Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
- Diameter: 45 mm.
- Thickness: 13 mm
- Silicone strap
- Recommended retail price in Italy:€ 4,350
- Limited edition of 2,500 pieces worldwide
