In celebration of the brand’s 55th anniversary, Seiko has chosen to take the classic 62MAS watch – their very first dive watch – and give it a modern update. Introducing the Seiko Prospex Diver SPB149, a slick revival if ever there was one.
Unlike the “trilogy” of rare reissues also made available for the occasion of Seiko’s anniversary, the SPB149 is by far the most accessible. And truth be told, this one has my personal vote above the other three.
The 62MAS – pictured above – is widely acknowledged as one of the brand’s most important watches, having laid the foundation for numerous “super-performant” diver watches. According to Monochrome, the ISO 6425 standards were actually modelled after Seiko’s early dive watches.
While this is by no means the first time a modern reinterpretation of the 62MAS has been released, the Seiko Prospex Diver SPB149 is an entirely different animal with new proportions, new materials, updated movement, and of course, a limited production run.
In terms of the proportions, you’ll find this to be far closer to the original, measuring at just 40.5mm in diameter. With a case made from stainless steel – as well as the presence of a durable coating – the SPB149 relies on the in-house 6R35 automatic movement, which holds a power reserve of 70 hours. Resistant to water at depths of up to 200m, the SPB149 also provides greater legibility in those darker lighting conditions thanks to its LumiBrite Lume.
The Seiko Prospex Diver SPB149 will be strictly limited to 5,500 pieces. Available at relevant boutiques, retailers, and platforms come June of 2020, it will retail for $1,995 here in Australia.
Find out more over at seikowatches.com.
