More power, greater water resistance, and enhanced legibility, the new Seiko Prospex range offers it all!
Since Seiko’s beginning in 1884, the Japanese watch manufacturer has lived by the philosophy of being “Always one step ahead of the rest”. In 1924, the brand introduced to the world the very first timepiece bearing the “Seiko” logo on the dial, which signified their official beginning and introduction and the start of something special in the world of horology.
The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of this landmark event. This year, we are bound to be treated to special creations, with updates across the brand’s different collections. One of the new releases marking this 100-year celebration is the brand’s Prospex collection update. Three models are being released, with one of them being a special edition dedicated to this significant event for the brand.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – SPB453 
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – SPB453
The year 1965 is marked as a historic moment in Seiko’s history, as this was when the brand’s first divers watch was released. Designed for maximum reliability and legibility in the harshest conditions, the 62MAS laid the path to developing numerous iconic watches that won the favour of professional divers and adventurers alike.
One significant upgrade to the modern Seiko diver’s watch came in 2020. The SPB143 had a water resistance of 200m and a power reserve of 70 hours, all the while keeping the vintage-style aesthetics of the 62MAS that made watch fans worldwide fall in love with it.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – SPB451 
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – SPB451
Now, Seiko is introducing three new timepieces in the brand’s Propex collection, based on the design of the fan-favourite SPB143, while incorporating several new enhancements in technology, design, and construction. The three models are a black dial (SPB453), a blue dial variant (SPB451), and the 100th anniversary special edition (SPB455).
Each of these new Seiko Proxpex timepieces has been redesigned to be more compact, with a diameter of 40mm, lug-to-lug length of 46.4mm, and thickness of 13mm. Each timepiece also comes with a slim stainless steel bezel with an aluminium insert, which gives it a more classic appearance. The bezel’s minute markings and numerals are laser-engraved to prevent their wear from long periods of use. The bezel’s aluminium insert is colour-matched to the dial colour, including the white or gold (special edition) minute and numeral markings.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – SPB455 
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – SPB455
All three models are presented in a stainless steel three-link bracelet. However, the bracelet has also been redesigned for this latest collection compared to previous Prospex editions. It now comes with shorter links and a smaller clasp, designed to provide a higher level of comfort as it conforms to the wearer’s wrist.
The 100th-anniversary special edition timepiece (SPB455) also comes with an additional strap made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. Seiko states that this strap was created using “a traditional Japanese braiding technique called Seichu, familiar in Japanese culture for its use in fabric designs. The rich texture and sheen that result from the technique can be observed in the traditional obijime, the decorative cord that holds a kimono sash in place. The strap presents a uniquely Japanese aesthetic and texture and is specially manufactured to have a tensile strength nearly four times that of regular Seiko fabric straps*.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch: SPB451
The SPB451 comes with the classic black and white monotone look, designed for everyday and multi-use wearability. The hour indices and hands have a large, but at the same time, they don’t clutter up the dial.
Plenty of lume is also provided through the generous use of SuperlumiNova for the hands and hour markers, making this watch ideal for a diver’s watch when deep underwater.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch: SPB453
My personal favourite in the collection is this blue dial variant. Finished with a gorgeous sunburst dial, the blue changes from dark navy blue to royal blue, depending on the angle of light.
Like the black dial SPB451, the blue dial comes with white SuperlumiNova, bezel markings, and minute numerals, which has a more stand-out appearance for me.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch: SPB455 (100th Anniversary Edition)
The 100th anniversary special edition model comes with a different look all-together.
The SPB455 has a sunburst charcoal-grey dial and a matching bezel insert. Its hands, hour markers, dial markings, bezel markings, and minute numerals have gold accents intended to evoke the many watchmaking advances made under the Seiko name over the last century.
All three timepieces come with Seiko’s latest in-house movement, the Calibre 6R55. The Calibre 6R55 is one of Seiko’s workhorse movements, operating at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 VpH). It gives a high level of accuracy and provides a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. Using this movement for these timepieces also marks the first time that the Calibre 6R55 has been used in the Prospex collection.
Final Thoughts:
This new Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch collection continues on the legacy of Seiko’s first ever divers watch, the 62MAS. Seiko has taken the 2020 update to the Prospex Divers, the SPB143 watch, and given it even more upgrades. The SPB143 came with upgraded 200m of water resistance, which was received well by the watch world. Now, the brand has taken this further to make these latest Prospex Divers water-resistant to 300m depth! This depth rating is a first for the collection’s non-saturation diver’s watches.
The addition of the 6R55 movement to the Prospex collection is another great move by Seiko. The movement is reliable and durable and has a 3-day power reserve. What I also like about this movement is the placement of the date window. As mentioned earlier, sitting subtly between the 4 and 5 o’clock hour markers, it doesn’t put the timepiece’s aesthetic symmetry out of place. The fact that Seiko has colour-matched the date wheel to the dial is another bonus, meaning it will blend in with the dial, and you may not even notice it at first glance.
All three timepieces offer varying aesthetics to suit personal tastes. While I’m a fan of the blue dial, the sunburst charcoal-grey dial with its gold accents for the 100th-anniversary special edition is the stand-out piece, and rightly so. The special edition’s additional strap, made using the traditional Japanese braiding technique “Seichu,” is strong and resistant to the degradation caused by exposure to sunlight and meets the demanding standards required of Seiko diver’s watches, making it perfect for use underwater!
Reference: Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch SPB451, SPB453
Specification
- Case: 40.0 mm x 13mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel case with super-hard coating
- Dial: Black dial or Sunburst blue with matching bezel insert colours.
- Crystal: Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
- Water resistance: 300m (30 Bar)
- Movement: Self-winding automatic in-house 6R55 calibre
- Movement Frequency: 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with push-button.
Australian Recommended Retail Price: $1,995 AUD
Availability: Non-limited. Available for purchase in June 2024 through Seiko boutiques or purchase online through www.Seiko.com.au.
Reference: 100th Anniversary Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Special Edition SPB455
Specification
- Case: 40.0 mm x 13mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel case with super-hard coating
- Dial: Sunburst charcoal-grey dial with its gold accents
- Crystal: Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
- Water resistance: 300m (30 Bar)
- Movement: Self-winding automatic in-house 6R55 calibre
- Movement Frequency: 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with push-button. Additional recycled polyester strap included.
