Professional Diver's 1000M

Seiko Prospex Professional Diver’s 1000M  

In 1975, Seiko produced a 600m diver’s watch with a titanium one-piece case and an outer case protector. It used a specially developed L-shaped gasket to make it impervious to helium without the need for an escape valve. It had an accordion-style strap that made the watch secure on the wrist whatever the ambient pressure. This unique watch changed forever the world’s expectation of what a diver’s watch could deliver and its unique construction and popularity led to it being given the name “Tuna” by watch fans across the world.  

The 1975 original has already been the inspiration for several Seiko diver’s watches but, this year, a mechanical 1000m saturation diver’s watch with a new bezel material will join the permanent collection of Seiko Prospex. It is faithful to the 1975 original yet built to a new, higher specification made possible by the advanced technologies of Seiko. The watch is powered by the 8-beat Caliber 8L35, created expressly for Seiko’s finest diver’s watches. 

The new material is a grade of stainless steel used in the bezel. Named “Ever-Brilliant Steel,” this stainless steel is more corrosion resistant than that which is used in most high-end watches today.* This material is used extensively in the marine structures and vessels to avoid corrosion in the chloride-rich environment of sea water and brings a new level of durability to the diver’s watch.   

While inheriting the outer protector, the L-shaped case gasket and the accordion-style strap from the original, every detail has also been designed to ensure optimum performance. The indexes use the simple and distinct shapes of the triangle and circle to ensure high legibility at a glance in deep water, the minute hand is arrow-shaped to differentiate it clearly from the other hands and the strap is made of extra-strength silicone for greater durability.