Seiko Brand 100th Anniversary1965 Heritage Diver's Watch

It was exactly 100 years ago that the first watch with the name "Seiko" was born. Just one year prior, the Great Kanto Earthquake caused fires that devastated most of the central and northeastern areas of Tokyo. Company founder Kintaro Hattori had to overcome remarkable difficulties. In December of 1924, a mere fifteen months after the earthquake, his company began manufacturing its first new product after the reconstruction, a wristwatch with the name "Seiko” printed on the dial. The new creation signified the beginning of the Seiko brand and marked a new start for the company.

The year 2024 is the 100th anniversary of this landmark event. In celebration, a new diver's watch with a charcoal-grey-colored dial has been introduced into the Prospex collection as a commemorative edition.

At the heart of this timepiece is one of Seiko's latest in-house movements, Caliber 6R55. Its advanced technology ensures a power reserve that extends to an impressive 72 hours, or three full days. In a first for a non-saturation diver’s watch in the Prospex collection, this creation has been further enhanced to ensure water resistance to 300m, a testament to its superior performance and durability.

The design reimagines Seiko and Japan's first diver's watch, known to fans as the 62MAS, and features a stainless steel bezel with an aluminum insert for a slim design that delivers a classic feel and appearance. The date window situated between four and five o'clock allows for a symmetrical dial design and more space at three o’clock to be filled with Lumibrite, ensuring high legibility even in dark conditions.

In addition to a stainless steel bracelet and clasp redesigned for added comfort, a strap made entirely of recycled plastic bottles 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. Its strength and resistance to the degradation caused by exposure to sunlight meet the demanding standards required of Seiko diver's watches.