After unveiling a new King Seiko in January, Seiko has released several new models to give 2022 a strong start. Spread across the Prospex and Presage lines, these include Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions, Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph, Seiko Presage Automatic GMT, Seiko Presage Automatic, and Seiko Presage Open Heart.

Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions

The 60s and 70s were times of exploration for Seiko, where strapped onto the wrists of intrepid explorers, the brand’s watches were put to extreme tests. From 1966 to 1969, the members of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition wore Seiko’s first diver’s watch, made in 1965 - it had a water resistance of 150 metres. Three years later, in 1968, Seiko unveiled a diver’s watch with 300 metres water resistance, a first for the brand. In 1970s, specifically 1974-1976, Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura completed a 12,500 km solo dog-sled run from Greenland to Alaska wearing a Seiko diver’s watch, with a distinctive crown at 4 o’clock. Now, all three watches have inspired three new additions to the Seiko Prospex line in 2022 - Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions.

The dials of all the three watches are reminiscent of the glacial and stark beauty of the Arctic and Antarctic landscape. Ref SPB297, the 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation is 40.5mm watch with a deep blue textured dial. Ref SPB299 1968, the Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation is a 42mm watch with a light blue dial and a darker blue bezel, while the third, the SPB301 is the 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation, a white-dial-blue-bezel piece coming in at 42.7mm.

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All three watches are steel, with the bracelet sporting a super-hard coating and extenders. The hardy curved sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating. There is Lumbrite on the hands and indexes, and the watches are water-resistant to 200 metres. The Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions are powered by the automatic Caliber 6R35, which delivers a power reserve of 70 hours.

Last year, Seiko had unveiled the Prospex 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation: SPB239 and the Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation: SPB237, in neutral colours and with braided Seichu fabric straps, an element that gave the watches a casual, outdoorsy feel. The new Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions have been positioned under the brand’s Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean series umbrella, which delivers financial and other support to Seiko’s chosen marine charities.

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The watches are priced Rs 1,10,000 (approx.) onwards, and would be available in Seiko boutiques starting June 2022

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph

The 18th edition of 2022 World Athletics Championships is set to commence from July and Eugene, Oregon, USA is all set to host the event. Starting in 1976, this twice-a-year event has grown substantially in size. Since 1985, Seiko has being the official timekeeper of World Athletics Championships (even though Seiko’s association with sports can be traced to the 1960s). For the 2022 Eugene, Oregon edition, Seiko has launched a 400-piece limited edition Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph with an all-new caliber.

On the face of it, the 42.5mm Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph features a textured dial with a 30-minute window at 9 o’clock and a small-second counter at 3 o’clock. The watch gets double bar markers with a triple bar marker for 12 o’clock, and a date window at 6 o’clock. The limited-edition chronograph is powered by 8R46 caliber, with a 4Hz frequency and a 45-hour power reserve. The stainless steel case and the sapphire crystal caseback get anti-reflective coating, and a 100 metre water resistance. The caseback also features engravings of the individual watch number and ‘World Athletics Championships 2022 Official Timer’ with its logo.

The Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph is finished in a stainless steel strap, with a black calf leather strap included.

Presage Sharp Edged Series

Seiko’s Presage range has been a favourite amongst Seiko fans who loved patterned and engraved dials, given that since its inception, the brand has experimented with different dials, colours, and materials in this line. The expansion of the Sharp Edged Series in 2020 created route for the collection to be more modern, and 2020’s five new references include a limited edition GMT and an open hearts.

Presage Automatic GMT 

Limited to 900 pieces, this 42.2mm watch comes with a GMT function, power reserve, and date window. The GMT display ring in ceramic is in the same blue tone as that of the dial. The GMT version Ref SPB303 is powered by Caliber 6R64 movement, a 4Hz frequency and a power reserve of 45 hours. Both the stainless steel case and the see-through caseback get anti-reflective coating with a 100-metre water resistance. The textured dial gets a two-tone inner ring indicating night and day with bar shaped hour markers. The GMT watch is completed in a steel bracelet with a three-fold clasp.

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Presage Automatic

The new SPB305 and Ref SPB307 get a redesigned case. Powering the two models is the Caliber 6R21 with a 4Hz frequency and a 45-hour power reserve. Unlike the GMT version, the models are smaller in size at 40.2mm, and get a stainless steel case with a see-through caseback with anti-reflective coating with a 100-metre water resistance. The stainless steel bracelet gets a three-fold clasp with a push button release. While Ref SPB305 gets a blue-white dial, Ref SPB307 gets a black dial.

At 3 o’clock there’s a day window, at 6 o’clock there’s a date window, and then there is a power reserve window at 9 o’clock. The models get bar-shaped hour markers and while SPB305 gets a blue colored seconds hand, Ref SPB307 gets white coloured seconds hands. Wearers can also see that Ref SPB305 gets a blue tone date, power reserve and day window; Ref SPB307 gets a black and purple date, power reserve, and day window.

Presage Open Heart

Common to Ref SPB309 and Ref SPB311 is the movement. Both the 40.2mm references get powered by Caliber 6R38, a 3Hz frequency and a 70-hour power reserve. Both the watches come with a stainless steel case with anti-reflective coating and a 100-metre water resistance. Also, both the references have Seiko logo at 12 o'clock, Presage Automatic engraving at 6 o'clock and an open heart at 9 o'clock.

Ref SPB309 gets a white pattern dial, steel bar shaped hour markers, blue coloured seconds hands, and white hour and minute hands ,and is finished in stainless steel bracelet. Ref SPB311 gets a blue textured dial, gold hour markers and gold hour, minute and seconds, and is finished in a dark brown calf leather strap.

Images: Courtesy Seiko