Seiko produced its first ever divers watch back in 1965; and with half a century's worth of achievements in arguably one of, if not, the most challenging of areas of watchmaking - from the first use of a Titanium for a dive watch cases to the invention of the articulated divers strap and the dual-layer watch case -
to the design of dial markers and hands that set new standards in legibility, Seiko has been a true pioneer in the field of dive watches. It was Seiko's own high standards that were used for the development of the ISO 6425 standards for divers watches and 50 years on Seiko dive watches are still a benchmark in the industry.
The Marinemaster series has long been renowned for the security and precision that the professional diver requires. Two new timepieces in the Marinemaster series embody the very best of Seiko’s 50 years of experience in serving the needs of divers and once again push back the boundaries of diver’s watch technology.
Like its 1975 predecessor, the new Marinemaster Professional 1000m Diver's has a dual-layer case construction that is now the trademark of Seiko’s professional diver’s watches. Thanks to the strength of the inner case structure, the specially designed L-shaped gasket and the screw-down glass fixing ring, the watch is effectively impermeable to helium and can be safely used for saturation diving to great depths.
The use of ceramic for the outer shell enhances shock resistance and also prevents any unintentional rotation of the bezel. In September 2014, Seiko professional diver’s watches of the same case construction were subjected to the most extreme test imaginable. Affixed to the exterior hull of KAIKO 7000 II, a remotely operated undersea research vehicle, they performed perfectly down to a depth of 3,000m.
This new creation incorporates a mechanical caliber specially adjusted for a diver’s watch. The movement is caliber 8L35, and it is made and assembled, as is the complete watch, by Seiko’s leading craftsmen at the Shizuku-ishi Watch Studio. The hands and markers are coated with a new version of Seiko’s Lumibrite, which glows for 60% longer than in the past. The strap is made of extra-strength silicone for greater durability.
This is a diver’s watch worthy of a fifty year anniversary. Its design echoes that of Seiko’s very first hibeat diver’s watch from the 1960’s, but its specifications are the most advanced in the field. It has a one-piece titanium case and, thanks to this, the L-shaped gasket and other features, it is impermeable to helium and suitable for saturation diving.
The rotating bezel is securely fixed to the case with four screws next to the 12 and 6 o’clock positions.
It has the new Lumibrite for enhanced legibility. The 8L55 movement is specially optimized and adapted for use in a diver’s watch with this structure. This caliber beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 55 hours, and it is also assembled by Seiko’s leading craftsmen at the Shizuku-ishi Watch studio. Each watch comes with both a titanium bracelet with extender, and a black extra-strength silicone strap. Offered in a special presentation box, just 700 pieces will be made, each with its own serial number.
Why no model numbers?
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