Seiko dive watches have long had a cult reputation for combining functionality with affordability. The Japanese brand is renowned for making divers that are rugged, dependable and equally happy on land or sea. Those specific qualities have made Seiko especially popular in Australia where their robust characteristics translate well to our outdoorsy lifestyles that often play out close to the beach. All of which makes two new limited-edition watches particularly exciting. For Seiko has just released two divers that are as fair dinkum as Bob Hawke skolling a beer at the Boxing Day test.
The new releases are inspired by Australia’s natural environment. The Prospex SRPJ35K “Eucalyptus” is so called because of its green dial that evokes the leaves of a certain tree that koalas munch on when they’re feeling peckish. The dial comes alive thanks to its sunray finish that brings a range of shimmery green hues and is ringed by an olive bezel in a deeper shade. Housed in Seiko’s iconic “Turtle” case, it’s not a small watch at 45mm, but that heft brings the sort of security you want from a diver that’s water-resistant to 200m. The Eucalyptus comes on a stainless-steel bracelet alongside an extra rubber strap in dark green that hammers home the watch’s diving capabilities.
The Seiko Prospex SPB347J “Noosa” meanwhile is a tribute to the Queensland resort town. It’s another handsome diver in the always popular black-and-blue colourway that’s ignited here with an energising zing of yellow. The textured dial shifts in tone from a lighter blue at the bottom to almost black at the top and reflects the way the ocean darkens as it gets deeper away from the coast. The Noosa’s hands and indices are liberally slathered with lume to guarantee visibility underwater, while the blue and black bezel also packs a handy dollop to keep track of your immersion time. The watch is also water-resistant to 200m and comes on both a steel bracelet or navy rubber strap as well.
Both these watches are released along with the news that Seiko will now make a donation to ocean conservation from sales of every new watch from the Prospex range. It’s a timely commitment that seems particularly relevant in Australia – a country where 85 per cent of our population lives within 50 kilometres of the sea.
If you like the idea of fastening a piece of ocean-friendly Australiana to your wrist then don’t hang about. Both the Noosa and Eucalyptus are only available in limited-edition runs of 1000 pieces each and, given the popularity of Seiko divers, are unlikely to remain on the shelves for long. Frankly, the shelves are really no place for them anyway – these are watches yearning for the deep blue sea.
The Seiko Prospex SRPJ53K “Eucalyptus” and Seiko Prospex SPB347J “Noosa” are available from Australian Seiko boutiques from September 1 priced at $895 and $1500 respectively.
