Introducing: Three New Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Edition Dive Watches

Just when you thought winter was over, Seiko is here to pull you back into the icy polar waters with three new additions to the Prospex Save The Ocean lineup of dive watches! But it’s not just any watches that receive this frosty makeover. No sir! The three watches chosen, are the new heritage-inspired models, which look to the 62 MAS, the 1968 6159-7001 (Seiko’s first 300m dive watch), and the famous “Willard”. This final model shares the case shape of the watch worn by the Japanese explorer and adventurer Naomi Uemura from 1974 to 1976 in her famous solo dog-sled journey from Greenland to Alaska. Imbued with the spirit of adventure, and Seiko’s proven reliability, these divers are sure to be fan favorites.

Seiko has produced some of the world’s most capable dive watches since the mid-60s. The models in this latest special edition series serve as an anthology, giving an overview of some of its most iconic divers produced between 1965 and 1970 while enjoying the benefits of Seiko’s modern watchmaking standards. With beautifully textured dials that evoke different shades found in glacial ice, there’s bound to be one that catches your eye. Whether it’s the deep blue dial and black bezel of the SPB297, the aqua blue and navy bezel of the SPB299, or even the icy white dial and indigo bezel of the SPB301. The Save The Ocean lineup has always remained popular amongst enthusiasts and Seiko fans alike, as the watches offer a lot of value for the price. And it’s not hard to see why.

Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Special Editions

The first watch offered in the new collection is the 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation SPB297. With its skin-diver-inspired case sized at a perfect 40.5mm × 13.2mm, it’s a watch that has been extremely popular since its launch a couple of years ago. This model is no stranger to special editions, with Seiko having created a 140th-anniversary version last year. This time, the watch takes on the darker blue shades of the ice in shadow, with a black radially brushed bezel allowing the dial to truly shine. The next special edition is the 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation SPB299. Slightly bigger than the SPB297 at 42mm, the watch is slightly slimmer (12.5mm). Its dial is a lighter shade of aqua blue, with a matching bezel similar to that on the 140th-anniversary model. The more intense color scheme paired with a larger and more angular case makes for a stunning combination.

Last, but certainly not least, the 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation SPB301 uses the famous “Willard” case. The biggest of the bunch, at 42.7mm (13.2mm tall) it is still supremely wearable. A lighter blue bezel is tastefully combined with an icy white dial. This finishes off the trio of icy dialed watches, rounding off the color palette nicely. All three watches have beautifully textured dials. With vertical cracks and crevices that represent the icy walls of glaciers floating in the frigid polar waters. This trio of Prospex Save The Ocean dive watches all feature Seiko’s caliber 6R35. A movement that offers 70 hours of power reserve, and which will be kept safe inside the three different cases. All of them provide 200m of water resistance thanks to the screw-down crown and case back.

Final thoughts

There you have it! A trio of frosty ice divers from Seiko. All three of which come on a steel bracelet with a dive extension, a safety lock, and plenty of micro-adjustments. Their dials and hands are generously painted with Limibrite, which means they will enjoy Seiko’s incomparably bright lume. Visible through sapphire crystals with AR-coating on the inner surface. Finally, all three of their cases are coated with a super-hard coating for added scratch resistance. Both the SPB297 and SPB299 will be priced at approximately €1,300. The SPB301 comes in at €1,400. All three watches support Seiko’s Save The Ocean charities and will be available from June 2022 in Seiko boutiques and selected retailers.

For more information on pricing and availability of the current dive watch range, please visit Seiko’s website. And finally, as always, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Follow me on Instagram @ncgwatches