Seiko has long been a name in the world of watches, with a wide variety of collections to entice watch fans in various stages of their journey. Its options range from gateway timepieces to prestigious models, encompassing every niche from dress- to field-watches. 

One such niche within the Seiko brand celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and that is the diver’s category. Seiko has ventured into this category since 1965, and has come up with some of the more iconic dive watches that are still sought after by watch fans today. One timepiece that helps commemorate the brand’s dive watch range is the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster SLA081. 

At first glance, this watch embodies the traditional diver’s aesthetic: sizeable, robust, chunky. While it may not be the first choice for a cocktail dinner, it fits its intended use well, and that is to explore the deep seas. So its notable presence on the wrist, with its 45.4mm diameter and 16mm thickness becomes a hallmark of assurance, especially when used in the proper setting. 

Seiko’s choice of material helps alleviate the size, however. The titanium case and bracelet reduce the weight by a significant amount, compared to if it was made from stainless steel. Suddenly, the thought of wearing this large piece as an everyday watch does not seem so far-fetched. 

Adding onto the titanium build is one-piece construction of the watch case. This means the watch does not have a traditional caseback, and all the internal components are installed from the front. So its water resistance of 600 metres sounds about right. This is a professional-grade diving watch, after all, so it would not be surprising that Seiko has also included the L-shaped gasket to prevent helium from entering the watch in the first place, no escape valve needed. 

The dial itself is easy to read, in part thanks to its size, and also the minimalist design. And if the blue ripples conjure images of the ocean, that is because this design was inspired from shinkai, Japanese for ‘deep sea’.  

Its hands and indexes are coated with Lumibrite, and here lies another interesting fact about the watch: its indexes are moulded as part of the dial instead of applied separately. This provides protection against impact, which might dislodge the indexes on a traditional watch. Every part of this watch’s design has been made with safety in mind, so it really does live up to the ‘Professional’ inscription on the dial. 

Powering this watch is Seiko’s new Calibre 8L45, which features the brand’s proprietary alloy called Spron. This material is more resistant against breakage, rust, and wear, all of which are threats often faced during deepwater dives. The movement also provides a hefty 72-hour power reserve. 

Would this watch be as good a companion during grocery runs as it would on a dive? That is for the fans to decide. But only a handful will be able to do so, as only 600 pieces of this limited edition will be available. 

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