Seiko's Prospex U.S. Special Edition Watch Is a Breath of Fresh Air

Seiko’s unrelenting spirit of pushing the limits has led to one of its most daring creations yet with the Prospex U.S. Special Edition watch. Built to thrive in the most demanding settings, the Japanese watchmaker has taken from its signature divers collection and elevated the playing field with timepieces inspired by the dangerous beauty of glacial ice. The manufacturer channeled its rich history of dive watch expertise to create the new “Built for the Ice Diver” collection with an array of impressive features.

Built from the start for superior operation in the most hostile environments, Seiko diver’s watches were an immediate favorite for high-intensity exploration, becoming essential equipment for the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE). As an active supporter, Seiko also donated watches to four of the group’s winter research projects during the 1960s, cementing the brand’s reliable craftsmanship, technology and know-how in extreme conditions. Seiko’s divers watches were soon adopted as the watch of choice for generations of polar explorers and ice mountaineers, like Naomi Uemura, who was the first person to ever complete a solo dog-sled run to the North Pole, and Yuichiro Miura, the oldest man ever to scale Mt. Everest.

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Paying tribute to this unparalleled legacy, the Prospex U.S. Special Edition highlights both the impressive durability and sharp functionality. This series sets itself apart with a design inspired by the changing colors of polar ice and its stages of transformation, catching different shades of light throughout the day. The patterned dials take on a similar dynamic approach. Offered in gray (SPB175), green (SPB177) and light blue (SPB179), each tone is a take on colors that reflect off glacial ice. The collection comes in polished and brushed stainless steel cases, reminiscent of iconic diver’s watch models from Seiko, but featuring broader lines and thick printed bezel numerals, as well as the brand’s signature four o’clock crown.

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Precision and craftsmanship take front stage with the Prospex Built for the Ice Diver watches, as Seiko remains dedicated to enhancing its technology and unique designs. Following ISO standards for scuba diving at depths up to 200 meters, the watch includes a unidirectional rotating elapsed timing bezel, toned to match each dial, secure screwdown crown, a scratch resistant sapphire crystal, and a Special Edition caseback. The durable bracelet, engineered for extreme activity, features a tri-fold push button release clasp with secure lock and extender. Inside the watch face, a 24-jewel automatic movement, caliber 6R35, beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, with an impressive power reserve of approximately 70 hours, and both manual and automatic winding capabilities. And, on the surface, the subtly evocative dials give way to enhanced legibility with simple LumiBrite hands and markers, as well as magnified date windows, rounding out the state-of-the-art timepiece.

Seiko Prospex Built for the Ice Diver U.S. Special Editions are now available at select Seiko Luxe retailers nationwide, with retail prices starting at $900 USD. Explore this unique collection at the brand’s website.