Seiko Celebrates Japanese Adventurer With a Pair of Prospex Divers
The two watches are based on a model worn by Naomi Uemura during a 12,500km dog-sled expedition.
Seiko is adding two new dive watches, housed in its famous asymmetrical ‘Willard’ case, to the brand’s Prospex collection.
The first is a limited edition to mark the 80th Anniversary of the birth of Japanese explorer Naomi Uemura, the first person to climb the highest peaks on five continents and the first Japanese climber to summit Mount Everest.
Seiko has taken the 1970 Seiko dive watch that Uemura wore during a 1974-76 solo 12,500km dog-sled from Greenland to Alaska as the inspiration for a thoroughly modern recreation with a blue textured dial and bezel and a 8L35 4Hz automatic movement.
The watch is water resistant to 200m and comes with a contemporary five-link stainless steel bracelet and blue silicone strap. Limited to 1,200 pieces, the SLA049 will drop in July priced $3,100.
A non-limited version, with the bezel and same textured dial in a charcoal gray similar to the watch worn by Uemura, joins the Prospex collection as a permanent addition, dropping in July priced $2,900.
In other watch news, Louis Erard flexes with an enamel dial from the masters, Donzé Cadrans.
