Meet the Seiko Prospex 1965 Re-Creation Limited Edition Watch
Friday - 14 July 2023
Seiko dives deep into its archives to produce a new take on the classic and much-loved 62MAS watch with the release of the new Seiko Prospex 1965 Re-Creation watch, limited to just 1965 pieces worldwide
If you asked any watch collector to randomly draw you a dive watch, the chances are it will come out looking alarmingly similar to Seiko’s first dive watch. The 62MAS was originally released in 1965. It became an incredibly important design, not just for the dive watch category, but for watches in general. Its official name was the 62 Seikomatic Calendar and it is thought that these two numbers in the name derived from the model number along with a reference to the word “automatic”.
The thorough design of the 62MAS would later form the touchstones for the archetypal dive watch. The original 62MAS was a 38 mm-sized tonneau-shaped case crafted from stainless steel with squared-off lugs and a water resistance of 150 meters. It also featured a bidirectional rotating bezel that could be used for calculating dive times by aligning it with the central minute hand, plus drilled lugs and hour markers on the dial that were made super easy to reference thanks to plenty of luminous material applied to their surface. The watch was powered by the Calibre 6217 – an automatic movement that vibrated at a rhythm of 18,000 beats per hour. Its distinct shape would inspire the skin diver watches of the future and still remains a design that is coveted today
The 62MAS too was a design inspired by skin divers – those of the Swiss kind. A request came through from the Japanese Antarctic Expedition but it came at a time when Seiko was knee-deep in the development of its electronic measurement devices for the Tokyo 1964 Olympics. The 62MAS, although a little unpolished, was designed in a little over a month. A two-pronged approach by Seiko meant that some dive watches were produced for professional divers and others for recreational use. Since its conception, there have been various takes on the 62MAS watch. The first 300-meter water-resistant watch was born in 1967, followed by the manufacturer’s first Hi-Beat movement a year later.
The Seiko Prospex Diver’s Re-Creation Limited Edition watch
The new Seiko Prospex 1965 Diver’s Re-creation Limited Edition watch is inspired by the first dive watch by the Japanese brand. Characteristics of the 62MAS watch are celebrated in this limited edition run of 1,965 pieces – a number that nods to the year the model was released. Its design replicates the case shape of the original, which was worn in the Antarctic Research Expedition thanks to its robust design and impressive water-resistant rating. It was also the watch that accompanied other adventures, including treks to the North and South Pole as well as successful ventures to the top of Mount Everest. Although recreated versions of the watch in the past have been larger in size, the new Seiko Prospex 1965 Diver’s Re-creation Limited Edition watch reverts to its original 38mm size thanks to the implementation of a new in-house movement - the Calibre 6L37. It sits inside the case of the new Seiko Prospex watch, delivering a power reserve of 45 hours once fully wound.
The case of the new Seiko Prospex 1965 Re-creation Limited Edition watch, made from stainless steel, is executed with a brushed finish across its surface and is topped with a sapphire crystal glass front. The back of the case is screwed down, enabling the watch to uphold its water resistance of 200 meters alongside a screw-down crown at 3 o’clock. The analogue dial of the new watch is blue and textured creating a legible background for a set of thick baton hour markers. These markers appear chunkier in shape compared to previous iterations of the iconic 62MAS dive watch and pair nicely with a set of central hands. These features have also been treated with plenty of Lumibrite to assist with timekeeping during the night. The dial also features a clear date window at 3 o’clock and the “Automatic Seiko” lettering at 12 o’clock.
The new Seiko Prospex 1965 Re-creation Limited Edition watch features a robust unidirectional rotating bezel in black with a clear 60-minute dive scale that can be aligned with the central minute hand on the dial to measure dive time effectively without the risk of the bezel being accidentally knocked and extended under heavy diving gear. The bezel has also been designed with a knurled edge to aid grip under wet fingers and completes the design of the robust diving tool. The watch is also fitted on a textured black silicone strap that secures around the wrist with a stainless steel pin buckle fastening engraved with the Seiko logo.
If you’ve always loved the look of the original Seiko 62MAS watch and you’re looking for a collectable dive watch, the new Seiko Prospex 1965 Re-creation Limited Edition watch is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. To secure yourself one of the 1965 limited edition watches, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.
