The story of the Seiko 62MAS is a story worth telling. Now that story has even more significance, especially with the launch of the new Seiko 62MAS Reissue Divers in the Prospex collection.
The Seiko 62MAS surfaced in the year 1965 and was THE original Seiko dive watch. Its classic dive watch markings and 150M water resistance, packed into a 37mm steel case, made for a fan favourite, to say the least. It became the only Seiko diver watch to feature the crown at 3 o’clock rather than 4 o’clock, and despite its popularity, didn’t seem to influence the designs of many Seiko dive watches to come later down the line. Over recent years, however, Seiko has been taking steps to honour the design of the 62MAS with interpretations like the larger 42.5mm ref SPB053 and the SPB14-series, which later became recognised as the Seiko 62MAS Reissue Divers. Still larger than the original 37mm model, with a diameter of 40.5mm case – this series offered fans the most true-to-form version in the modern catalogue. It replaced the aluminium bezel with ceramic, however, and equipped the top of the case with tough, anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass.
The SPB143 was the closest to the original 62MAS, throughout the entire series, offering something for the avid Seiko collector and any true fan of the brand’s vintage dive watch. Above all, however, the 62MAS was loved for characteristics like its grey-green dial with chrome-bordered, lume-filled hour markers, a sweep seconds hand with a luminous pip, and a bordered and bevelled date window. The watch was also equipped with Seiko’s first external rotating bezel. The lugs swept smoothly outwards from the case and the back bore an engraved image of a dolphin.
The New Seiko 62MAS Reissue Divers
This year marks an important one for the Japanese giant and one that Seiko fans have long been awaiting. Just a few years after releasing the SPB143 and its successful relatives, anything remotely considered a reimagination of the brand’s successful diver has been made somewhat redundant. Until now. The three new references from Seiko’s line of 62MAS Re-Issue Diver watches perfect the iconic formula of the original and come with some interesting new upgrades.
A New Case
The 40mm Seiko Prospex SPB451J1, SPB455J1, and SPB453J1 models still employ the same steel bodywork as the 62MAS. Now, with slightly deeper brushing, however, the polished finishes on the case are enhanced all the more. Seiko clips the lugs by 1.2mm to create a 46.3mm lug-to-lug length. This measurement, although not always mentioned in the spec of a watch, is important since it determines how well the watch wears despite its diameter. The great thing is, that previous nods to the 62MAS have always been easy-wearing timepieces, but the new iterations are now even more ergonomically refined for a compact, comfortable finish. Seiko specialists reduce the diameter of the case by just half a millimetre. Again – a detail that sounds so insignificant on paper, but on the wrist, makes all the difference. The new Seiko 62MAS Reissue Divers watches also shave a little weight off their thickness but despite this, they now offer improved water resistance.
Improved Water Resistance
Why would an increase from 200-meter water resistance to 300-meter matter so much? Well, the Prospex watch collection by Seiko has received some criticism over the years. Professional dive watches often promise a water resistance of at least 300 meters, after all. The new revival models now offer 300M water resistance which may seem insignificant for anyone who doesn’t plan to go deep-sea diving with one, but that’s not the case. In reality, water resistance in watches is much more complex than you may think.
Water resistance is a difficult statistic to understand in a watch since you’d naturally imagine that a 100-meter water-resistant watch should cover you down to those depths precisely. In actual fact, that’s not the case. It would be more accurate to say that a 100M watch would be able to withstand the pressure when completely static at this depth of water. Once you move with that watch underwater, however, the pressure exposure to that watch is actually much greater. This is why it’s always important to get a watch that covers you for a much deeper depth than your actual ventures. So, all-in-all, the increase of 200M to 300M water resistance is a welcome improvement for divers interested in adding the new Seiko Prospex 62MAS Reissue watch to their collection.
The Dial
One of the biggest changes to the watch aesthetically is the removal of the 3 o’clock date and its repositioning to 4:30. While this may seem controversial at first, Seiko does this with utmost subtlety, placing it inside a circular window and replacing it behind a colour-matched background. After all, gaining balance and symmetry across the Lumibrite-coated hour markers under the curved sapphire crystal glass is very important in the dark, and the removal of the 3 o’clock window certainly aids this change.
The dial colours of the new Seiko 62MAS Reissue Divers watches include Scuba Blue, Cove Black and Tide Grey – the latter of which is imbued with luxurious gold-coloured accents. This version certainly adds a touch of neo-vintage charm to the wrist, especially since its bezel is forged from aluminium as was the original dive watch. Whether you’re looking for a touch more character or just love the classic appeal of the blue and black iterations, however, all three models offer the same functionality, materials and styling. This includes a robust three-link stainless steel bracelet, which finishes the design perfectly. Saying that the grey iteration does come with an additional polyester strap that you can enjoy if you want to dress the watch down with casual attire at the weekend.
The Bezel and Movement
Another modification is the updated aluminium rotating bezel, equipped with a full set of minute markers for more intuitive timekeeping while underwater. The bezel moves only in the counter-clockwise direction, ensuring that no accidental resetting of the bezel can happen, thus increasing your remaining dive time.
If mechanical performance is important to you, you’ll be pleased to hear that Seiko kits out these new 62MAS-inspired watches with one of the newest and most advanced of the brand’s movements – the Calibre 6R55. This is an automatic engine with a useful 3-day power reserve, placing these watches very firmly in the “weekend-friendly” dive watch category. This high-spec movement, despite its capability, is reasonably priced and promises an accuracy of +25 to -15 seconds per day.
Without a doubt, the new Seiko 62MAS Reissue Diver watches increase survivability under deeper depths of water, legibility, utility and respectability. These watches can now be considered professional dive tools by even the most sceptical of collectors and are appropriately priced for their structure, their features, and their classically restrained designs. The blue and black versions of the new 62MAS Reissue Divers watches are standard models, while the third – the Tide Grey version – is a special commemorative edition that marks 100 years of the Seiko name.
The new Seiko 62MAS Reissue watches are now available to order at Jura Watches. If you’d like to learn more, call and speak to a member of our sales team on 01335 453453 or email us at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
