Seiko are celebrating 50 years of producing professional diving watches this year and to mark the occasion properly, they have done something very special. The Prospex Marinemaster Professional 1000m Tuna Hi Beat 36000 is composed of a unique blend of ceramic and titanium, finished with rose gold decorative accents. Carrying almost identical features to that of its predecessor, the Seiko Emporor Tuna SBDX011 which was made only available in Japan, its original tuna can design was initially created after a letter was received by the Japanese brand from a professional diver who expressed the qualities lacking in other divers watches at the time. The new reinvented timepiece offers a striking aesthetic coupled with a number of durable and hard-wearing facilities.
Essentially resembling the look of a tuna can being worn on the wrist, a derivative of the nickname, the latest addition was also accompanied by two other exceptional pieces this year at Baselworld 2015, the Prospex Marinemaster 
1000m Cermet Tuna Limited Editions. The pair will be the first to wear a unique material which goes by the name of cermet, a composition made of metal and ceramic. This July will not only see the release of the SBDX011 but also the limited editions subject to 400 pieces each, available in quartz with a silver shroud and an automatic with a copper coloured bezel trim. The 1000m Tuna Hi Beat 36000 however, has a black hardened inner case which has been treated with titanium and black ceramic coating. The concept behind its one piece construction is a noteworthy practice within Seiko’s manufacturing and ensures extra protection against water seepage. The measurement of the case, although a substantial 48mm in diameter, feels smaller on the wrist and with a virtually lug-less design, carries an unimposing attitude. With 50 years behind the brand, Seiko have sparked an almost cult-like following of their original ProSpex series. The mechanical diver’s instrument comes equipped with a high-intensity silicone strap for extra resilience, but it is not until we look closer at the construction of the watch that we can whole-heartedly appreciate its sturdy reliability. Not only do we see the expected sapphire crystal glass with the all important anti-fog coating, but the build of the watch consists of layers of titanium for the internal composition and ceramic for its outer armour, both of which offer scratch resistance, optimum impact resistance and provide a strong fixture for the Bezel. The L-shaped gasket also wards off helium from entering the case whilst diving. The choice to use the mechanical, self-winding movement 8L35 has proven to be a good one, providing years of service within this line of professional divers watches. It offers a rate of 28,800 bph, provides 50 hours of power reserve and contains 26 jewels. The single titanium piece which encapsulates the whole body of the watch holds huge presence and is finished with the stunning polishing technique, Zaratsu and a diamond shield coating. The bezel is of course, rotating and includes and anodized scale to prevent fading. Inspired by the yellow gold accents found within the Professional Diver 600m released in 1978, the only difference between the new Tuna Hi Beat 36000 and the original Emporor Tuna is its rose gold coating to the screws, crown, hands and bezel. This decorative feature breathes life into the watch allowing it to be worn as a fashionable piece rather than just for practical benefit. The redesigning of the lance-shaped hands, you may feel also resemble the two year old Spring Drive Tuna. To finish with, the indexes and hands of the divers watch are filled with an exceptional luminescent material with offers 60% further glow time than that of its original ancestors.
The watch is priced at an appealing £2750.00, truly deserving of its high-grade materials and rustic, marine-styled aesthetic. To pre-order the Seiko ProSpex MarineMaster Professional 1000m Tuna Hi Beat 36000, please continue here.
