Seiko have several limited edition sub-collections that draw the keen eyes of collectors. There’s the Seiko Save the Ocean series where proceeds of the designs go to the PADI Aware Foundation’s Marine Debris programme, then of course, there’s the Seiko Prospex Black Series, a group of diving watches all sharing a black coated case and coloured dial. The latter extends for the first time in 2023, introducing two new models named the Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ Turtle SPB335J1 and the Black Series ‘Night’ Alpinist SPB337J1.
The Seiko Prospex Black Series collection has no shortage of designs to choose from. Over the years, we’ve seen black DLC coated cases and black dials appear on designs like the popular Seiko 1965, 1968 and 1970 Reinterpretation Diver’s watches, the statement Seiko Monster, the can-shaped Seiko Tuna and the more streamline Seiko Samurai. Last year, Seiko changed things up with a range of Seiko Black Series ‘Night’ watches inspired by the sport of night diving. For the first time, the blackened exterior was joined by bold turquoise hands and markers set with a material named Lumibrite Pro, a material that glows in the dark even more brilliantly than standard luminous coating. The Seiko Black Series ‘Night’ collection included a King Samurai SRPH97K1 model, a Tortoise SRPH99K1 watch and a solar-powered model under SNE587P1. Now enlisting with these is another two night diving-inspired designs, one under the popular Seiko nickname the “Turtle” and the other a Seiko Alpinist.
The Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ Turtle SPB335J1 Watch
Since the Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ collection is inspired by night diving, let’s start by looking at the watch with a long history under the water. The Seiko Black Series ‘Night’ Turtle SPB335J1 watch takes its exterior from the famous Seiko Turtle which is named after its large, cushion-shaped case evoking the shape of a turtle’s shell. As you’d expect, the stainless steel case is fully dressed in a black hard coating and measures to 41mm in diameter and 12.25mm tall. There’s the familiar screw down crown at 4 o’clock joined by a unidirectional rotating bezel with a two-toned steel insert. The insert is grey between the 0 to 20 numerals before turning black and like the dial is generously adorned in Lumibrite.
The dial of the Seiko Black Series ‘Night’ Turtle SPB335J1 watch sits below curved sapphire crystal glass and is finished in a handsome black grained surface. The novelty mint-green coloured Lumbrite Pro appears across the large hour and minute hands, on the tip of the traffic light seconds hand and on the baton indexes. There’s also a date window between the 4 and 5 o’clock position. All of this is powered by the Calibre 6R35 automatic winding movement ensuring a 70 hour power reserve and an accuracy of 15/+25 seconds per day. The Seiko Black Series ‘Night’ Turtle SPB335J1 watch is waterproof to 200 metres and confirms its diving capabilities with a water resistant black silicon strap. The design retails at £840 and is a limited edition of 4,500 pieces.e
The Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ Alpinist SPB337J1 Watch
The new Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ Alpinist SPB337J1 watch offers up several firsts for the Seiko Black Series. It is not only the first time a Seiko Alpinist watch has joined the collection, but the first time any of their outdoor-driven watches has made the cut. It is also one of just a few Seiko Black Series watches to proudly show the movement off through an exhibition case back. The movement in question here is the same used in the Turtle model, the Calibre 6R35 with a 70 hour power reserve and frequency rate of 21,600vph. There’s also the same 200 metre water resistant rating, sapphire crystal glass and the exciting black and turquoise colour palette.
For the case of the Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ Alpinist SPB337J1 watch, the stealthy black hard coating makes its way across a 39.45mm diameter and a height of 13.2mm. There are two crowns on this case, one at 3 o’clock for controlling the time and date functions on the black grained dial and a second at 4 o’clock for manipulating the internal rotating bezel. The inner bezel is adorned with a compass scale in white and a select few sporty red accents. Nearby, you have large silvered Arabic numerals, turquoise-coloured indexes and matching turquoise cathedral hands all glowing brilliantly in Lumibrite Pro. The Seiko Prospex Black Series Night Alpinist SPB337J1 watch is completed by a three-row link black hard coated bracelet and retails at £800. It is a limited edition of 5,500 pieces.
If you’d like to learn more about the new 2023 Seiko Prospex Black Series ‘Night’ Turtle and Alpinist watches, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
