A new trio of Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ PADI Special Edition watches have arrived for 2023, helping raise awareness and proceeds for the PADI Ocean Cleanup campaign. The new releases, styled after their iconic Turtle, Samurai and Sumo diving instruments, debut an aquatic-inspired ocean blue dial.
Established in 1966, shortly after the introduction of Seiko’s inaugural diver’s watch, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) has grown to become the largest scuba diving training organisation in the world. Its primary objective is to ensure the safety and enjoyment of divers while also safeguarding precious marine ecosystems. Since 2016, Seiko has been the exclusive global watch brand authorised to create a line of professional diver’s watches featuring the official colours of the PADI logo, a privilege earned through a shared dedication to both diving and marine conservation. Over the years, Seiko has released numerous PADI watches, captivating collectors and enthusiasts alike and the new Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ PADI Special Edition watches are the latest tribute.
Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Turtle PADI Special Edition (SRPK01K1)
One of Seiko’s most iconic dive watches is their Prospex Turtle, a design which takes its name from its turtle shell-like case. The new Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Turtle PADI Special Edition elects all of the characteristics of this familiar design including a rounded stainless steel case measuring to 45mm wide and 13.2mm thick and a distinctive screw in crown positioned at 4 o’clock. It warrants a 200 metre water resistant rating thanks to the crown and screw down case back and presents its new dial design beneath scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating.
The dial of the Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Turtle PADI Special Edition watch is influenced by a diver’s underwater view, offering a gradient blue finish across the centre. This matches nicely with the blue-toned unidirectional rotating bezel. The dial retains the Seiko Turtle’s rounded indexes, syringe-shaped minutes hand and large arrow hour hand. All of this hardware is generously adorned in Lumibrite and pairs with a magnified day and date window at 3 o’clock. The Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Turtle PADI watch is powered by the in-house mechanical 4R36 calibre movement with a 41 hour power reserve and completed by a three-row link stainless steel bracelet. It retails at £570.
Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Samurai PADI Special Edition (SRPJ93K1)
For a more sporty, angular diver’s watch, there’s also the new Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Samurai PADI Special Edition. Seiko’s Samurai watches are nicknamed as such for their sharp, pointed architecture which looks as if it were shaped by a Japanese samurai sword. The case in this instance measures to 43.8mm wide and 12.8mm tall and holds up a blue unidirectional rotating bezel with the 0-15 markers highlighted in a brighter blue to contrast against the remaining grey-hued scale. There’s a screw in crown, screw down case back, sapphire crystal glass and a 200 metre water resistance.
The dial of the Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Samurai PADI Special Edition watch mimics the rest of the collection, handsomely adorned with an underwater view with subtle sun reflections coming through the surface. In typical Seiko Samurai fashion however, the dial presents teeth-shaped hour markers and sharp, sword-shaped hands for the hours and minutes. Powering the time and magnified date function is the Calibre 4R35 automatic winding movement with a 41 hour power reserve. Retailing at £550, the Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Samurai PADI watch secures to the wrist by a dark blue silicone strap printed with “Professional Association of Diving Instructors” along its length.
Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Sumo PADI Special Edition (SPB375J1)
Last up, we have the Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Sumo PADI Special Edition watch, styled after the suitably nicknamed Seiko Sumo. Seiko Sumo watches are some of the largest diver’s watches created by the Japanese watchmaker and opt for thick rounded profiles and a distinctive 12 o’clock marker which mimics the shape of the wrestler’s attire. The case of the Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Sumo watch sits fairly imposing on the wrist at 45mm in diameter and 13.35mm in height, engineered from stainless steel with super hard coating. There’s also the same styled blue rotating bezel, screw in crown and 200 metre water resistant rating as before.
In the same way, the dial of the Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Sumo PADI Special Edition watch offers the familiar water-inspired backdrop with luminous markers and hands, including a light blue coloured minute hand for easy legibility. It operates on the in-house mechanical 6R35 calibre movement with a 70-hour power reserve and magnified date function. The Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ Sumo watch is the most expensive out of the new trio, retailing at £1,100, largely due to its more advanced movement and super-hard coated case and bracelet. The bracelet features a newly refined diver buckle design for easier wear.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Prospex ‘Great Blue’ PADI Special Edition watches and order them for yourself, 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.
