Introducing the Seiko Prospex Black Series Limited Edition

If there’s any brand that knows how to iterate on its catalog, it’s Seiko. Now, I know some people get tired of new colorways and slight variations, but I don’t. I’m generally all for brands offering more options to their customers. After all, we’re all persnickety, detail-obsessed watch nerds, right, so having more options just means that you may get the exact version of a watch you’ve been waiting for.

With their new limited collection they’ve dubbed the “Black Series,” Seiko is unveiling three black-on-black divers, not unlike what they did back in 2018 with their first “Black Series” collection, which also featured three watches. Pulling inspiration from night diving, this new series reimagines two beloved Seiko divers, creates a unique third, and renders all three in black to great effect. Let’s take a look at each.

Seiko Prospex Ref. SLA035 Black Series

• Case Material: Stainless steel with Seiko’s black hard-coating
• Dial: Black with Lumibrite luminous paint
• Dimensions: 44.3mm wide x 50.5mm lug-to-lug x 15.4mm thick
• Crystal: Sapphire crystal with inner AR
• Water Resistance: 300m (ISO certified)
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: Seiko 8L25 caliber (50 hours)
• Strap/bracelet: Silicone strap
• Price: $2,900
• Reference Number: Ref. SLA035
• Expected Release: April 2020 in the US

First up is Ref. SLA035, a watch that riffs on Ref. SLA021, the current successor to the much-adored Marinemaster 300. It features a monocoque stainless steel case finished with Zaratsu polishing and Seiko’s black hard-coating, a sapphire bezel insert and crystal, and a depth rating of 300m. The dial is black with the “300M” text and the seconds hand done up in red. This is a bit of a departure from the other two watches in the series, as well as the ones Seiko has done up in the past, but overall it’s a clean look with wide appeal. This one is a limited edition of 600 units, and it will be in available in April 2020 in the US.

Seiko Prospex Ref. SPB125 Black Series

• Case Material: Stainless steel with Seiko’s black hard-coating
• Dial: Black with beige Lumibrite paint
• Dimensions: 45mm wide x 52.6mm lug-to-lug x 12.9mm thick
• Crystal: Sapphire crystal
• Water Resistance: 200m (ISO certified)
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: Seiko 6R35 (70 hours PR)
• Strap/bracelet: Silicone strap
• Price: $850
• Reference Number: Ref. SPB125
• Expected Release: March 2020 in the US

Next up is the “Sumo,” which saw its reintroduction last year with a new movement and crystal. Here, Seiko goes with a black case and pairs it with a gray/black timing bezel. The black dial features beige-colored Lumibrite, Seiko’s proprietary luminous paint. Rather than use red, however, here Seiko goes with a splash of orange on the minutes hand, which works rather well with the color of the lume on the dial. The 6R35 movement, developed in 2019, features 70 hours of power reserve. This is a limited edition of 7,000 units, and it will be available in March 2020 in the US.

Seiko Prospex Solar Chronograph Ref. SSC761 Black Series

• Case Material: Stainless steel with Seiko’s black hard-coating
• Dial: Black with beige Lumibrite paint
• Dimensions: 44.5mm wide x 51.6mm lug-to-lug x 13.7mm thick
• Crystal: Sapphire crystal
• Water Resistance: 200m (ISO certified)
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: Seiko Solar V192
• Strap/bracelet: Silicone strap
• Price: $725
• Reference Number: Ref. SSC761
• Expected Release: February 2020 (not a US release)

Finally, there’s the Ref. SSC761, which adapts the above Sumo template to create a solar diving chronograph. Much of the Sumo DNA is there, and a lot of the cues are carried over from the aforementioned Ref. SPB125, including the gray/black bezel, beige Lumibrite paint, and orange minutes hand. The V192 caliber is a solar-powered chronograph movement, with functions that include a 24-hour indicator, a date display, and 60-minute chronograph. It’s accurate to ±15 seconds per month. This watch is a limited edition of 3,500 pieces, and it will be available in February 2020, but it is not a US release.

Overall, this is a solid micro-collection from Seiko, and a fitting one for the Prospex range known for its more techy, tool-watch ethos. I especially like the new solar chronograph; to me, it’s a fresh take on a classic model, and I think the design language of the Sumo translates well to this platform. Seiko