Seiko Has Announced a New Marinemaster based on the Original 62MAS, the High End of their Prospex Dive Range

While it’s true that it’s certainly Dubai Watch Week as I sit here and write, an argument could be made that we’re in the midst of an unofficial Seiko Week as well. Recent new product announcements run the gamut from the affordable and fun to the ultra niche collector focused limited edition. Today’s announcement might be the one that ultimately gets enthusiasts most excited, however. After some teasing through social media earlier in the week, Seiko has unveiled the new generation Seiko Prospex Marinemaster, officially dubbed the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation. This is technically a product line that has been available for a while in the Japanese domestic market, but Seiko is pointing out with this launch that the Prospex Marinemaster is now global, and represents the top tier of Seiko dive watches worldwide. 

The broad strokes here will of course be familiar to anyone who has strapped a Seiko diver to their wrist over the years. The format here is based on the original Seiko dive watch, the 62MAS from 1965, a watch that Seiko has returned to over and over again for inspiration through the years. Particularly in recent years, a crop of divers in the “SPB14X” range (which we’ve covered extensively) have become mainstays in enthusiast watch culture by presenting themselves as affordable dive watches in the spirit of the 62MAS without being direct recreations (but if it’s a recreation you want, Seiko has you covered). The truth is, there have been so many trips back to the well with the 62MAS, it’s honestly tough to account for all of them. But that just underscores the very idea of the iconic status of the original. 

These watches are a little bit different in that they actually use the “Marinemaster” branding right on the dial, something previous renditions of watches in this style have stayed away from. The collection introduced today features a trio of watches, all with a textured horizontal stripe pattern running across the dial. This is clearly a contemporary design element, and seems meant to bring a classic design into modern territory, and these textures and patterns are something Seiko continues to excel at. The light blue and black dials (references SJE099 and SJE101, respectively) will be added to the permanent collection, while the white variant seen here (SJE097) is a limited edition of 1,000, part of Seiko’s 100th anniversary celebration that we expect to continue in full force next year. 

The watch runs on Seiko’s 6L37 movement, a caliber they designate as “slimline,” and have used previously in the SJE093, the 62MAS recreation linked above. That watch was a limited edition targeted to the collector market, and these watches enter the marketplace seemingly as the mass market versions, geared toward more casual, everyday use. It’s certainly a platform that works exceedingly well in that regard, with a 39.5mm, 200 meter water resistant case that measures 12.3mm tall, a figure that Seiko says represents the thinnest dive watch they currently offer. What’s more, Seiko has also introduced an exhibition caseback to the new Marinemaster, something that has historically been somewhat uncommon in their dive watch lineup. 

Eagle eyed readers and Seiko obsessives will have already noticed another new feature on these Marinemasters: a brand new bracelet design. The new bracelet has the appearance of a five-link design and new ellipse shaped links that Seiko has given a mirror polish. That might irritate some who would prefer a more traditional and tool-oriented brushed finish, but I have a feeling all will be forgiven if the bracelet represents a major improvement in comfort and wearability over previous offerings. This is an area that even the most die hard Seiko fans agree has been in need of improvement, even as the watches themselves get better and have become more refined.  

The Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation watches will be available exclusively in Seiko boutiques beginning in December, and then in a wider selection of authorized dealers in January. The retail price is €3,400 in Europe (USD pricing was not available at press time). Seiko