Seiko Recreates the Classic Reference 6117 with the New Prospex Land Mechanical GMT

Seiko made some big news this morning, with the long rumored announcement of a new version of their classic 6117 Navigator Timer. That vintage reference is critically important for many Seiko collectors, an early GMT from 1968 in the same familiar design language of many classic Seiko sports watches. With new GMT calibers now in production, many enthusiasts expected the timing was right for a modern rendition of the 6117, and today they got their wish in the form of the SPB411, the Seiko Prospex Land Mechanical GMT Limited Edition. This new reference is a fairly faithful rendition of the classic watch from the 60s, with modern components and design choices only where they’re most appropriate, and plenty of restraint everywhere else (no Prospex logo on the dial!). For GMT fans and Seiko collectors, the SPB411 is a significant new release. 

All the hallmarks of the 6117 would appear to be present in the SPB411. Namely, the distinctive cushion case, the rotating 24 hour bezel, and a slate gray dial. The “Navigator Timer” wordmark no longer appears on the dial, but otherwise it’s a solid recreation, with rectangular hour markers and thin, block hands carried over to the new release, as well as a short red arrow GMT hand. That gray dial has a sunray finish, and we get a date window at 3:00 with a contrasting white background. Most importantly for fans of the original, the case size has remained consistent. The SPB411 comes in at 38.5mm in diameter, just about half a millimeter larger than the original. 

Powering the SPB411 is the Seiko 6R54 GMT caliber. This still relatively new movement has been popping up in a bunch of Seiko releases this year, and while it doesn’t offer a travel friendly local jumping hour hand, it has other benefits, namely its size. The caliber is thin enough to allow for plenty of flexibility in the design of the watches it inhabits, and this new version of the Navigator Timer measures just 12.6mm tall. Rounding out the specs, the SPB411 features a box sapphire crystal, a five-link bracelet modeled after vintage Seiko designs, and 100 meters of water resistance. 

The new Prospex Land Mechanical GMT is a limited edition of 4,000 pieces. The retail price is expected to be $1,500 when it hits Seiko retailers in November. Seiko