The Seiko Prospex Line and Its Legacy of Saving The Ocean
The Seiko Prospex line has become synonymous with adventure, exploration, and precision under pressure. Since the launch of Seiko’s first diver’s watch in 1965 with the iconic 62MAS, the brand has continuously refined its dive watch designs to meet professional standards while remaining accessible for daily wear. The Prospex collection, short for “Professional Specifications,” represents Seiko’s goals of constantly pushing the boundaries of dive watch engineering.
In addition to the Seiko Prospex line’s goals of giving attainable professional-grade watches to the masses, they also have the Save the Ocean initiative. This is Seiko’s dedication towards the protection and conservation of marine life and supporting conservation efforts. This is why many special-edition collections from the Prospex line feature dials and designs directly inspired by marine life, polar landscapes, and marine exploration.
For collectors, owning a Seiko Prospex dive watch from any of the Save the Ocean collections means embracing both craftsmanship and responsibility. These ocean-inspired timepieces blend artistry, technical excellence, heritage, and marine advocacy.
Seiko Prospex SPB301J1: The Modern 1970 Seiko Dive Watch Successor
The SPB301J1 is a tribute to Seiko’s 1970 diver, a model made famous after being worn under extreme conditions by explorer Naomi Uemura during his expeditions, particularly when he completed a 12,000km solo dog-sled run from Greenland to Alaska from 1974 to 1976.
The SPB301J1 kept the iconic cushion-shaped case of the 1970 original, along with its overall ergonomic design. This modern reinterpretation stays faithful to the original while offering updates suited to today’s collectors and professional diving standards.
The dial of the SPB301J1 is inspired by the Arctic glaciers, with the textured patterns evoking the cracked and frozen surface of polar ice. The dial is accented by the dark blue bezel inserts, creating a crisp contrast with the icy white dial, as if plunging into darker, icy waters.
The watch runs on the Caliber 6R35, a robust 24-jewel movement that offers hacking and winding and a 70-hour power reserve. Another modern update to the watch is the 200m of water resistance and a super-hard-coated stainless steel case for better scratch resistance.
The SPB301J1 also has a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and LumiBrite hands, bezel, and indices for better low-light and underwater legibility. The watch has a 42.7mm diameter and a 13.2mm thickness, which commands a big wrist presence. Thankfully, the curved profile of the watch hugs the wrist, making it wear comfortably.
The SPB301J1 is a watch rich with history related to polar expeditions, which is why it’s the perfect watch to symbolize the importance of marine conservation and a reminder of the struggle that our polar regions face every day.
Seiko Prospex SPB297J1: Honoring the First 1965 62MAS Diver
The SPB297J1 is another Save the Ocean Special Edition watch from Seiko. This model was inspired by the first Japanese professional dive watch, the Seiko 62MAS, which was originally released in 1965. The SPB297J1 is a modern reinterpretation of the 62MAS and fully embraces the heritage of the original, from its proportions to its professional specifications.
Much like most of the Save the Ocean special editions from Seiko, the dial of the SPB297 is inspired by the ocean and polar regions. This dial, in particular, has a deep, icy blue color and a textured surface that resembles the shifting patterns of glaciers as they move across the ocean. Contrasting this dial are the icy white hands and indices that are all with LumiBrite for underwater and low-light visibility and legibility.
The SPB297J1 also runs on the Caliber 6R35. This movement is a reliable and low-maintenance movement that has 70 hours of power reserve and a relatively thin profile ideal for an everyday dive watch. The stainless case of the SPB297 has a diameter of 40.5mm and a thickness of 13.2mm, which wears comfortably on the wrist. The rest of the watch has all the modern Prospex features: a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating for reducing glare, 200m of water resistance, and a three-fold clasp with a diver’s extension for better wrist adjustability.
The SPB297J1 is a perfect introduction to Seiko’s dive watch heritage, representing where the journey began while contributing to the Save the Ocean initiative of marine protection and conservation.
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Seiko Prospex SPB299J1: The Bold 1968 Diver Re-Interpretation
The SPB299J1 is another modern take on a historic Seiko diver’s watch, the “1968 diver” reference 6159 with 200m of water resistance. The SPB299J1 Marinemaster, also known as the “Marinemaster reduced” to enthusiasts, brings back the design language of the 1968 original but with modern proportions and refinements.
As part of the Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean line, the SPB299J1 also has an ocean-inspired dial, particularly the icy blue color of the Antarctic waters and the glacial textures of the polar regions. The matching blue bezel doubles down on the arctic theme of the timepiece, along with the bold markers and indices with LumiBrite-filled hands for high legibility in darker conditions. Like the previous watches mentioned, the SPB299J1 also runs on the Caliber 6R35 movement, offering the same 70-hour power reserve.
The rest of the SPB299J1 speaks ruggedness for harsh conditions and everyday wear: a 42mm-diameter stainless steel case reinforced with Seiko’s Super Hard Coating. It has a highly scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a screwdown crown, and 200m of water resistance.
The SPB299J1 combines Seiko’s diver watch history with an ocean-inspired aesthetic that goes with the rest of the special edition Save the Ocean timepieces from the Prospex lineup. If you want a more commanding wrist presence yet still maintain the understated beauty of an everyday dive watch, the SPB299 is the perfect timepiece.
Seiko Prospex SLA065J1: The Astrolabe Limited Edition
If the SPB line represents Seiko’s historical reinterpretations, the SLA065J1 is where artistry and exclusivity converge. The SLA065 stands out as being inspired by one of the Save the Ocean initiative’s marine conservation efforts: protecting the cultural heritage of a historical site in Greece and the underwater archeology project there.
This limited-edition timepiece is only 1,300 pieces worldwide, making it one of the more recent sought-after watches from the Save the Ocean line. The SLA065J1 has a standout dial, this time inspired by the marine astrolabe, an ancient navigational tool often recovered from underwater archaeological sites. The precise lines that make up the dial reflect the complexity of the astrolabe, while the rich, deep blue gradient color of the dial echoes the night skies and its celestial maps used in ancient navigation. The cream-colored LumiBrite hands and indices add visual interest, contrasting sharply with the dark blue dial.
Powering the SLA065J1 is the specialized Caliber 8L35, a high-precision movement developed exclusively for dive watches. This 26-jewel movement offers approximately 50 hours of power reserve and beats at 28,800 vph. The rest of the movement is pure art, from the rhodium-plated back plate, bridge, and rotor to their subtle wave finishing.
The movement is housed in a 41.3mm-diameter case with distortion-free polished bevels at its lug edges. The case is also reinforced with Seiko’s Super Hard Coating and features a dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. This dive watch comes complete with ISO-certified 200m water resistance and magnetic resistance of 4,800 A/m.
All of these features and attention to detail make the SLA065J1 a professional dive watch worthy of representing Seiko’s dedication to precision, innovation, and artistry.
Saving the Ocean One Timepiece at a Time
What makes these Seiko Prospex dive watches stand out is how they merge functionality with storytelling. Each model’s design is inspired by the ocean, glaciers, or navigational heritage, reminding us of the importance of preservation. More importantly, each purchase supports Seiko’s partnerships with organizations working on marine conservation.
From the icy glacier motifs of the Sea line collection to the celestial tribute of the SLA065J1, these ocean-inspired timepieces tell a story of responsibility and awareness.
The Seiko Prospex Initiative: a Marine Conservation Campaign for Everyone
The Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean collection is a rare example of how a professional tool watch can serve both collectors and the planet. Whether you prefer the vintage charm of the SPB301J1, the compact elegance of the SPB297J1, the bold proportions of the SPB299J1, or the exclusivity of the SLA065J1, each offers a direct connection to Seiko’s dive watch legacy and its marine protection mission. If you want a heritage-rich dive watch for everyday wear while also supporting marine conservation efforts, the Save the Ocean line from Seiko Prospex is the perfect starting point for your watch journey.
