In celebration of their 140th anniversary, Seiko have released a series of creations that embody the spirit of their founder, Kintaro Hattori, and his single minded vision that Seiko would “always be one step ahead of the rest.” The celebrations have started with a series of Prospex, Presage and Astron watches, each designed in tribute to the spectacular landscapes and seascapes of Japan. Today, we will be reviewing the trio of Seiko Prospex Island Green Limited Edition watches inspired by Japan’s breathtaking Iriomote Island.
Largely underdeveloped, Iriomote is Okinawa’s second largest island located in southwestern Japan and part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Its remote location has long attracted divers all around the world who travel to enjoy the abundance of coral reefs, marine life and the special charm that lies in the primeval and unspoiled mangrove forests that surround it. It is this very place that inspires the three new Seiko Prospex Island Green Limited Edition watches. Under references, SPB207J1, SLA047J1 and SSC807J1, the trio beautifully capture the deep green scenery and rich ocean colours of Japan’s Iriomote Island through handsome forest-green dials.
Seiko Prospex Island Green SPB207J1 Limited Edition Watch
It wouldn’t be a Seiko Prospex anniversary watch without a design inspired by one of their historic pieces, and the first limited edition in the set has been engineered after the brand’s iconic 1968 Diver’s 300m watch. At the time, this model was the highest of world standard hi beat calibres and was used by explorers for the first climb from Japan and Mount Everest. Its ancient aesthetic has been recaptured within the new Seiko Prospex Island Green SPB207J1 Limited Edition but with a contemporary twist.
While still maintaining the sharp and powerful design of its predecessor, the Seiko Prospex Island Green SPB207J1 watch features a slimmer bezel with unidirectional rotating capability. The stainless steel case, which has been treated using the brand’s “super hard coating” for additional robustness, measures to 42mm in diameter and 12.5mm in thickness and is paired with sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment on the inside, a screw down crown and a screw in case back to assist in a water resistant rating of 200 metres.
Housed within is the 6R35 automatic winding calibre which claims an accuracy of +25 to -15 seconds per day and a power reserve of 70 hours. The 24 jewelled movement also delivers central hands for hours and minutes, two accents that have been given a contemporary upgrade, a central gold-coloured lollipop seconds hand and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. The forest-green sunray dial is also detailed with Lumibrite hands and indexes for optimal legibility in low lighting. Each 6,000 limited edition piece of the Seiko Prospex Island Green SPB207J1 watch is presented on a classic stainless steel bracelet as standard alongside an additional dark green silicon strap offered within a special 140th anniversary commemorative box.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with super hard coating
- Bezel: Unidirectional
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the underside
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: 6R35 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Accuracy: +25 to -15 seconds per day
- Jewels: 24
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Dial: Green with Lumibrite hands and indexes
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with secure lock and push button release with extender. Additional green silicon strap with pin buckle
- Limited Edition: 6,000 pieces
- RRP: £1,250
- Release Date: 01/03/21
Seiko Prospex Island Green SLA047J1 Limited Edition Watch
Similar in looks to reference SPB207J1, the Seiko Prospex Island Green SLA047J1 Limited Edition delivers a more luxurious aesthetic with a larger case size, a Grand Seiko-approved automatic winding calibre and a breathtaking zirconia ceramic bezel. Measuring to 44.3mm in diameter and 15.4mm thick, the limited edition of 3,000 pieces is similarly engineered from stainless steel with a super hard coating but this time paired with a stunning bezel display crafted from polished zirconia ceramic, a material renowned for its high legibility and robustness. The ratcheted bezel is also detailed with a 60 minute scale and a luminous marker at 12 o’clock.
The dark green dial remains the centrepiece, decorated with Lumibrite on the central hands for hours and minutes and rounded 60’s inspired indexes. A gold-coloured second hand is also added, designed to reflect the sunrise over a lush virgin forest. Powering each of the functions on the Seiko Prospex Island Green SLA047J1 is the 8L35 automatic winding movement, a hi-beat calibre assembled entirely by hand at Seiko’s legendary Shizukuishi Watch Studio and based on the legendary Grand Seiko calibre 9S55. It delivers an outstanding accuracy of +15 to -10 seconds per day and a power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
To complete the look, the Seiko Prospex Island Green SLA047J Limited Edition is equipped with sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment, a screw down crown and a specially engraved limited edition case back to assist in its water resistant rating of 300 metres. Like its companion above, the watch is also delivered on a classic stainless steel bracelet with a threefold clasp and an additional silicone strap with pin buckle.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 44.3mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with super hard coating
- Bezel: Unidirectional, ceramic zirconia
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the underside
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down
- Water Resistance: 300 metres
- Movement: 8L35 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Accuracy: +15 to -10 seconds per day
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Green with Lumibrite hands and indexes
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with secure lock and push button release with extender. Additional green silicon strap with pin buckle
- Limited Edition: 3,000 pieces
- RRP: £3,000
- Release Date: 01/03/21
Seiko Prospex Island Green SSC807J1 Limited Edition Watch
Last but not least in the trio of Seiko Prospex Island Green Limited Editions is a chronograph under reference SSC807J1. Boasting a bulky case design nicknamed the Sumo by fans, the limited edition of 4,000 pieces delivers a dependable and dignified structure once again engineered from stainless steel. Measuring to 44.5mm in diameter and 13.7mm in thickness, the Seiko Prospex Island Green SSC807J1 is kitted out with a unidirectional rotating bezel, screw down crown, screw in case back and sapphire crystal glass treated with an anti-reflective coating.
Other than the obvious addition of chronograph complication, the Seiko Prospex Island Green SSC807J1 Limited Edition differs from its three-hand-date counterparts for its unique solar-powered movement. The V192 calibre is a solar powered quartz movement with an accuracy of ±15 seconds per month and a remarkable range of functionality including central hands for hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, a 24 hour hand at 3 o’clock, a small seconds hand, date display and a display function for highlighting the remaining power reserve.
The dark green dial is again detailed with Lumibrite on the hands and indexes alongside the water resistant rating of 200 metres in orange at 12 o’clock, while the case back is similarly marked by its limited edition status. Completing the sporty divers aesthetic, the Seiko Prospex Island Green SSC807J1 watch is paired with a stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with secure lock and push button release with extender and an additional green silicon strap with pin buckle. The additional strap and watch are presented in a special commemorative box.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 44.5mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Unidirectional
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the underside
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: V192 solar quartz
- Functions: Hours, minutes, chronograph seconds, small seconds, date, 24 hour
- Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
- Dial: Green with Lumibrite hands and indexes
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with secure lock and push button release with extender. Additional green silicon strap with pin buckle
- Limited Edition: 4,000 pieces
- RRP: £700
- Release Date: 01/03/21
