Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT

Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT
Price: Green or black: € 1.700 | CHF 1’850 | $ 1,500 | £ 1,400 / Ice blue: € 1.900 | CHF 2’100 | $ 1,700 | £ 1,600
Size: 42 mm
Reference: SPB381 (green) | SPB383 (black) | SPB385 (ice blue)

We like watches like the Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT. As the name already reveals, it’s a new watch based on an old model, Seiko’s diver from 1968: the Hi-beat Professional Diver with reference 6159-7001. Sort of. As the old model didn’t have a GMT complication, and it could withstand 30 bar, while the new only handles up to 20 bar. So the Modern Re-interpretation is more about the looks.

Although the looks of these divers with a classic design are more or less the same for all brands, from Rolex to cheap supermarket models. It is a design we all know, and we all like them, otherwise we wouldn’t buy them. Therefor Seiko created many re-interpretations of their old diver, in a lot of different case sizes, without GMT, with 30 bar, and so on. This new Seiko is another diver, also has a robust steel case, a unidirectional bezel with luminova dot / pearl on top, and all the other diving features you are probably familiar with. Plus a second time zone indicator – a GMT hand – and the characteristic crown at 4 o’clock.

The Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT has a new automatic with 72-hours of power reserve

The Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT comes with three dial colors: black, green (with green bezel) and a limited edition in ice blue. Well, with 4,000 pieces it’s hardly limited but the dial brings something extra, and the engraved case back shows that this model celebrates the 110th anniversary of Seiko. With the ice blue dial it is also part of the Save the Ocean series which gives it a slightly different name then the header of this article. The ice blue is called Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition.

It’s exactly the same watch, but with another dial and a way too long name. And between the hundreds of other Prospect models it’s also hard to find. Try to search on the reference number, it helps, although it’s not on the US website so far…

Inside the watch is the new in-house caliber 6R54, an automatic movement which provides a power reserve of 72 hours. All these three models come on a stainless steel bracelet. The price of the Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation GMT is, given the quality, fairly good.