Seiko Unveils a Gorgeous Color Scheme For Two Iconic Dive Watches

Seiko is not the company’s original name, and it didn’t start out making watches. In 1881, Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Tokyo simply called K. Hattori, and it wasn’t until 1913 that he produced Japan’s first wristwatch.

A series of watches is being released to celebrate 145 years of the brand that became Seiko. Of course, two divers are included, both accented with a particular shade of blue pulled from deep in the brand’s archive.

Seiko

The 1965 Heritage Diver HBC005 and Prospex “Samurai” HBB001 use essentially the same color scheme. Both have stainless steel cases and bracelets, housing silver dials with sunburst brushing.

In both cases, the uniform metallic appearance is broken up by bezels decorated in a distinctive shade of blue that became synonymous with Seiko in the 1960s. The deep shade of royal blue, which is perfectly suited for an aquatic tool watch, also appears on each watch’s seconds hand.

The infinitely wearable color scheme, offered in two different price tiers, is sure to be an instant classic among the brand’s cult following.

The deep blue

The pricer and better-equipped of this anniversary duo is the 1965 Heritage Diver. While the 62MAS, Seiko’s first official dive watch, was originally released in black, it is a contemporary of the watches that established “Seiko Blue,” and is a fitting canvas for the color.

Seiko

This special rendition features a “Seiko Blue” aluminum bezel insert that creates a metallic shine, and the 60-minute fully-graduated countdown track is composed of exposed metal. The triangle pip is fitted with a lume pearl.

A “Seiko Blue” seconds hand is set against a fully metallic dial, including a brushed hour hand, minute hand and applied hour marker frames. The hands and indices hold white Lumibrite inserts, and the dial is capped with an AR-coated curved sapphire crystal.

Aside from the new color scheme, this watch has all the standard 1965 Heritage Diver specs. The 40mm brushed stainless steel case comes on a matching three-link bracelet, equipped with a folding clasp featuring a sliding diver extension.

Seiko

This revival diver offers 300m water resistance, but where it really separates itself from its more affordable companion is the movement. It’s powered by a Seiko 6R55 automatic movement, which beats at 3Hz and provides a 72-hour power reserve.

The way of the samurai

The other diver decorated in “Seiko Blue” is the brand’s best aquatic option under $1,000. Affectionately known as the “Samurai” for over a decade, the current design was introduced in 2024 with a smaller 42mm case and a narrower arrowhead hour hand.

Seiko

It follows the same color scheme, with a silver sunburst dial topped with metallic hour markers and hands, save for a “Seiko Blue” seconds hand. The bezel insert is also aluminum, but the brand’s signature color only goes three-quarters of the way around, leaving a contrasting silver 15-minute segment.

The “Samurai” offers 200m of water resistance, doubling that of the Seiko 5 Sports collection, thanks to a sizable knurled screw-down crown and hardlex crystal. It comes on a similar three-link steel bracelet, but there is no sliding extension in the clasp.

Seiko

What makes this fully capable dive watch so affordable is Seiko’s go-to workhorse automatic movement, the Caliber 4R35. It beats at 3Hz and has a 41-hour power reserve. As one of the most abundant automatic movements on the market, it is cheap and easy to service and fix.

Availability and pricing

Seiko offers plenty of color schemes in both the 1965 Heritage Diver and the “Samurai,” but I haven’t come across many as charming and versatile as this anniversary “Seiko Blue” motif. And offering it in two distinct price tiers is a classy move.

Both of Seiko’s 145th Anniversary divers will be available in June, with the 1965 Heritage Diver priced at $1,400 and the “Samurai” at $595.

Both are limited editions, but in Seiko’s typically loose sense of the term. The Heritage is limited to 4,000 pieces, and the “Samurai” to 9,999.

Related Topics