The New Seiko Prospex Diver PADI Specials SPB501 & SRPL51

Since 1966, the Skilled Affiliation of Diving Instructors has advanced into one of many two world-leading and really trusted scuba diving organisations (the opposite being Scuba Colleges Worldwide, or SSI). With hundreds of licensed diving centres unfold all over the world, PADI is a go-to identify for everybody who desires to discover ways to dive safely. Issuing over 27 million certifications in nearly six many years of operations, it set the usual for the game. Working along with Seiko since 2016, with quite a few particular version dive watches in consequence, PADi has additionally discovered its means onto a fair proportion of wrists. Increasing the collaboration as soon as extra, we get handled to 2 new fashions at this time, with the Prospex PADI SPB501 and Prospex PADI SRPL51. 

As talked about, the PADI collection goes again to 2016, with a cool ‘Pepsi’ colored version of the well-known Turtle being launched (alongside the Kinetic GMT Diver SUN065). Since then, we’ve seen quite a few particular editions donning the PADI brand, from the Monster to the (King) Samurai and Sumo sub-collections. Persevering with this very becoming partnership, we now get one other pairing of dive watches, utilizing the Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver and revamped Samurai as a reference level.

Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver SPB501 PADI Particular

First up is the range-topping PADI watch (to date, that’s), which makes use of the higher-positioned Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver as a base. Meaning we’re coping with a retro-inspired dive watch taking its cues from Icoinc 62Mas from 1965, therefore the identify. The case is in chrome steel and measures 40mm in width and 13mm in peak, with a domed sapphire crystal on high and a strong caseback across the again. With a water-resistance of 300 meters, partially because of a screw-down crown, it’s greater than ample to accompany you in your leisurely or skilled dives.

To alter issues up from the common assortment, as PADI particular editions are likely to do, Seiko provides a splash of color to the bezel and dial. Each completed in emerald inexperienced, the dial can be adorned with the rippling floor of the ocean, as seen from beneath the water’s floor. The impact is refined, but placing. For the remaining, it’s an identical to earlier editions of the Heritage Diver 1965 vary with stamped/raised hour markers, central hour, minutes and seconds arms, and a date window between 4′ and 5′. The arms and markers have LumiBrite inserts, and the date quantity is aligned upright.

The SPB501 makes use of the Calibre 6R55, which beats at a charge of 21,600vph and has a prolonged energy reserve of 72 hours. It’s fitted to a stainless-steel three-link bracelet with a micro-adjustable folding clasp. Moreover, you additionally get a woven emerald inexperienced NATO-style strap made out of upcycled fishing nets. The SPB501J1 retails for EUR 1,700, making it the costliest PADI Particular to this point. Nonetheless, it should be mentioned that it delivers on the next stage than its predecessors.

Fast Details – 40mm x 13mm – 46.4mm lug-to-lug – chrome steel case, brushed & polished – domed sapphire crystal – strong caseback – unidirectional rotating bezel with emerald inexperienced insert – screw-down crown – 300m water resistant – emerald inexperienced dial with wave patterns – LumiBrite markers & arms – date window at 04:30 – Calibre 6R55, in-house – automated winding – 21,600vph – 72h energy reserve – hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds, date – three-link metal bracelet with micro-adjustable folding clasp – upcycled emerald inexperienced nylon NATO-style strap – EUR 1,700

Prospex Diver 200M Samurai SRPL51 PADI SPECIAL

Subsequent up is the Prospex Diver 200M Samurai SRPL51 PADI Particular, which falls in keeping with the SPB501 when it comes to color and ornament. This additionally will get an emerald inexperienced color scheme with a wave-like textured impact on the dial. Additional particulars are the everyday Seiko Prospex logos, but in addition the PADI identify just under the centre of the dial. The arms and markers comply with go well with with the common Samurai assortment, and are completed with LumiBrite inserts right here too.

The case additionally follows the redesign of the Samurai launched final yr, with a 41.7mm by 12.3mm chrome steel case. The discount in dimension with the revamp meant the lug-to-lug dimension dropped to 49.5mm. So it’s nonetheless a sizeable and edgy dive watch, however much more wearable than it was. The case has a unidirectional rotating bezel, a Hardlex crystal, a screw-down crown and a strong caseback. The water-resistance is rated at 200m, as its identify suggests.

Inside we as soon as extra discover Seiko’s Calibre 4R35, which is an automated motion with a frequency of 21,600vph and a working time of 41 hours. It’s equipped with a three-link chrome steel bracelet with a folding clasp that features a diving extension however no “on the fly” micro-adjustability. The SRPL51J1 retails for a reasonably wise EUR 670, which is just marginally costlier than the usual Samurai assortment on a bracelet

Fast Details – 41.7mm x 12.3mm – 49.5mm lug-to-lug – chrome steel case, brushed & polished – undirectional bezel with emerald inexperienced insert – Hardlex crystal, strong caseback – screw-down crown – 200m water resistant – emerald inexperienced dial with wave patterns – LumiBrite markers & arms – date window at 04:30 – Calibre 4R35, in-house – automated winding – 21,600vph – 41h energy reserve – hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds, date – three-link metal bracelet with folding clasp – EUR 670

For extra details about the brand new PADI Specials SPB501 and SRPL51, please go to SeikoWatches.com.