Description
SEIKO Prospex SLA043J1 Specifications :
| Feature |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving system | Automatic with manual winding capacity | |||
| Caliber Number | 8L35 | |||
| Case material | Ever-brilliant steel | |||
| Case back | Solid | |||
| Band material | Silicone | |||
| Band color | Black and additional blue strap | |||
| Band width | 20 mm | |||
| Clasp | Buckle | |||
| Dial color | Deep blue | |||
| Glass material | Box-shaped sapphire | |||
| Glass coating | Anti-reflective coating on inner surface | |||
| Hands | Luminous green and silver tone (hour, minute) with light aqua blue colored second hand | |||
| Dial markers | Green and silver tone indexes | |||
| Second markers | Minutes markers around the outer rim | |||
| Lumi Brite | Hands, indexes and bezel’s dot | |||
| Bezel | Unidirectional rotating stainless steel black colored with arabic numerals minutes markers per 10 minutes scale | |||
| Crown | Screw down at 3 o’clock position | |||
| Calendar | Date display at 3 o’clock position | |||
| Function | Date, hour, minute, stop second hand | |||
| Accuracy | +15 to -10 seconds per day | |||
| Drive duration | Approximately 50 hours | |||
| Vibration | 28,800 vibrations / hour (4 beats / second) | |||
| Water resistance | 200 m / 660 feet water resistance suitable for saturation diving | |||
| Features | Date, glowing hands, glowing markers, screw-down crown | |||
| Size | Length : 47.9 mm x Diameter 39.9 mm x Thickness : 14.1 mm |
SEIKO Prospex SLA043J1 Features :
- Calendar date display
- 26 jewels
- Serial number engraved on the case back
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
- Screw case back
- Screw down crown
- Stop second hand function
- An additional silicone strap is included
SEIKO Prospex SLA043J1 Special :
CONCEPT
55 years ago, Seiko introduced its, and Japan’s, first ever diver’s watch. With an automatic movement and water resistance to 150m, it proved its reliability when it was used by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition team in the 1960s. In the years that followed, Seiko created many other diver’s watches that found favor with professional divers and adventurers alike, thanks to their high quality and reliability.
These two special limited editions the celebrate of the 55th anniversary of the very first Seiko diver’s watch. Based on landmark designs from 1965 and 1970, these watches have been created with Seiko’s very latest technologies and new, higher specifications.
SEIKO Prospex SLA043J1 is The 1965 Diver’s Re-creation
The 1965 Diver’s Original model
Seiko’s and Japan’s first ever diver’s watch was made in 1965 at a time when watches with high levels of water resistance were not widely available. It incorporated an automatic mechanical caliber and delivered 150m water resistance.
As leisure diving grew in popularity, the watch found favor with an ever wider public and set Seiko on a path of continuous development in durable, accurate and safe diver’s watches that has continued to this day.
The case of this watch is made of a grade of stainless steel not used before in a diver’s watch. Seiko’s new Ever-Brilliant Steel takes its name from the brilliant white hue that gives the watch its unique look. This grade of steel is more corrosion resistant than that which is used in most high-end watches today.
This material is used extensively in the surfaces, linings, bolts and other components of marine structures and vessels because it resists corrosion in the chloride-rich environment of sea water. Its use in a watch case presents many manufacturing challenges but, thanks to the long experience and innovative techniques of the Seiko team, these challenges were overcome and Ever-Brilliant Steel is now set to bring a new level of durability to the diver’s watch.
The watch is powered by the 8L35 movement which was developed expressly for diver’s watches and is assembled by hand at the Shizukuishi Watch Studio.
Case back
While faithful to the 1965 design, this new Prospex diver’s watch has greatly enhanced functionality. It has a box-shaped sapphire crystal and 200m water resistance for greater reliability.
The case back bears the same dolphin emblem as the 1965 original.
*In an actual product, the case back direction might be different from the photograph.
Special box
The watch is offered in a special box with an additional strap made of blue silicone.
About Seiko Prospex Sea Diver SLA043J1
From the introduction in 1965 as Japan’s first diver’s watch, the engineers never stopped to innovate. The trust this watch has gained goes beyond the borders of Japan and into the world. Because of that, Seiko facilitated the establishment of the standard for diver’s watches in International Standard Organization (ISO), and Japan Industrial Standards (JIS). As for the ISO, Seiko lobbied the organization to amend the standard to match the actual use of diver’s watches in the deep sea. In 1996, ISO6425 with annex, about diver’s watches for mixed gas diving, was issued. Moreover, Seiko’s relentless challenge and innovation have driven the company to create a model that could truly be called authentic.
Behind Seiko’s diver’s watch that has been chosen by divers world wide, there are qualified engineers who work to developed technology that the world has never seen.
First, through significant innovation, water resistance and impermeability has proven to be the finest in world class. Above all, along with functionality, using specialized material and precise detail in structure, the timepiece is made to perfection. In addition, Seiko’s determination and innovative technology resulted in many patents to preserve the company’s authenticity.
Since then, there are countless products labeled as a diver’s watch around the world but only a negligible number of these timepieces are functional in professional environments.
History of Seiko Prospex Sea Diver SLA043J1
Introduced in 1965, Seiko’s innovative diver’s watch has been chosen by divers and adventurers globally. In other words, Seiko’s diving watch has become a global standard as a result 50 years of innovation.
Everything started with a letter from a professional diver in Hiroshima prefecture of Japan. However, the diver explained that in depths greater than 300 meters, when using a diving capsule and saturation diving techniques, most watches get damaged. Answering this request, Seiko established a new development team. Then after years of research development, the world’s first Professional Diver’s 600 m with titanium case was created.
In conclusion, with half a century of history and remarkable innovation, Seiko’s diver’s watch has been used all over the world in diverse situations. Therefore, over the years, the timepiece has proven itself worthy of any harsh environment and has been praised from professional divers.
Progression of Seiko Prospex Sea Diver
Earning credibility through vigorous adventures in the North and South Pole.
From 1966, the timepiece has been brought on 4 missions with the Antarctic Team of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. Later on, numerous adventurers and explorers have made achievements such as successfully ascending Everest gearing Seiko’s diver’s watch. After years of proving itself worthy of withstanding extreme environments, Seiko’s diver’s watch has earned its integrity.
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Exceeding any expectation of water resistance with the depth of 1062 meters.
In May of 1983, two Professional Diver’s 600 meters were mounted on Shinkai 2000, a research submersible used by JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology). The watch was originally intended for use up to 600 meters, yet the timepiece withstood water pressure at a depth of 1062 meters. As a result, the watch’s legibility, precision, and exterior remained unscathed, continuing to strengthen its credibility.
Courtesy: JAMSTEC
The result of 300m saturation diving: Pressure inside the watch case for brand other brands (A, B, C) and Seiko Professional Diver’s
The vertical line shows the pressure inside the watch case and the horizontal line indicates the period of time.
After the dive, the air pressure inside the watch case gradually went up.
Seiko Professional diver’s scored the best result and verified that it is strong enough to function even at great depths.
Proving its significant impermeability.
For saturation diver’s watches, helium is a constant issue. That is to say, the gas penetrates the glass, and in some cases the difference in external and internal air pressure causes the glass cover to break. While other companies focus on methods to release Helium with an escape valve, Seiko took a different turn and developed a glass case that is practically impermeable to Helium gas. This is the creation of Seiko’s Diver’s Professional 600M. Then, in 1983, JAMSTEC conducted an impermeability test by submersing several diver’s watches under 300M saturation diving. Consequently, Seiko’s Diver’s Professional 600M proved to be up to ten times more impermeable to Helium gas compared to other companies. In short, the true diver’s watch continues to prove itself.
Courtesy: JAMSTEC
History of Seiko
The company was founded in 1881, when Kintarō Hattori opened a watch and jewerly shop called “K. Hattori” (服部時計店 Hattori Tokeiten) in the Ginza area of Tokyo, Japan. Eleven years later, in 1892, he began to produce clocks under the name Seikosha, meaning roughly “House of Exquisite Workmanship”.
The first watches produced under the Seiko brand appeared in 1924. In 1969, Seiko introduced the Astron, the world’s first production quartz watch, it cost the same as a medium-sized car. Seiko later went on to introduce the first quartz chronograph.
