Jewellery & Watch News
Commemorating a historic instrument that once guided naval men across our oceans, the new Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1 Limited Edition watch debuts a unique blue sunray-brushed dial engraved with a complex pattern inspired by the astrolabe.
As anyone remotely familiar with Seiko will know, the Japanese watchmaker is globally renowned for their highly robust and precise divers’ watches. Their history within the diving world began in 1965 with the release of both Seiko’s and Japan’s first ever dive watch, the Seiko reference 62MAS. With its innovative automatic winding and 150 metre water resistant case, the Seiko 62MAS diver’s watch became world famous for its resilience in water and on land, so much so that it was famously worn by members of the 8th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. More recently, Seiko have chosen to commemorate this iconic design with a series of watches they call the Seiko Prospex 1965 Modern Re-interpretation watch. These watches take inspiration from the original while adding several modernised features to the design.
The new Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1 Limited Edition watch is no different, remembering its predecessor in its stylings while adding improvements to its case, glass and movement for a modern wearer. For starters, the Seiko SLA065J1 watch is larger in size boasting a height of 13.1mm and a diameter of 41.3mm and features dual-curved sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating and a water resistance of 200 metres. The latter rating is assisted by the screw in crown at 3 o’clock and the screwed down case back. Almost the entirety of the Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1’s case is engineered from stainless steel with a super-hard coating for additional robustness. The only element that isn’t is the blue ceramic insert placed on top of the unidirectional rotating bezel.
The features mentioned above have already been found within previous Seiko Prospex 1965 Modern Re-interpretation watches, but a new feature exclusive to the Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1 Limited Edition is its dial. Embossed on the blue sunray-brushed backdrop is a complex image inspired by the astrolabe. An astrolabe is a piece of historical equipment once used by sailors to navigate their way across the seas. It worked by taking measurements from the sun and stars and in turn allowed for global exploration and trade. Above the decoration sits two large hands for the hours and minutes, a square-tipped seconds hand and a series of baton indexes, all coated in Lumibrite for readability in the dark.
Powering the hours, minutes, seconds and date function on the Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1 watch is the automatic winding Calibre 8L35 movement. Alongside an impressive power reserve of 50 hours, we’re promised an accuracy of -10/+15 seconds per day and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The watch is completed by a horizontally grooved blue silicon strap secured by a stainless steel pin buckle. Finally, as part of Seiko’s Save the Ocean series, the Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1 Limited Edition will help support and raise funds for various marine conservation activities in order to preserve and protect the ocean for future generations.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Prospex ‘Astrolabe’ SLA065J1 watch and get your hands on one of the 1,300 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 41.3mm x 13.1mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with super-hard coating
- Bezel: Unidirectional with blue insert and 60 minute diving scale
- Glass: Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screwed down
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: Calibre 8L35 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Accuracy: -10/+15 seconds per day
- Dial: Blue with astrolabe pattern, Lumibrite hour markers and hands
- Strap: Blue grooved silicon
- Buckle: Pin, stainless steel
- RRP: £2,540
- Limited Edition: 1,300 pieces
- Reference: SLA065
