Introducing the Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition Watch
Thursday - 19 January 2023
The new Seiko Prospex watch for 2023 has been inspired by the Astrolabe – a tool used for measuring the latitude and time of the sun and stars. As part of the brand’s ‘Save the Ocean’ initiative, the limited edition of just 1,300 pieces boasts a stunning deep underwater blue dial and a Seiko-exclusive Zaratsu-polished rotating bezel to measure elapsed time.
The inspiration behind the new Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition watch
The Seiko 1965 original dive watch was a tool tested beyond endurance. It incorporated a mechanical calibre and promised a water resistance of 150 meters, having been designed to face some of the harshest of conditions. Designed for maximum legibility and maximum reliability, the robust wristwatch truly proved itself when it was used in Antarctic expeditions during the 1960s, where it was subjected to extreme conditions before laying the foundations upon which future Seiko dive watches were built. This has often been the case for many a successful Seiko watch, yet the style and functionality of the 1965 dive watch have never failed nor tired.
Still just as popular today as they were many decades ago, these Seiko Prospex 1965 Re-Interpretation watches are packed full of innovative features and cutting-edge watchmaking technology, including this latest Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition watch. It follows on from the Seiko 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation Save The Ocean Special Edition watch with a deep blue glacial-inspired dial, released just last year. The watch draws upon the landscapes and seascapes of the Arctic and Antarctic and the glaciers witnessed by pioneers on their journeys. This article looks in detail at the 2023 Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition watch with a stunning underwater blue dial. The watch has been designed in support of Greece’s Fournoi Underwater Survey and Excavation – an archaeology project that aims to explore historical sites underwater whilst protecting cultural heritage for generations to come.
The key features of the new Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition watch
The new Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition watch marks the start of another new and exciting year for the Japanese brand. The model is a limited edition watch that is exclusive to 1,300 pieces worldwide. It has, once again, been inspired by the 1965 Diver’s watch, combining the past with the future and preserving cultural history in the shape of a new 41.3mm size. As part of the ‘Save the Ocean’ initiative, the model is powered by an in-house movement and features a stunning dial decoration inspired by glaciers.
The Astrolabe was a tool once used to measure the positions of the sun and the stars. It tracked their latitude and time and has served as the inspiration for this new Seiko Prospex watch for 2023. In doing so, its dial is engraved with intersecting curved lines in a unique pattern that pays reference to this navigational tool used by seafarers. Upon this dial sit chunky baton hour markers that have been treated with Lumibrite, as have the central hands carved into chunky profiles for added legibility.
Virtually identical to the original Seiko 62MAS model, not much has changed in the way of design for this new Seiko Prospex “Astrolabe” Limited Edition watch. The ISO-certified dive watch is equipped with a 200-meter water-resistant capability and is crafted from robust stainless steel with a super hard coating and a unidirectional rotating bezel filled in with a matching deep blue colour that can be used for measuring elapsed time underwater. This bezel also features Lumibrite markings on its 60-minute scale. A date window in white at 3 o’clock is joined by a sweeping central seconds hands with a luminous rectangular motif on its tip. This hand is controlled by the regulating organ inside the watch’s case – the Calibre 8L35 with automatic and manual winding capability. It produces a power reserve of 50 hours and promises an accuracy of -10/+15 seconds per day.
The new Seiko Prospex Astrolabe Limited Edition watch is fitted on a matching deep blue silicone band with a stainless steel pin buckle. The watch also comes in a special limited edition presentation box for completing a unique gifting experience, either for yourself or a loved one.
If you’d like to purchase one of the 1,300 limited edition pieces of this new Seiko Prospex Astrolabe watch for 2023, you can check the details out on the specification list here on the product page for the watch online, or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453
