The Seiko Diver's Watch and the Olympic Timing Legacy That Followed
In 1965, Seiko introduced the 6217-8000, its first purpose-built diver's watch, rated to 150 metres. The watch represented Japan's answer to the Swiss dive watches dominating the market: the Rolex Submariner, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, and Omega Seamaster. Within a decade, Seiko would produce dive watches that not only matched but surpassed their Swiss competitors in technical capability.
The 1975 Seiko 6159-7010, known to collectors as the Grandfather Tuna for its distinctive round shrouded case designed by Taro Tanaka, was rated to 600 metres and became one of the most robust dive watches ever produced. Saturation divers in the North Sea oil fields adopted it as standard equipment, trusting it in conditions that would destroy lesser timepieces. Its successor, the 'Tuna Can,' remains in production today (https://www.seikowatches.com).
Seiko's Olympic timing legacy began in 1964 when it was selected as official timekeeper for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, the first time a Japanese company had held the role. Seiko provided over 1,200 timepieces and introduced the world's first portable quartz chronometer for timing athletic events, achieving accuracy that mechanical timing systems could not match.
The relationship between Seiko and the Olympics continued through subsequent games, with Seiko serving as official timekeeper for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. The technological innovations developed for Olympic timing filtered directly into Seiko's consumer watch lines, particularly its chronograph and quartz collections.
The modern Seiko Prospex diver's collection ranges from the accessible SKX007, beloved by watch enthusiasts for its reliability and value, to the Marinemaster Professional 300m, which competes with Swiss divers at a fraction of the price. The SPB series, with its 6R35 automatic movement and sophisticated dial finishing, has earned particular praise from collectors who recognise Swiss-level execution at Japanese pricing.
Seiko's Spring Drive technology, shared with Grand Seiko, appears in several Prospex dive watches, offering the accuracy of a quartz movement with the sweeping seconds hand of a mechanical. The Prospex LX line represents the pinnacle of Seiko's dive watch engineering, combining Spring Drive movements with titanium cases and ceramic bezels.
For the man seeking a dive watch that prioritises function and value over brand cachet, the Seiko Prospex range offers options at every price point. The SPB143 'Captain Willard' reissue, inspired by the watch Martin Sheen wore in Apocalypse Now, combines heritage appeal with modern movement technology. It is one of the best dive watches available regardless of price.
