If the acronym for your organisation is JAMSTEC, I would suggest using your full name more often. Because while it sounds like a food-tech firm specialising in sugary, fruit compote, it’s actually the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, which is significantly cooler and more impressive than JAMSTEC. Why is this relevant? Seiko have teamed up with JAMSTEC for their latest limited edition, the Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Reinterpretation JAMSTEC, which is also being produced in a non-limited, standard edition.
Starting with the case, both models measure 42.4mm in diameter with a thickness of 14.1mm, making them substantial pieces of kit on the wrist. That’s not a massive issue given their 300m water resistance rating, which makes them professional dive watches. Underwater, large dimensions help keep the watch legible while the bulky proportions become less of an issue compared to on land, making them feel at home in their designated environment. They’re also equipped with 60-minute dive timer bezels for added aquatic utility.
Where the two models diverge is colour and texture. The standard Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Reinterpretation follows a very traditional dive watch style with a black dial, black bezel and high contrast lumed hands and hour markers. There’s a slight grainy texture to the dial adding a point of visual interest under strong lights.
The JAMSTEC edition is much more striking with its bi-gradient display that transitions from ice blue to dark blue and back to ice blue as you move across the dial’s horizontal axis. It also has a much more pronounced texture, like fragments of ice floating in the water. That’s because it’s inspired by the concept of ice-breaker ships that create a causeway of sailable water between flotillas of ice. It’s specifically a tribute to the Mirai II Research Vessel. It’s one of the cooler interpretations of an ice dial I’ve seen in a long while.
Powering this series is the 8L45, which is Seiko’s current top end movement with 72-hour power reserve and -5/+10 seconds per day accuracy. The special edition’s movement is protected by a commemorative caseback marking it as the JAMSTEC LIMITED EDITION. Speaking of it being limited, there are only 1,000 pieces available.
As they house Seiko’s top-grade movement, they’re at the top end of the Seiko price range to match. At £3,300 for the standard Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Reinterpretation and £3,550 for the limited edition, that is far removed from the accessibility Seiko were once known for. In fact, that puts them in direct competition with watches like the Oris Aquis – and not the basic Aquis either, the in-house Calibre 400 model with 5-day power reserve, -3/+5 second per day accuracy and 10-year warranty, which is priced at £3,350 on bracelet. It’s not often that Oris wins the value battle against Seiko.
Price and Specs:
More details at Seiko.
