Seiko Prospex Limited Edition 1965 Recreation

Quick specs Seiko Prospex Limited Edition 1965 Recreation
Price: approx. $ 1,700 | € 1.500 | £ 1,290 | CHF 1’500
Size: 40.5 mm
Reference: SPB473J1 – limited to 1,000 pieces

If you live anywhere else than in Europe, this Seiko Prospex Limited Edition 1965 Recreation will be hard to get. As it is a European Exclusive model and limited to 1,000 pieces only. And if you like diving, you might know the Greek Ionian islands. These are known for their white sandy beaches and very light blue waters, and that’s exactly what the dial of this new Seiko looks like.

Seiko calls it gradation island blue, and it is fitted in a recreation of Seiko’s first diving watch from 1965. It’s not the first model to honor that old diver, as this Seiko Prospex The 1965 Diver’s Re-creation ref. SJE093 does so as well. And that one comes pretty close to the original. But if you look at the original stainless steel Seiko 62MAS (ref. 6217-8000) you will notice that this new sparkling blue in stainless steel also comes close.

62MAS look-alike

This new rippled blue 1965 Recreation still looks like the 1965 model nicknamed 62MAS. A sort of an abbreviation of 62 (from the reference number) and – hang on – auto[MA]tic [S]elfdater. Thus, this new one has a date too, and a bezel that looks kind of the same. Unidirectional and, although not specified by Seiko, most likely from aluminium.

The original is 37 millimeters (and 13 millimeters thick), the new one has grown a bit to 40.5 millimeters, but the thickness is almost the same; 13.15 millimeters. The hands, indexes and bezel have lumbrite luminescent material, unlike the 62MAS that has tritium. Furthermore, it offers a water resistance of 200 meters / 660 feet – the 62MAS did 150 / 495.

The Seiko Prospex Limited Edition 1965 Recreation has a power reserve of 70 hours

The Seiko Prospex Limited Edition 1965 Recreation runs on the Seiko caliber 6R35 with a power reserve of 70 hours. The aforementioned other recreation has the caliber 6R37 with a power reserve of 45 hours by the way. But for this 6R35 Seiko advices service every 2 to 3 years, which sounds a bit much. If anyone has experiences with this, just let us know in the comments below.

The watch comes on a stainless steel bracelet with an additional white rubber strap. And if you want the original from 1965, they are still for sale. A quick scan of the mayor vintage watch sites learns us that you can have a decent one for about 4k. Go for the Small Crown version that was only produced between April and May 1965, just over 12,000 copies.