Zach Brass
Seiko’s diver’s watch history dates back to 1965, when the company’s first 150-meter diver’s watch was released. The watch was tested a year later by the 8th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. In 1968, Seiko sought to further improve its diver’s watches, introducing the Ref. 6159, named after the first Japanese-made hi-beat caliber, and doubling the water resistance to 300 meters. This seminal diver’s watch has since inspired many contemporary reinterpretations of Seiko, with the latest duo being the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Divers SLA077 & SLA079.
Incident
The mixed-finish case retains the characteristics of the original 6159 diver from 1968, but is slightly less rounded, more faceted, and has increased in diameter by over 5mm to 42.6mm. While the diameter of the Seiko Marinemaster SLA077 and SLA079 would be classified as large in the modern market, its thickness of 13.4mm is relatively slender, and its lug-to-lug length of 49.3mm is more than adequate for the average wrist, especially with its slightly sloped camber. Like the 1968 Muse, the SLA077 and SLA079 feature a screw-down crown at the 4 o’clock position and are water resistant to a depth of 300 meters.
Dial
Both watches feature a steel timing bezel with a black aluminum insert around the perimeter of the dial. The scales, finished in white, are rendered in a contemporary font that differs from that of the 6159 Diver from 1968, and are Lumibrite-filled, as are the three central hands and applied hour indexes, for legibility in the dark, whether at the depths of the ocean or in a dark desk drawer.
While some may lament the date window’s controversial location at 4:30, the result is an extremely legible dial, with applied indices and large lume plots for every 12 hours, and a look at the style of the hands and applied indices reveals that it’s replicated almost one-to-one with the 6159.
The dials are literally available in black and white. The SLA079 has a black dial, while the SLA077 has a white dial, both of which feature a pebble-like texture on a matte surface. With a double AR coating on the sapphire crystal and a grainy matte surface with eye-friendly black and white colors, there are no pesky reflections that can impair the visibility of these dive watches. Additionally, with the dial options being black and white, the date disc is perfectly color-matched to each dial. At the controversial 4:30 position, this seamless blend ensures that the date window doesn’t feel intrusive or intrusive.
bracelet
While the original 6159 from 1968 was mounted on a strap, many modern watchmakers, myself included, prefer it on a bracelet. The familiar five-piece link bracelet features three wide brushed surfaces and two thinner middle pieces that are polished, and it secures to your wrist with a folding clasp. And, of course, it has four holes for fine adjustment. You can breathe a sigh of relief; the bracelet feels sturdy and the twin trigger release makes it very secure and it won’t fall off your wrist.
motion
While we would have liked to see these 1968-inspired dive watches fitted with a hi-beat movement, just as the original 6159 was hi-beat, the in-house automatic 8L35 is no less impressive. This is a proven, modern Seiko caliber. The movement is based on the Grand Seiko 9S55 caliber and, like Grand Seiko’s mechanical movements, is assembled from Shizukuishi, with a 4Hz beat rate and a 50-hour power reserve, ticking away beneath a solid, engraved caseback.
Verdict
These days, the competition for sub-$3,000 diver watches is intense, and the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Divers SLA077 and SLA079 face some tough competition. If you are currently looking for a sub-$3,000 diver watch, whether this pair is right for you will ultimately come down to subjective preference. The SLA077 and SLA079 have the appeal of being made entirely in-house, with a rich and deep background in watchmaking from Japan and Seiko. They are straightforward choices, available in black or white color schemes and robust both on the outside and inside. A high-beat movement would have helped differentiate the watch more in this category, but keeping the price of the watch close to $3,000 is a million-dollar question.
Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Divers SLA077 & SLA079 Pricing and Availability
The Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Divers SLA077 and SLA079 are available now. Price: $2,900 USD
Brand Seiko Model Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Diver’s Reference SLA077 SLA079 Case Size 42.6mm (D) x 13.4mm (T) x 49.3mm (LTL) Case Material Stainless steel, super hard coating Water Resistance 300 meters, screw-down crown Crystal Double-domed sapphire front Dial White or black, pebble texture Strap Stainless steel bracelet, super hard coating, folding clasp Movement 8L35, in-house, automatic Power Reserve 50 hours Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, date Availability Current Price US$2,900
