Which makes me curious as to whether the craftspeople test the watch right away in Gosho Lake, which is only a few hundred meters away? Diving watch of the future? The movement’s robustness and precision ensure the best possible performance in the most demanding conditions, both on land and underwater.” In the words of the manufacturer, “The watch is powered by Caliber 8元5, which was specially developed for diving watches and is assembled by hand by the craftsmen at the Shizukuishi Watch Studio in northern Japan. The reason for such a high price tag: inside the watch ticks a variant of the Grand Seiko base movement 9S55, uncharitably called the 8元5, but still the highest Japanese craftsmanship in watch caliber construction and, like the 9S55, assembled in the Grand Seiko manufacture in Shizukushi Prefecture. I normally don’t say much about the inside of the watch as it of no relevance for a diver, but because it’s the movement that (mostly) determines the price of a watch, I can’t just ignore it on a Seiko costing four and a half thousand Euros. Seiko Prospex SLA055 ready to dive (photo courtesy Dietmar Fuchs) About the movement Worn on dry land, however, the overlapping long strap disturbs a bit. But, as it turned out later, it was unfortunately still too short. What is the best strap?Īt first glance, the strap is very long, which makes it ideal for wearing over a dry suit. Unfortunately, though, after so much praise, it’s still not unreservedly practical for a diver. No other textile strap has achieved this to date. or a sword in the hand of a kendoka or a Seiko on the wrist of a diver.īut it wasn’t the beauty alone that drew me to the strap of the “katana watch”: above all, it was the way it felt to wear. They can also be found in the traditional ‘obijime,’ the decorative cord that ‘holds’ a kimono sash in place”. Their rich texture and hue are well known in Japanese culture for their use in fabric designs. As Seiko describes, “The textile bands use a traditional braiding technique from Japan called Seichu. The watch also has a strap developed by Seiko craftsmen that is braided with the same weaving technique as the silk on the Daitō, called Seichu. Seiko Prospex SLA055 on the wrist while diving (photo courtesy Dietmar Fuchs)Īnd about the silk: the handle of a katana is artfully wrapped with a band, the Tsuka-Ito silk braid, which not only looks great but is also practical in that it prevents slipping. And for the first time, I’m now bothered even by the tiny scratches that our test watch suffered during the hard daily diving routine. the contrast and play with light seems to dominate these watch cases like no other.įor me, it’s like moving the blade of a Daitō back and forth in the light the watch masters similar reflections. The mix of high-polished and matte surfaces. And it’s not only the extraordinary brilliance of the steel, it’s especially the unusual polishing technique used by the Japanese craftspeople. I didn’t believe it myself until I was able to experience it. Of course, you can’t see that in the brochure or this article’s pictures you can only see it when you wear the watch. The SLA – no, let’s call it the “katana watch” or, better yet and much more “Japanese,” “Daitō Tokei” – offers what I consider to be the most brilliant finish I’ve ever had the pleasure of admiring on a stainless steel watch. Seiko Prospex The 1968 Automatic Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation Limited Edition SLA055 in blue and black I have never had any experience with rusting dive watches, and scratches have never bothered me either. PREN is a widely accepted standard for measuring corrosion resistance.” It has a PREN (Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number) value that is 1.7 times higher than that of the steel grade used in most high-end watches. this material is widely used for the surfaces of marine structures and ships due to its extreme corrosion resistance in seawater. Ever-Brilliant Steel, a grade of stainless steel that is more corrosion resistant than those commonly used in watches today. Seiko calls it “Ever Brilliant” and describes it, ”. And in the same way, it is a unique kind of steel that is responsible for the incredible shine of the SLA055 (terrible name, isn’t it?). It’s no secret that steel is the secret to the katana’s incredible sharpness. Steel and silkīack to Japanese history and the Daitō: the Japanese sword, the katana. For the second watch, Seiko moved the crown to the 4 o’clock position, making the watch more comfortable for everyday use and well protected against external shocks even without a clunky crown protector. The first Japanese diving watch, also a Seiko, was launched in 1955, had its crown at the 3 o’clock position, and was tested at the time to 150 meters. The watch is a modern reinterpretation of the second Japanese diving watch from 1968. The second Japanese diving watch: Seiko Diver from 1968
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