2020 Seiko Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat Limited Edition SLA025

Here we have the 2020 Seiko Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat Limited Edition SLA025 celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Seiko 1968 Hi-Beat professional dive watch, the ref: 6159-7001. This watch is a modern interpretation of that "Professional" dive watch and is limited to 1500 pieces. Featuring a 45mm circular brushed and Zaratsu-polished stainless steel monobloc case coated in Seiko’s Diashield super-hard coating, to access the movement, you must enter from the crystal side. The flat case back and sloping flanks sit comfortably on the wrist. Seiko gets ergonomics so right; zaratsu-polished flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 50.5mm, and a thickness of 15mm gives the watch an impressive wrist presence. The crisp edges lead the eye towards the broad drilled lugs. On the right side at 4 o’clock, a screw-down crown. The tall, unidirectional bezel features a coin-edged design for enhanced grip and a glossy black aluminium insert with a 60-minute scale in gold-toned numerals and markings. A double-domed sapphire crystal AR-coated sits above a matte black dial. An outer minute chapter ring surrounds an applied gold-toned disc and baton indexes filled in LumiBrite, marking the hours. At 3 o’clock, a framed date window. Gold-toned, broad hands, expertly polished, are filled in LumiBrite, complemented by a lume-tipped traffic light sweeping seconds hand. At noon, we have a gold-toned Seiko motif, ‘Automatic Hi-Beat’, and at 6 o’clock, ‘Professional 300m’, completing this modern, vintage-inspired dive watch. On the reverse, the characteristic horseshoe is engraved with the watch's specifications. Inside an automatic Hi-Beat Seiko Cal. 8L55, 37 jewels, 36,000 beats per hour. This high-end movement has hand-winding and hacking functionality for your convenience. Based on the Grand Seiko calibre 9S85, it is hand-assembled at the Shizuku-Ishi Watch Studio in Morioka. It comes paired with its Seiko 19mm black rubber strap and its original Seiko signed hardware, plus a 19mm Uncle Seiko strap. The watch comes with its Seiko presentation box, swing tags and papers.

This watch is sold with its original Seiko box, swing tags and paperwork. It comes paired with its Seiko 19mm black rubber strap and its Seiko-signed hardware, plus a 19mm Uncle Seiko strap. The watch is from July 2020 and is sold in worn condition, but overall, it is in very fair condition, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

This is the Seiko Prospex Diver 300m Hi-Beat, reference SLA025, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Seiko 1968 Hi-Beat professional dive watch, the ref: 6159-7001 and limited to 1,500 watches. This isn't just any other Seiko; this is easily built to the standards of Grand Seiko, featuring a monocoque case and a hi-beat automatic calibre 8L55. I would not hesitate to book an appointment and see this one in the metal for yourself today!

Reference : SLA025 (8L35-00D0)
Movement : Automatic Seiko Hi-Beat Cal. 8L55
Age : July 2020
Year : 2020
Case Size : 45mm
Case Thickness : 15mm
Lug to Lug : 50.5mm
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Seiko's history began in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori established the K. Hattori retail and repair store. In 1892, Seikosha was established to make wall clocks. 1895 saw the production of their first pocket watch. 1913 saw the launch of their first wristwatch, the Laurel. In 1924, the first Seiko was manufactured. Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) was established in 1937. Seiko was listed on the Tokyo stock exchange in 1949. The Suwa factory became independent and formed Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corporation in 1959). In 1956, Seiko launched Marvel as their first true in-house-made watch; they continued to make this watch until 1959. The Seiko Lord Marvel, introduced in 1958, was Seiko's first luxury watch, predating the well-known Grand Seiko. It was designed to rival Swiss brands with a refined design and higher specifications. In 1967, Seiko launched the calibre 5740C watch movement, a significant upgrade over the earlier calibre 5740A, which beat at 18,000, and the 5740B, which beat at 19800. This movement was special because it allowed the watch to run at a high speed of 36,000 beats per hour, making it Japan's first high-frequency watch. In fact, it was only the second watch movement of its kind in the world, following one released by a Swiss brand just a few months earlier. Japan’s first chronograph watch was introduced for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics; it was called the Seiko Crown Chronograph monopusher. Not stopping there, Seiko launched Japan's first true divers' watch, the Seiko Diver’s 150M, fitted with the automatic Calibre 6217, which was later given the nickname “62MAS” by collectors. King Seiko and Grand Seiko emerged as prominent lines within the Seiko brand, with King Seiko making its debut in 1961 as a distinguished luxury watch collection. Grand Seiko, on the other hand, has consistently set the standard for exceptional craftsmanship and precision engineering. In 1965, Seiko introduced a groundbreaking manual-wind movement featuring 25 jewels and hacking seconds, coinciding with the launch of the second-generation KSK series, which boasted sharp, angular cases and robust, flat-ended lugs. The King Seiko KCM was introduced in 1969, featuring a chronometer-certified movement that operates at an impressive 36,000 beats per hour, along with a sleek C-shaped stainless steel case. In 1975, the King and Grand Quartz brands were introduced, built at the Suwa Seikosha and Daini Seikosha factories. In 1977, a high-end Twin Quartz Cal. 92 was produced until 1979, when the 97KQ and 99KQ were introduced. The final 1981 King Quartz Cal. 94KQ movement remained in production until Seiko ended the King Seiko line in 1985. Despite the challenges during the Quartz crisis of the 1970s that led to the gradual shutdown of King Seiko production, Seiko made a comeback in 2022 by reintroducing the classic King Seiko collection. The company name was changed to the Seiko Corporation in 1990. Innovation at Seiko continues today with GPS Solar watches.