Seiko Prospex 1965 Mechanical Diver's Modern Re-Interpretation Black Series Limited Edition

Imitation, nay, re-interpretation is the sincerest form of flattery. 

The Seiko diver that started it all, a Reference 6217-8000, was released in 1965 and would go on to be known as the 62MAS in collector circles — MAS being an acronym pulling from the diver’s main function “‘autoMAtic Selfdater”. The watch featured a tidy 37mm stainless steel case with bold luminous markers, a distinguishable set of hands and a fully graduated rotating bezel that to this day, are the core design hallmarks of any Seiko Prospex diver. It would only be a matter of time (a shade over 50 years to be exact) until Seiko tapped their OG dive watch to produce a compelling heritage model for the modern wearer. 

Seiko released the SPB14X series in 2020 as a celebration of 55 years of the 6217, and captured the hearts of vintage dive watch enthusiasts around the world. The continue to iterate on that platform, and this particular piece, a Reference SPB253, takes the core design and kicks it up a notch. Part of their Black Series collection and limited to 5,500 pieces, this Seiko diver features a 40.5mm stainless steel case with an applied black hard coating covering the entirely case, bezel, crown and caseback. It is equipped with a signed screw-down crown, 150 meters of water resistance, a curved sapphire crystal, unidirectionally-rotating timing bezel with orange accents and a screw-on caseback with Seiko’s signature wave emblem.

The gloss black dial has everything you would expect from the venerable diver — bold luminous rectangular markers, stick hands with a matching orange accented minute hand and contrasting date window at 3 o’clock. Paired with its factory signed rubber dive strap with matching hardware, this limited edition piece also includes a sweet brown nylon pass-through strap, as well as its factory warranty booklet and instruction manual.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a seasoned vet in the world of watch collecting, a well-executed Seiko diver is something that’ll always put a smile on your face — and this one will make your smile just a tad bit wider than most!

For over 140 years, Seiko has been cranking out innovative and impeccably engineered watches at every price point, from entry-level Seiko 5s to world-class haute horlogerie pieces under the Grand Seiko brand. Underpinning the company’s efforts has been the mass production of reliable and accurate movements paired with a wide array of case and dial configurations.
Founded in 1881 by clockmaker and businessman Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Japan as “K. Hattori,” Seiko began importing Western timepieces and selling them in the local market. In 1892, Hattori changed the name of the firm to Seikosha (“house of exquisite workmanship”), which was further altered to “Seiko” in 1924. Following the Second World War, during which Seiko produced watches for the Japanese military, the company began its streak of innovations based upon affordable, in-house movements and Japanese savoir faire. These included myriad dive watches such as the famed 6105 and the fan-favorite 6139 chronograph.

Later, in 1969, Seiko would go on to produce the Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. This technological innovation was followed by the Seiko Kinetic in the 1980s, which married quartz accuracy with automatic, self-powering functionality. Today, Seiko’s product offerings are vast, including dress watches, dive watches, chronographs and much more, all of which are powered by in-house movements comprising different types of technology.

Despite a move toward luxury positioning and pricing in the brand’s modern offerings, vintage Seiko classics can still be had at incredibly reasonable prices today, making them a favorite entry point into the vintage watch world for myriad collectors. From their availability in post exchanges on military bases around the world to their fame from films such as Apocalypse Now to their presence at six Olympic Games, Seiko watches are deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the contemporary collector.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.