Back in 1965, Seiko debuted its first diver’s watch, which also just so happened to be the first diver’s watch to come out of Japan. The watch gained even more notoriety when Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura wore it while completing a solo dog sled run from Greenland to Alaska in the years 1974 to 1976. To commemorate both—the watch and Uemura—Seiko is releasing a re-creation of the classic Seiko 1970 Diver’s Watch, and we’re detailing everything you want to know about the Naomi Uemura Limited Edition below.
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1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation The Naomi Uemura Limited Edition | Image: Supplied
All the basics in terms of the design that made the diver’s watch such a success are still there, albeit with a bit of an update. The dial has a pattern that’s meant to bring to mind the mountainous terrain that Uemura traversed. Both the dial and the bezel feature blue tones—the same blue that Uemura saw in the sky above as he summited the highest mountains on all five continents.
Set between four and five o’clock is a calendar and the hour markers and hands are all coated in Lumibrite for added visibility at night. The case is polished to a high sheen as is the five-row steel bracelet (a silicone strap with a train track pattern is also available). The case also has a hard coating that protects against scratches. Inside the case is a Caliber 8L35 that was designed by watchmakers from northern Japan’s Shizukuishi Watch Studio. The crystal is a dual-curved sapphire and has an anti-reflective coating on the inside so that legibility is better regardless of the viewing angle. The watch boasts a water resistance of up to 200 meters.
Seiko will only be making 500 examples of the Naomi Uemura Limited Edition 1970 Diver’s watch and each watch features its number on the back case. The watch comes in a special case that features Naomi Uemura’s quote: “When one dream is realised, other dreams will follow.” If your dream is to own one of these, you’ll want to move quickly to make that dream a reality. You can pick up one of these watches through Seiko boutiques and authorised retailers for around USD$2,900.
1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation The Naomi Uemura Limited Edition | Image: Supplied
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