Seiko also adds a textured dial to the SPB237 like many other contemporary vintage reissues, but rather than the grainy matte finish of many Swiss offerings this watch provides a nuanced, deeply gouged vertical texture that calls to mind both stones and tree bark. Interestingly, this color seems to vacillate between dusty brown and mossy green undertones in initial images, straddling the line between a warm and cool neutral feel. Rather than the deep brown hues often used for fauxtina divers, Seiko opts for a medium gray tone for the dial of the SPB237. Those familiar with prior “Captain Willard” reissues will recognize Seiko’s modern reinterpretation of the original 6105’s squared-off diver indices, distinctive stoplight seconds hand, and faceted baton handset, but the brand recontextualizes these familiar elements with dramatic use of color and texture. The dial of the Seiko Prospex SPB237 is where this new iteration truly sets itself apart. This grainy, textured charcoal gray insert smoothly introduces the design’s patinated theme, and the muted gray of the diving scale keeps the overall contrast low for an unorthodox take on a faded bezel effect. Where the SPB237 diverges from previous iterations, however, is the bezel insert. As with most of the brand’s higher-echelon Prospex offerings, the SPB237 sports a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and offers a robust 200 meters of water resistance. The rounded, pebble-like cushion case form remains a distinctive visual hallmark for the line, and a smooth canvas for Seiko’s mix of radial brushing and curving, polished case sides. Like those two models, the stainless steel case of the SPB237 measures in at 42.7mm, significantly smaller than the ‘70s original, and carries a relatively compact lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm.
#Seiko spb series
The new Seiko Prospex SPB237 and Seiko Prospex SPB239 offer what may be some of the marque’s most crowd-pleasing diver experiences in recent memory, delivered right in time for a likely booming summer travel season.įirst of the pair is the Seiko Prospex SPB237, a continuation of the 1970 Seiko 6105 “Captain Willard”-inspired series that began with 2020’s SPB151 and SPB153. With these models, Seiko adds its own spins on dial finishing and the brand’s first-ever NATO straps designed for dive watches with a centuries-old traditional weave. For its latest pair of retro-inflected diver releases, however, the brand takes a more European approach to aging without sacrificing its own unique Japanese flavor. Even in the more tightly focused realm of vintage diver reissues, Seiko’s methods for achieving an aged look from the factory have often differed from the rest of the industry, relying less on fauxtina lume or grainy textured dials than it does on clever usage of color and dynamic sunburst finishing. Although Seiko is a massive and influential part of the modern dive watch market, the Japanese giant’s offerings have often marched to a markedly different tune to the Swiss competition.
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