SEIKO PROSPEX SPB501J1 1965 HERITAGE DIVER'S PADI SPECIAL EDITION MEN WATCH

Seiko Prospex SPB501J1 — 1965 Heritage PADI Special Edition Diver's Watch

The Seiko Prospex SPB501J1 is a special edition diver's watch created in collaboration with PADI — the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and the world's most recognised diver's training organisation. Its design draws directly from the '62MAS' — Seiko's and Japan's first ever diver's watch, introduced in 1965. That watch set a benchmark for reliability in the most extreme conditions on Earth: it was worn four times by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition team, and later by adventurers at the North and South Poles and on Mount Everest. The SPB501J1 carries that 60-year legacy of underwater precision with a design faithful to the 1965 original, updated for modern performance.

The green dial depicts the surface of the ocean as seen by a diver from below — the sunlight bursting through the water above, captured in a single dial colour that is as evocative as it is practical. The short-pitch stainless steel bracelet with micro-adjustable clasp ensures a precise, comfortable fit, and the SPB501J1 comes with an additional green nylon strap — a material choice that connects the watch directly to the marine environment it is designed for. With 300M water resistance, a curved sapphire crystal, and the in-house 6R55 calibre with a 72-hour power reserve and GMT function, this is a professional dive watch in every sense.

Key Features

• Seiko 6R55 automatic movement with manual winding — self-winding with the convenience of hand-winding when needed
• Approx. 72-hour (3-day) power reserve — reliable performance through a long weekend without wearing
• Accuracy: +25/-15 seconds per day — dependable automatic timekeeping
• GMT hand — mechanical second time zone reference for divers and travellers
• 300M Diver's water resistance — built to the highest professional diving standards
• Green ocean-inspired dial — depicts the surface of the sea as seen by a diver from below, with sunlight breaking through
• Baton dial markers — clean, high-contrast legibility underwater
• Date at 4.5 o'clock in upright position — precise positioning for maximum legibility underwater
• Unidirectional rotating bezel — purpose-built for safe and accurate dive timing
• Curved sapphire crystal — premium scratch resistance and superior optical clarity
• Lumibrite on hands and hour markers — superior legibility in low light and underwater conditions
• 40mm stainless steel case with super-hard coating — robust dive watch proportions at 13.0mm slim profile
• Screw-down crown — water integrity protection for diving use
• Short-pitch stainless steel bracelet with micro-adjustable clasp — precise, comfortable fit for all wrist sizes
• Additional green nylon strap — ocean-inspired colourway to complement the dial
• PADI collaboration — created with the world's most recognised diver's training organisation
• Special edition with PADI box — presentation-ready from the moment it arrives

Why You'll Love It

The SPB501J1 is a diver's watch with a story that runs sixty years deep. The 62MAS heritage connects it to one of the most tested and trusted timepieces in the history of underwater exploration — a watch that went to the Antarctic four times and to the poles and Everest besides. The green dial is the perfect expression of that story: the ocean from below, light breaking through the surface, captured in a single design decision that is both beautiful and purposeful. The PADI collaboration gives it a community and credential that matters to divers worldwide — PADI certification is the gold standard of recreational diving, and a PADI-endorsed watch is a statement of belonging to that world. The additional green nylon strap connects the watch to the ocean in colour as well as in purpose. With 300M water resistance, 72-hour power reserve, GMT function, and the reliable 6R55 calibre, the SPB501J1 is as capable in the water as it is compelling out of it.

The Story Behind the 62MAS and 1965 Heritage

In 1965, Seiko created Japan's first professional diver's watch — the 62MAS. Built to withstand 150 metres of water pressure and tested in Japan's most demanding underwater conditions, it became the go-to timepiece for the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, worn across four separate missions to one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth. Its reliability at extreme depth, temperature, and pressure made it the natural choice for expeditions to the North and South Poles and to the summit of Mount Everest. The 1965 Heritage series preserves the essential design DNA of that original — the case proportions, the dial layout, the bezel character — while adding sixty years of refinement in materials, movement, and water resistance. The SPB501J1 is that heritage in its most oceanically expressive form: green, purposeful, and PADI-endorsed.

The Seiko Prospex Story

Prospex is a combination of the words "Professional" and "Specifications." Seiko Prospex timepieces are designed to be practical, reliable, and durable — built to meet the high standards required in extreme environments for sports lovers and adventure seekers alike. Since 1965, when Seiko created Japan's first diver's watch, the Prospex dive line has stood for underwater precision and reliability. The SPB501J1 carries that sixty-year legacy forward in a special edition that honours both the history of the 62MAS and the future of responsible diving.

Backed by Seiko's official warranty. Authentic Seiko Prospex PADI Special Edition watch, sold by authorised retailer City Chain Singapore.

Also available in the 1965 Heritage range: Save the Ocean teal dial — shop the SPB545J1. Explore the full Seiko Prospex Collection or browse all Seiko watches at City Chain Singapore.