Seiko’s reputation as a watch for serious outdoorsmen arguably began in 1965 with the release of what is affectionately called the “62MAS” by afficionados. This was Seiko’s first professional divers watch aimed at a market that demanded, first and foremost, a reliable timekeeping tool with features specific to divers that could stand up to the rigors of open water use. And thus a legend was born. It was a diver’s tool that had rugged, adventurous appeal and it’s a hardy design that continues to be on the list of many collectors. Over the years Seiko has come up with a few re-interpretations of the 62MAS that try to capture the original magic.
In the Seikoverse, if you’ll allow the term, rugged watches designed for the adventurous individual fall under the Prospex line with those aimed at open water environments bearing the venerable title Marinemaster. This title is reserved for their most rugged diver’s watches but who says “rugged” and “refined” have to be mutually exclusive. The current re-imagining of a Marinemaster Divewatch also takes into account it’s offshore use occasionally paired with a business suit rather than just a wetsuit. Let’s dive into what a Gentleman’s Dive Watch can possibly be is embodied in the latest Prospex Marinemaster; the SJ099
The Marinemaster is Seiko’s flagship series in their diver’s watch lineup. And new in this line is the SJE099. It’s a robust timepiece that brings all the necessary accuracies which are essential to it’s use as a diving tool but elevates to to a timepiece with serious style as well.
It’s slimmer than the original 62MAS and is in the sweetspot in terms of thickness for a relatively ruggedly-built watch to comfortably slip under a shirtcuff if you’re wearing it offshore in a dressier occasion .
It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 39.5 millimeters and a thickness of 12.3 millimeters. And if you’re not that deep into watch culture that means it has some sports-watch heft but is still a manageable size for slimmer wrists.
Let’s talk a little bit about the design. The dial’s main design theme are the textured horizontal stripes , which catch the light and cast small shadows which captures the quality of the lapping waves they represent. There’s a very small date window as an added detail and aficionados are happy to see “Marinemaster” printed just under SEIKO at the 12oclock position which has been absent in previous models in this category of their lineup.
If we take a look at the case and bracelet Viewed from the side, you’ll find it references the signature arch of the 62MAS but original ’65 release lacks sculptured mix of angles and curves of the SJE099 that really streamline this watch. And it’s the beautiful beveling that add visual interest and really streamline the watch making it crossover from basic diving instrument to a much more refined timepiece that doesn’t look out of place in dressier occasions. The crown itself has very positive knurling, which is very easy to grip and in contrast the bezel has a downward taper and softer knurling, In operation, the detents of the bezel have that pleasant muted click associated with Sieko’s in this tier. I think Seiko has taken into account that watches in this category often pull double duty out in the wild and in elegant environments as well. The softer knurling on the bezel is actually a welcome detail that is kinder to one’s shirtcuffs.The bracelet itself is a nice mix of brushed and polished surfaces which tie-in well with the watch as a whole which gives a very nice wrist-hug overall. The timepiece doesn’t feel cumbersome or clunky on-wrist.
Not often found on watches with very rugged roots is an unusual feature on the Prospex Marinemaster; a sapphire display caseback, but it’s a great feature that allows you to marvel at the 6L37 caliber that keeps it ticking. It’s this feature that may set the 200M limit on this particular model. While certainly less than previous Marinemasters, if you take into account the broader appeal of this timepiece that will see action as a sports watch and as a dressier timepiece as well.
Interested in grabbing one? More details on https://shop.seikoboutique.com.ph/