A Modern Reinterpretation of the Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver Naomi Uemura SLA069
Commemorates the famous Japanese explorer and the first of his five iconic ascents. luxury watches men
Seiko is known for launching many new models throughout the year, often as special or limited series. Part of the Prospex watch collection, this new timepiece pays homage to revered Japanese mountaineer and adventurer Naomi Uemura. It’s not the first watch dedicated to his achievements, as the Tribute to Naomi Uemura SLA049 and SLA051 launch in 2021, all based on a 1970 diver’s watch worn by the man who bears his name. Now, Seiko returns to that theme with the SLA069 from the Prospex 1970 Diver.
Naomi Uemura climbed Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Everest and Mount McKinley (also known as McKinley) over the course of four years, becoming the first person to summit all five peaks climber. He also undertook a solo dog sled from Greenland to Alaska, which took 18 months to complete. For this adventure, he wore a Seiko dive watch from the 1970s. Mr Uemura tragically disappeared while descending Denali in the winter of 1984 and has been missing since.
The SLA069’s 44mm wide and 13mm thick stainless steel case features the familiar turtle design of previous models, with its signature crown guard protruding from the lower right lug. The bezel and off-centre crown are blue, giving it a very unique touch. The metal insert is black, which contrasts with the blue and silver of the rest of the case.
The snow-white dial uses different etching techniques to create a unique texture and imagery. The silhouette of the Mont Blanc mountain range can be seen through the snow-like texture. The large raised numerals and sword-shaped hands are treated with LumiBrite, and the seconds hand has the familiar paddle-shaped tip. The window at 04:30 shows the date below. luxury men watch
Inside the case, we again find the 8L35 self-winding movement, which was also used in the previous 1970 Modern Re-Interpretation watch. It clocks at 28,800vph, uses 26 jewels, and has a runtime of 50 hours. It is specified to operate within a tolerance of +15 to -10 seconds per day. It is concealed behind a solid caseback, which together with the screw-down crown ensures water resistance to 200 meters.
The new Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation Naomi Uemura SLA069 features a five-link stainless steel bracelet with brushed finish on the large links and polished finish between the thinner links. It comes with a triple folding buckle and includes diver extensions.
SEIKO PROSPEX 1970 DIVER’S MODERN RE-INTERPRETATION THE NAOMI UEMURA LIMITED EDITION SLA069
Case: Diameter 44 mm x H 13 mm – Stainless steel, superhard coating, brushed and polished – Blued steel unidirectional bezel with metal insert, superhard coating and 60-minute scale – Sapphire crystal, AR coating – Blued Steel Screw Down Crown – Screw Down Case Back – 200m Water Resistance
Dial: Textured snow-white dial with Mont Blanc silhouette – LumiBrite hour markers and hands – Date window at 04:30
Movement: Caliber 8L35 – Manufacture – Automatic – 26 jewels – 28,800 vibrations/hour – 50 hours power reserve – +15 to -10 seconds per day – Hours, minutes, seconds (second stop) and date
Strap: Three-link stainless steel bracelet (brushed and polished) with triple folding clasp and diver’s watch extension
Ref: SLA069
