The Seiko Prospex "King Turtle" dive watch series has been a favorite among brand enthusiasts since its initial release. The "King Turtle" offers a popular balance between price and quality features, such as ceramic bezel inserts, while providing a classic Seiko design rooted in the 1970s 6309 dive watches. Although the "Turtle" nickname (referring to the turtle shell-shaped cushion case) has accompanied this specific series and its predecessors among Seiko aficionados for decades, the brand itself has always kept this name at a distance.
However, in its latest release, Seiko fully embraces the "turtle" legacy of these divers by launching three special editions created in honor of the brand's partnership with the ocean conservation group Oceanic Society and its ongoing mission to protect the world's seven species of sea turtles. To this end, the new Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition dive watch collection, including the Seiko Prospex SRPH55, Seiko Prospex SRPH57, and Seiko Prospex SRPH59 models, brings intricate turtle shell-inspired patterns to the dials of these familiar divers, offering a striking level of finish and materials for their price.
The 45mm stainless steel cases of the Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition series are virtually identical to the standard "King Turtle" releases, featuring the same rounded cushion case design. Although this diameter may seem sizeable on paper, Seiko's unique ability to visually reduce case size on the wrist should be fully realized here, thanks to the curved bowl-shaped contouring of the case sides and short lugs. Distinctive features of the "King Turtle" include a radial brushed finish on the top surface of the case, contrasting with the fully polished case sides, and a large square knurling on the tall unidirectional bezel surrounding the flat sapphire crystal. All three models in the series use high-tech ceramic inserts for these bezels, with the SRPH55 and SRPH57 models featuring classic utilitarian black inserts, and the SRPH59 model opting for a rich dark blue tone. Where these three models truly add their unique touch is in the design of the massive caseback, as each is adorned with a soft stylized engraving of a sea turtle flanking the stamped tsunami emblem. All three models, like their standard counterparts, are rated for 200 meters of water resistance.
Modern Seiko has a reputation for producing dials with a finish that far exceeds its weight class, and the dials of the Prospex U.S. Special Edition series appear to continue this legacy. All three models feature the standard "King Turtle" layout with applied diver indices, a syringe-tipped minute hand, a framed day/date window at the 3 o'clock position, and Seiko's signature sword and arrow hands. The surfaces of the dials of these three new models, however, are not standard. The main dial texture is a miniature random crosshatch pattern reminiscent of the 2017 Seiko Presage "Starlight" models, overlaid with a fumé effect and a scaled shadow pattern mirroring sea turtle shell plates.
In addition to the impressive amount of visual detail, this intricate surface helps recontextualize other dial elements in images. For instance, the white day/date window at 3 o'clock becomes arguably less disruptive, as no date wheel could match the pattern and remain legible. Each of the three models interprets this complex visual texture in different colors. The Seiko Prospex SRPH59 model has the simplest look of the trio, with oceanic blue tones that enhance the marine inspiration in images.
The Prospex SRPH55 model gives the design a more literal sense, with a brown gradient reminiscent of turtle shells, transitioning from honey brown at the center, through mahogany, to a deep cocoa brown at the dial edge. Interestingly, this model interprets the webbing of shell covering lines as highlights rather than shadows in images, conveying them in a semi-transparent white color. The Prospex SRPH57 model is perhaps the brightest of the trio, however, with a turquoise and teal gradient that evokes tropical waters and shallow seas in images.
All three models in the Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition series are equipped with Seiko's in-house 4R36 automatic movement. While the 4R36 movement may not be as refined as its 6R series counterparts, it is an affordable, robust, and capable performer with a 41-hour power reserve at a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour. Seiko pairs the Prospex U.S. Special Edition models with both a classic three-link "oyster" style stainless steel bracelet and accordion-style silicone dive straps matching the dial's blue, teal, or brown colors.
Adding striking and artfully finished dials to the already capable and stylish "King Turtle" line, the three models in the Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition series finally make the iconic line's turtle associations official and help raise awareness of the ongoing efforts to protect the world's graceful sea turtles.
All three models in the Seiko Prospex U.S. Special Edition series, including the Seiko Prospex SRPH55, Seiko Prospex SRPH57, and Seiko Prospex SRPH59, will be available in October 2021 exclusively through select authorized dealers in the U.S. and on the seikousa.com website, but production numbers are not strictly limited. Each of the three models has an MSRP of $750. For more detailed information, visit the brand's website.