Seiko is releasing a trio of new dive watches this week in celebration of 60 years since the 62MAS was introduced. There always seems to be an anniversary of some sort for Seiko to celebrate, and in addition to the new divers, they also released a modern King Seiko Vanac collection, which you can read about right here. Each of the new divers are based on existing platforms, and get special wave pattern dials to commemorate the brand’s long relationship with diving. One of them, the Marinemaster reference SLA081 takes things a step further with a titanium monobloc case, and a new trick bezel system.
The Marinemaster has undergone something of an identity crisis since the discontinuation of the reference SBDX017 in 2018. A selection of trimmer references were released in 2023, but they didn’t quite hit the same way, with open casebacks, textured dials muddying the waters of the highly focused identity of what the Marinemaster had been. With the new Marinemaster SLA081, Seiko finds its footing, and brings the watch’s utility sharply back into focus. The ornamental stuff is still present, this is an anniversary model afterall, but this platform offers a new way forward for the iconic collection, and that’s the bigger picture here.
The newest Marinemaster is old-school, with a titanium monobloc case measuring 45.4mm in diameter, and 16mm in thickness, this watch is all business. The use of titanium should go a long way in mitigating the size, but in truth, this watch is not trying to be versatile enough to slip under a cuff of any kind. It’s best to view this watch through a similar lens as something like the PloProf, a blunt instrument and a celebration of overengineering. I love the use of a monobloc case, something Seiko (and the PloProf, for that matter) are historically known for in their flagship divers.
There are a few new things to be found here as well, such as the Seiko’s new 8L45 automatic movement, which offers 72 hours of reserve and a tighter accuracy tolerance to +10/-5 seconds per day, but more importantly, a new bezel assembly system. This bezel is not friction-fit to the case, but rather, Seiko has devised a collar system that secures to the case via two pieces that are set between the end link and case wall between the lugs. These pieces are secured via two screws under the case, and will keep the bezel in place in a much more secure fashion. It’s also been done in a way that tucks the screws under the case, keeping a lower center of gravity on the wrist.
Overall, this is a great platform from Seiko that feels like a return to form for the Marinemaster. The dial here is a special wave pattern under a coat of clear paint to evoke the depths of the sea. It’s sharp and fitting for an anniversary model, but I’d love to see this get a matte black dial that’s all business. Hopefully that’s around the corner. As it is, this new Marinemaster reference SLA081 will be available this summer, limited to 600 units, and will be priced from $4,600. Seiko