Seiko made only 1,000 pieces of this diver’s watch inspired by Tubbataha Reefs
Watch collectors and divers, unite! Seiko recently unveiled the first Philippine-edition Prospex watch in celebration of 55 years of the Seiko Diver’s Watch.
The Prospex Philippine edition watch is limited to only 1,000 pieces, diver and host Marc Nelson revealed during the online launch last week.
The design inspiration, Tubbataha Reefs and National Marine Park, is spread across the Sulu Sea in Palawan and is home to about 600 species of fish and 360 coral species.
For divers, Tubbataha is the ultimate dive destination in the Philippines because it’s so pristine—and hard to get to. The only way to get to the marine park is via liveaboards, which are limited due to a short season (between March and May).
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, Tubbataha is a national treasure and an important part of the country’s culture. How important? Just flip over your P1,000 banknote and you’ll see it on the back.
The marine park covers 96,828 hectares including two atolls, which are uninhabited except for a ranger’s station.
Tubbataha’s colorful coral reefs are found in warm shallow waters near the coastline and deep waters. Sharks, jacks, barracudas and manta rays call it home, as do smaller species of fish. Its north islet is also a nesting site for birds and turtles.
Tubbataha is the ultimate dive destination in the Philippines because it’s so pristine—and hard to get to. It is also home to about 600 species of fish and 360 coral species.
Seiko’s Prospex Tubbataha is water resistant up to 200 meters. It’s also a subtle nod to the colorful marine life in Tubbataha.
“This is a very big moment for us because it’s closer to home and we can’t wait to hear about your adventures with this new timepiece,” said Karl Dy, president of Timeplus, the official distributor of Seiko in the Philippines. “Seiko’s pursuit for innovation and technology continues in the Philippines, specifically in the Sulu Sea where one of the most diverse marine ecological systems in the world is located.”
Prospex Philippine edition (codenamed SRPF33K1) features Seiko’s caliber 4R36 automatic movement with manual winding capacity. Power reserve is approximately 41 hours and has a day/date display. Stop second hand function and Lumibrite on hands and indexes sit on a blue IP dial and yellow gradation dial.
The watch comes with a two-toned stainless steel band and an extra silicone blue band. Engraved on the special box are the limited-edition numbers and the words “Philippine Limited Edition.”
Seiko’s Prospex brand has a long tradition in adventure. In 1965, it was introduced as Japan’s first ever diver’s watch dubbed 62MAS. “With an automatic movement and water resistance to 150m, it proved its reliability when it was used by members of the Japanese
Antarctic Research Expedition from 1966 to 1969.”
Seiko has been making watches for over 130 years, a period in which it achieved many world-firsts, such as the first quartz watch, first 6-digit LCD watch, first multi-function digital watch.
With Philippine dive sites starting to slowly open to tourists, Dy encourages Seiko’s longtime fans and diving enthusiasts to have a look at the Prospex Tubbataha, saying, “While we are left to imagine where our next destination will be, we welcome Seiko’s new Philippine-edition Prospex watch that will soon accompany us in experiencing the beauty of the timeless wonders below.”
The Philippine-edition Prospex watch is priced at P29,000.
Seiko Philippines branches are at SM Aura, SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, Glorietta, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside Cebu, and Ayala Center Cebu. It is also available in other boutiques, and on Lazada and Shopee. For more details, click here.