Author: Ricardo Amaral

And if you thought that all the summer news had already been announced, you are wrong because Seiko has one more word to say with the new Prospex SPB473 limited edition exclusive to the European market.

The new diving watch is a natural descendant of the SPB143, which despite many having predicted its burial is still very much alive, and appears to be a step back compared to the new SPB451, 453 and 455 presented at the beginning of March, with a series of improvements (or not, depending on the perspective).

But let’s get to the point, the watch stands out for coming with a beautiful textured dial in a bright blue gradient inspired by the Greek Island Zakynthos, whose tone fades from bottom to top, representing the transition from white sand to the blue sea.

The dive watch returns to the previous specifications of the SPB143 which are slightly wider than the SPB451/3/5 with 40.50mm in diameter, 13.20mm in thickness and 47.60mm in length, featuring a mainly brushed finish, unidirectional bezel with shiny dark blue steel insert and pip lume at noon, sapphire crystal, screwed crown and case back and 200m water resistance.

The cheerful dial, which is a true invitation to the summer season, once again embraces the previous layout, featuring a square date window of more friendly dimensions at 3 o’clock next to the crown, applied baton hour markers and faceted hands filled with Lumibrite and a lollipop centre seconds hand.

And as is often said, there is no one without two nor two without three, inside as well as the case and dial, we return to the previous automatic movement, the Caliber 6R35 with 24 jewels, which presents an accuracy of -15/+25 seconds per day, operating 21,600 Vph and offering up to 70 hours of power reserve.

The watch comes attached to a 3-row bracelet (also with the old configuration, we think four would be too many), a folding clasp with diving extension, and an additional white rubber strap with a steel pin buckle.

It is a limited edition exclusive to the European market of 1,000 units, so interested parties from abroad we can only advise that they take advantage of their holidays to travel to the old continent and grab one of them, which comes with a price of €1,500.

Our Opinion

It’s a good surprise from Seiko, which shines its best light on how to create stunning dials, this one is aimed at the summer season, which is spiced up as it is an exclusive edition.

Without a doubt, when the SPB451/3/5 were presented some things pleased us more and others less, however, it is with regret that we now see the new SPB473 arrive with all the old specifications and abstinence from the improvements brought in March. If some of them do not please us but we can live with them, others cannot go unharmed, we are talking about the movement, the water tightness and the steel bracelet.

In short, we are very pleased with the new addition to the collection even though it arrives as a limited edition, but it also seems to us that the brand, for the reasons presented above, missed the opportunity to present something truly good instead of just good.

Read more here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Seiko

Model: Prospex Diver

Reference: SPB473 Limited Edition

Dial: Blue

Case Material: Stainless steel

Case Dimensions: 40.50 mm Diameter, 13.20 mm thickness, 47.60 mm lug-to-lug

Crystal: Sapphire glass

Case Back: Stainless steel

Water Resistance: 200 Meters

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp and dive extension, extra white rubber strap with a steel pin buckle

Caliber: 6R35

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 21,600 Vph

Jewels: 24

Power Reserve: 70 Hours

Price: € 1,500

Limited Edition: Yes, 1,000 pieces exclusive to the European market

Availability: Now