What’s in a name?
I had the good fortune, thanks to our friends at Gem Bijou, to have access to the new Seiko Marinemaster for a prolonged period of time. Short of owning one, such a loan is ideal when reviewing a watch—especially one like the remodelled Marinemaster, which is a contentious (if not controversial) release. While the watch has been launched in a trio of colourways, we’ll focus here on the black-dialed SJE101.
The primary bone of contention, of course, is that the Marinemaster name conjures up an emblematic diver from Seiko’s past, only recently retired in 2018 after a hugely successful 18-year run. The original timepiece had a fervent following and, to be fair, they might have been justified in expecting something a little closer to that giant of the deep. Instead, what we received was a surprisingly contemporary spin on Seiko’s first diver, the 62MAS—which has already been iterated upon numerous times in the last half-a-dozen years.
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Key Features of the Seiko Marinemaster
The new Marinemaster is a trendy 39.5mm in diameter, and feels right at home on my 17.15mm (6 ¾”) wrist. It is a respectable—if not svelte—12.3mm in height, and just over 47mm lug to lug. In short, it is a comfortable and well-balanced design. However, it’s a far cry from the 44mm monobloc behemoth from which it takes it name. The watch comes with a knock in water resistance, as well—down from 300m to 200m.
However, the case certainly has its own unique appeal. There is a lot more polish here that you might expect from a Seiko diver. And the extensive beveling gives it a very modern, angular silhouette. For the first time ever in the Seiko diver pantheon, the watch sports a display case back, as well—albeit somewhat obscured by translucent branding.
The dial is bisected by a series of deep cut lines, which I wasn’t sure that I liked off the bat; though, admittedly, the design grew on me over time to the point where I cannot see the watch without them. The Marinemaster name is stamped in the 12 o’clock position and its new place in the Prospex collection is publicized with a X above six. Of course, there is also a colour-matched date aperture at 4:30, thanks to the new movement.
Like the Limited Edition Seiko Prospex 1965 Diver’s Re-creation, inside the Marinemaster beats the caliber 6L37. It’s a slim, 4Hz movement with a 45-hour power reserve.
While I do like the new three-link bracelet, with its mix of brushed and polished surfaces, it is a bit disappointing not to find a comfort-fit, micro-adjusting clasp.
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Specs
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 39.5mm Diameter 47.2mm Lug to Lug 12.3mm Thick /w Glass 20mm Lug Width Screwed Crown & Case back 200m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Glass /w AR Textured Dial Applied Indexes Baton Handset LumiBrite |
| Movement | Seiko 6L37 28 800bph 26 Jewels 45-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Three-link Stainless Steel Bracelet /w Folding Clasp |
Seiko Marinemaster 1965 Divers’ Modern Re-interpretation
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Final Thoughts
I am not sure why Seiko chose the Marinemaster name for this watch. But, ultimately, it doesn’t matter. A rose by any other name…yadda, yadda, yadda. The new Propsex Marinemaster is a sharp-looking timepiece. I haven’t seen the limited edition, or the blue, in the metal, but the black—which is closer to a deep anthracite in certain lights—is quite striking. I love the toothy bezel and the ceramic insert elevates the overall aesthetic. The Marinemaster, as it is now, sits on the doorstep of luxury. Alas, the final pieces of the puzzle (a micro-adjusting clasp, a more accurate movement) aren’t quite there. That being said, at $2800USD, the MSRP is a far cry off competitors like the Tudor BB58. Things are a little tighter with brands like Longines, or independents like Oris. But the Marinemaster is certainly not lost at sea.
Pricing & Availability
The Seiko Prospex 1965 Divers’ Modern re-interpretation retails for $2800USD ($3995CAD). For more information, please visit the brand website, or check it out at Gem Bijou.
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About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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