Marine Master Professional 300M “Iriomote Island” 140th Anniversary - Ltd Ed 3000pcs Ref. SBDX043

When one talks about well-made dive watches that pack a punch with great value and heritage, a Seiko definitely has to be in the picture. Seiko’s dive watches have gathered plenty of love from watch collectors all around the world for their comprehensive range of dive watches made with efficiency and precision the Japanese are renowned for. From the affordable end of the spectrum to high-end Haute Horlogerie pieces, one fundamental attribute remains at the core of all of Seiko’s models; impressive quality. 



Ever since the release of Japan’s first ever dive watch, the Seiko ref. 6217-8000, or better known as the legendary 62MAS, Seiko has been ceaselessly crafting a multitude of robust yet stylish dive watches that has been proven to be extremely capable. From the combination of cutting-edge innovations and mastery in watchmaking, Seiko responded to the needs of professional divers with a lineup of high-performance sports timepieces dedicated to handle the harsh underwater environments. A step up from entry level offerings, the Prospex, or “Professional Specifications” range of dive watches has grown to be well-received by both professional and recreational divers while becoming a true icon to Seiko enthusiasts. 

 

Through Seiko’s founder Mr. Kintaro Hattori’s clear vision of being one step ahead of the rest, and the corporation’s undying determination to create excellent timepieces, the past 140 years has been a marvelous journey for a brand that certainly became a legend in Japan, and perhaps the rest of the world. To commemorate 140 years of fine Japanese watchmaking, Seiko introduced a series of stunning new additions to the Prospex line inspired by the beautiful Iriomote island, one of the largest islands In Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. 


Made to Seiko’s highest standards for professional diving watches, the Seiko Marine Master Professional 300M Automatic “Iriomote Island” 140th Anniversary - Ref. SBDX043 sports a monobloc case construction, effectively allowing the piece to be suitable for saturation diving with a considerable ISO-certified water resistance of 300m. The case of the SBDX043 displays sharp defined lines with gentle curves for a look illustrating both masculinity and elegance. With a substantial case diameter of 44mm, a lug to lug distance of 50.5mm and a case thickness of 15.4m, this piece definitely exhibits some serious wrist presence on the wrist. 

 

Constructed out of corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel, the case is intricately finished to a high level of detail one would expect from Seiko. The top of the lugs are finished with satin brushing that dips downwards to a distortion-free brilliant mirror finish on the side of the case executed with Seiko’s traditional Zaratsu traditional polishing technique prominently seen in their prestigious Grand Seiko offerings. A streak of brushed finishing across the side of the case divides the exquisitely polished finishing to create a handsome contrast between the finishes, making the watch look incredibly refined. 


The stainless steel case is coated with Seiko’s proprietary DiaShield super-hard coating, significantly improving the hardness of the case for protection against accidental scratches. The watch is supplied with a solid 20mm stainless steel bracelet. Additionally, an additional black Seiko high-strength silicone strap is included in the box for a switch up in style. 

 

The Marine Master Professional 300M Automatic “Iriomote Island” 140th Anniversary - Ref. SBDX043 houses a stark black ceramic insert manufactured with Seiko’s Zirconia (Zirconium Dioxide) high-performance ceramic providing extreme hardness and resistance to fracture. This 120-click unidirectional diving bezel features Seiko’s proprietary Lumibrite luminescent treatment on the large triangle marker at 12 o’clock position, as well as the first 20 minute markers in 5 minutes increments. Bezel action is buttery smooth with a gratifying experience while operating the bezel for timing purposes. 


Out of all the colors in the color palette, green seems to be one of the dial colors that have gained a rapid following in the past year or so, being the pick for many major watch brands in their recent releases. Being such an understated color, it is delightful to see the Marine Master Professional 300M Automatic “Iriomote Island” 140th Anniversary - Ref. SBDX043 adopted an enticing deep verdant green dial inspired by the island of Iriomote in Okinawa Prefecture. Home to numerous captivating marine life, lush coral reefs and pristine mangrove forests surrounding the island, this special destination draws many divers around the world as a popular diving spot known for its breathtaking views. 

 

This shade of green reveals a subtle beauty in various lighting conditions while not being too overpowering, keeping the crucial legibility of a dive watch. The dial retains the classic layout of the venerable Seiko Ref. 6159-7001 with large visible indexes and broad hands that are filled with Seiko’s famed Lumibrite that glows like a torch in the dark. Seiko cohesively matched the sweeping second hand and the printed ‘300m” text on the dial with soft gold-tone hue for a touch of vibrancy. Protecting the dial sits a piece of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the underside. 


Under the impressive exterior of the Marine Master Professional 300M Automatic “Iriomote Island” 140th Anniversary - Ref. SBDX043 lies the premium Seiko caliber 8L35, a hi-beat movement essentially identical to a Grand Seiko caliber 9S55 movement without adjustments and decorations. The 26 jewel movement has a 4 Hz beat rate of 28,800 beats per hour, offering a capable power reserve of approximately 50 hours. Each watch is marked by its own unique number engraved on the back of the piece to indicate its exclusivity of only 3000 pieces.
 

What an incredible release by Seiko in commemoration of their 140th anniversary, packing a stunning limited edition model with a dial inspired by Japanese seascape. Without a doubt, the last 140 years has yielded great success for the company, growing from a jewelry shop in Tokyo to an international watch manufacturing giant. Seiko has shown to the world how remarkable the fine art of Japanese watchmaking can be. The Marine Master Professional 300M Automatic “Iriomote Island” 140th Anniversary - Ref. SBDX043 would be a great addition to any watch collection as a piece embodying the single-minded vision - “Always one step ahead of the rest”. These were the words of Mr. Kintaro Hattori, the founder of Seiko, established back in 1881 that would inspire Seiko to reign as one of the leading watch companies in Japan, and perhaps the rest of the world.