Prospex Land Tortoise “Night Vision” - Ltd Ed 7000pcs Ref. SBDY121

Seiko has become a well-respected brand whose watches have been enjoyed by many since its founding in 1881. The brand is an undisputed king of watchmaking from its first mechanical watch in 1913 to the 2014 prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) for its hi-beat caliber. In recent years, Seiko has worked hard to streamline its offerings. The Prospex and Presage lines have become more defined and stand on their own capably. Today’s new release is part of the former. Let us take a closer look.

Today’s release of an all-new Land Tortoise is part of Seiko’s limited edition black series, “Night Vision.” First introduced in 2021, the Seiko Prospex Land Tortoise introduced a new model into Seiko’s line of Prospex watches. As a “land edition”, the Land Tortoise takes the form of the classic Seiko Turtle, with its instantly recognisable cushion-case design. However, a compass bezel has replaced the usual dive time bezel. Seiko usually comes up with multiple iterations/colourways of their models. So when the esteemed Japanese brand released this new model, it quickly became a hit with watch collectors. It is not hard to see why - the watch possesses unique good looks and is a breath of fresh air from Seiko’s usual dive watches. Naturally, the Land Tortoise has become one of the best-selling models from the Japanese watchmaker.

Seiko Prospex Land Tortoise “Night Vision” - Ltd Ed 7000pcs Ref. SBDY121 / SRPH99

The Land Tortoise “Night Vision” is made entirely of 316L stainless steel and features an all-brushed PVD black coating. With a 42.4mm case diameter, the watch has a height of 11.7mm and a lug-to-lug of merely 45.2mm. The cushion case design and the relatively short lug-to-lug will help the watch wear like a charm on any wrist. 

Sporting classic Seiko arrow and sword-style hands, the watch is set on a matte black dial with baton indices used throughout, except for trapezoid-style indices at 3, 6, and 9 and a shield index at 12. The black second hand is also white-tipped, providing a nice contrast and allowing the wearer to locate the second hand quickly. A date window can be found at 4.30, delivering a helpful complication while not messing up the dial’s proportions due to its blacked-out wheel. 

Seiko in-house caliber 4R35  automatic movement

The Land Tortoise Night Vision features an all-black bidirectional friction compass bezel, allowing the wearer to use the bezel as a compass. The screw-down crown and caseback also provide a healthy 200m of water resistance, so you can even take this timepiece for a leisurely swim. A piece of sapphire crystal is also affixed atop the dial, a nice upgrade from Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex. The SBDY121 also gives you night vision (pun intended), but only when reading the time on the watch at night. Seiko applied a generous amount of Lumibrite on the indices and hands, allowing for a bright glow in the dark. 

Powering the timepiece is Seiko’s in-house workhorse calibre, the 4R35. The movement has 23 jewels, beats at 21,600 BPH, and has a power reserve of roughly 40 hours. The 4R35 movement has been used for decades, has proven reliable and robust, and will definitely stand the test of time.

Seiko's LumiBrite

As a limited-edition Seiko timepiece, each timepiece is also individually numbered XXXX/7,000 on the caseback. Seiko pairs the Land Tortoise Night Vision on a 20mm fabric strap with a leather underside. The strap features a signed, blacked-out buckle and tang. The strap will soften over time and conform to the wearer’s wrist, ensuring that the watch will feel very comfortable on the wrist. 

The Seiko Prospex Land Tortoise “Night Vision” Ref. SBDY121 is part of a trio of watches in this limited-edition release. With classic good looks and packing unbeatable specifications for its price, this watch is not one to be missed. Collectors and fans alike would also most definitely try to “collect ‘em all” by getting all three watches of this series into their collection.