There’s absolutely nothing to love in high-end watch making apart from its artistry! That’s what really makes a difference! That kind of artistry, however, is not always accessible. Plus, practicality issues might just come up.

Certainly, it takes a watch seeker to transcend those barriers without taxing the wallet too much. So Seiko stressed on affordability; but even then, that’s not the point! Its incredible value is not because it’s every bit as good as many much-higher priced brands; at its real root, the appeal comes from the way they look, feel and perform. It’s more like the times when watches were really a need.

That’s to say, it’s the Turtle reissues. You got two choices in strap material: Stainless steel bracelet and silicon rubber strap. They are no doubt the mid-level divers – you might even call them entry-! But they bear the Prospex badge; a cushion-shaped casing and an automatic movement – the first of its kind in the Seiko mid-/entry-level dive watches, with promises to create more watch enthusiasts in the future.

There are ample good reasons behind. Honesty, practicality, durability and a history – all combine at an astoundingly reachable price, for anyone either into the mechanical world or planning to take a trip there. Compared to the classics, they are not bad at all! The certain, deliberate simplicity about Seiko dive watches is present here as well.

So, where did this name come from? Seiko’s nomenclature derives from the cushion-shape cases of the divers of the 70s and the 80s. The 6306/9, 150m WR watches weren’t technologically very much advanced like the specially-made, professional/commercial dive-oriented watches, but were extremely durable, reliable and came for prices much, much lower. The price/performance ratio was satisfactory.

It’s the cushion cases that were called Turtles; annoyingly but lovingly. The coinage occurred much later but it stuck. So, these ones are the Turtle reissues. Hopefully, they will serve the purpose of a tool if needed, like their predecessors.

You might argue there are other Seikos with the self-winding caliber 4R36 and 200 meters WR, but here. There is a ISO 6425 compliancy certification that defines why the new Turtle should be treated as the divers’ watch.

Functionally, the new Turtle shows its biggest difference through its manual-wind feature. There’s no need to swing it up and down in case you feel the mainspring needs to be tightened up. This small thing makes a big difference and equivalent to keep check of the gas level in the tank.

Aesthetically, the new Turtles are solid and pragmatic with plenty of little, refined touches. You might need several days to find them out. There stays one thing unchanged, though; which is the unnaturally luminous Seiko lume. Walk out on a sunny afternoon and let the Turtle suck up some of the sunlight; when you move indoors, you’ll feel lit up almost like a torch!

Watch(es) mentioned in this post are listed below. Click to see details and buy them:

 

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