Seiko introduced a new diver’s watch in 1970, five years after the release of Japan’s first diver’s watch. This new model featured a unique case design with an asymmetrical extension that protected the crown at the four o’clock position. It boasted a solid construction, 150-meter water resistance, and luminous hands and indexes, making it a reliable and legible timepiece for those who required exceptional strength.

The watch’s reliability was proven in extreme conditions when Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura wore it during his expeditions in the Arctic from 1974 to 1976. Uemura was the first Japanese mountaineer to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1970, and he also climbed Mont Blanc, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Aconcagua. He reached the summit of Alaska’s Denali just three months after his climb up Mount Everest, becoming the first mountaineer to summit all five peaks.

Seiko has created a modern re-interpretation of the 1970 diver’s watch to commemorate Uemura’s five climbs. The new watch features a textured dial with an image of Mont Blanc, the first of Uemura’s climbs, and is executed in a thoroughly modern style. The dial’s patterned backdrop echoes the mountain’s rocky and snowy surface, and pressing and etching techniques give the dial depth, bringing the peak to life. The watch’s case sides are polished, and it is presented on a five-row steel bracelet for a sharp, modern profile.

The timepiece is powered by Caliber 8L35, a movement developed specifically for diver’s watches and hand-assembled by Seiko’s most skilled craftsmen and women. The case has a super-hard coating to protect it from scratches, and the crystal is a curved sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface to ensure high legibility. The watch is water-resistant to 200 meters and will be available as a limited edition of 500 from May 2023 at Seiko Boutiques and select retailers worldwide. It comes in a special box featuring a quote from Naomi Uemura: “When one dream is realized, other dreams will follow.”