Seiko Prospex LX Goes Back to its Aquatic Roots with the Launch of the SNR045J1

Seiko’s LX line, the all-encompassing sport-luxury extension of its Prospex collection, was introduced last year. The “LX” lettering in the series’ name is derivative of the Latin word “lux,” meaning “light” in English — a subtle nod to the way light reflects off the flat surfaces of the watch’s case. The new Seiko Prospex LX SNR045J1, limited to 500 pieces, takes the LX line back to its aquatic roots in Antarctica, where Seiko’s first 300-meter diving watch, the 1968 Divers’, was initially tested. 

The surface of the new model’s curved ceramic dial is brushed in an anti-reflective coating, while the arrow-shaped hands, applied indices, and bezel are coated with “LumiBrite” — Seiko’s “long-lasting” luminous material that it claims “is completely free of radioactive materials.” The inspiration for the mossy green dial came during the company’s quest to the Skarvsnes Foreland, located roughly 55 kilometers away from the Japanese Showa research station in Antarctica. During this period, Seiko’s team of researchers, who were testing the watch to ensure the movement could withstand various types of harsh environments, discovered a “mysterious underwater forest of moss pillars covering the bottom of a nearby lake,” a natural phenomenon re-created on the new model’s textured green dial.

The silver-framed, square-shaped date-display window is located at the 3 o’clock mark and uses Arabic numerals to represent the date. The power-reserve indicator snuggles between the 7 and 9 o’clock marker and offers functions typically found in a professional diving watch. For example, the new model’s case is water-resistant to depths of 300 meters, enough to protect the watch against saturation while diving. The watch’s green, unidirectional, rotating bezel has a diving scale resting upon a silver-cermet exterior panel. The push-button and the diver-adjusted mechanism is slightly animated, protruding from the case’s right side, and positioned under the bezel’s scale at the 20-seconds position. The case measures 44.8 mm in diameter by 15.7 mm wide, with a height of 50.9-mm. The watch’s caseback is engraved with “LIMITED EDITION” as well as the watch’s serial number (out of 500 pieces) as proof of authenticity.

The movement, Seiko’s Spring Drive Caliber 5R65, offers a power reserve of approximately 72 hours (3 days) when fully-wound and is touted by Seiko for its reliability in “sporting situations” due to its high resistance to temperature change and shocks. The high-beat movement is accurate to +1 second per-day and +15 seconds per month. The Seiko Prospex LX SNR045J1 will be a available for purchase in August, priced at 6,100 euros (the U.S. price has yet to be announced). All 500 editions are presented on a three-fold-clasp steel bracelet with a secure lock and push-button release.

For the latest look at Seiko’s LX line and Prospect collection, click on the link here.