Seiko pays tribute to the Japanese mountaineering legend Naomi Uemura (1941-1984) by presenting a new limited edition Prospex diving watch.
Limited to 500 pieces, the Naomi Uemura Edition is based on the Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation watch.
Design Inspiration
Five years after making Japan’s first diver’s watch in 1965, Seiko introduced a new diver’s watch. It features a curving case design and an asymmetrical extension that protected the crown at the four o’clock position. This extremely robust and highly readable timepiece featured a solid steel case offering 150-meter water resistance, and a clear dial with luminous hands and indexes.
This 1970 diver’s watch proved its reliability in extreme conditions when it was worn by Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura in the Arctic region in the years 1974 to 1976.
Tribute to Naomi Uemura
Born in 1941, Naomi Uemura was a university student when he took on the challenge of his first mountain climb. By the age of 29, he had climbed Mont Blanc, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Aconcagua, and, in 1970, he became the first Japanese mountaineer to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Just three months later, he reached the top of Alaska’s Denali (then known as Mt. McKinley) and thus became the first mountaineer in the world to reach the summits of all these five peaks.
Seiko commemorates Uemura’s ascents of these five mountains with a modern re-interpretation of the 1970 diver’s watch whose dial depicts Mont Blanc, the first of these climbs.
Seiko Prospex Naomi Uemura Limited Edition SLA069J1
The Seiko Prospex Naomi Uemura watch (reference SLA069J1) echoes the design of the 1970 original but is thoroughly modern in execution. The textured dial features an image of the distinctive silhouette and contours of Mont Blanc over a patterned backdrop that echoes the mountain’s rocky and snowy surface.
Pressing and etching techniques are used to give the dial depth and bring the 4,807-meter peak to life. Mont Blanc is presented at the very same angle from which Uemura began his ascent. Moreover, the color theme used for the crown and surface around the bezel insert evokes the blue shadows that surround Mont Blanc.
The timepiece houses the Seiko Caliber 8L35, an automatic mechanical movement with a power reserve rating of 50 hours.
The 44m diameter case in stainless steel has a super-hard coating to protect it from scratches. The case sides are carefully polished. The front crystal is a curved sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface. Fitted with solid steel screw-in case-back, the watch has a water resistance rating of 200 meters.
The date window is positioned between four and five o’clock. All 12 hour markers are visible and all have a generous coating of Lumibrite, as do the hands, to maximize legibility in the dark.
The Seiko Naomi Uemura watch has a five-row steel bracelet to create a sharp, modern profile. This limited edition timepiece is presented in a special box featuring Naomi Uemura’s famous words: “When one dream is realized, other dreams will follow.”
This new watch from the Seiko Prospex family will be available as a limited edition of 500 pieces from May 2023 at the Seiko Boutiques and select retailers worldwide.
Technical details
Model: Seiko Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation, the Naomi Uemura Limited Edition, Reference SLA069 (SLA069J1)
Movement
Caliber 8L35
Driving system: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Power reserve: 50 hours
Number of jewels: 26
Case
Stainless steel case with super-hard coating
Diameter: 44.0mm
Thickness: 13.0mm
Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Screw case back
Screw-down crown
Water resistance: 200m
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Bracelet
Stainless steel bracelet with super-hard coating
Three-fold clasp with push button release, secure lock and extender
Price
Approximate recommended retail price in Europe: €3,000
Edition
Limited edition of 500 pieces