Well, we say “Europe only,” but all 200 pieces actually are exclusive to Seiko retailers in Germany: enter the new Seiko Marinemaster 300M SLA015 Limited Edition, Seiko’s latest addition to its famed Marinemaster line, now with an interesting new dial.
If you like Japanese watches and have ever been to Japan then, for one, you are one lucky son of a gun and, second, you have surely seen all those fantastic, so-called “JDM” (Japanese Domestic Market) watches that many of the country’s top brands produce and sell only at home, and never export to watch fans elsewhere in the world. Third, may we suggest two great reads: Ariel’s experiences Buying Used & Vintage Watches In Tokyo, Japan; and Jack Wagner’s words on Understanding Japan’s Used Luxury Timepiece Market.
Every once in a while, though, Japanese brands will graciously release some more rare (and, more often than not, more interesting) limited editions exclusively for other markets around the world. With the Seiko Marinemaster 300M SLA015, we are looking at one of the latter, although, as noted previously, it will only be sold through Seiko retailers in Germany.
Based on the Seiko Marinemaster 300M, the SLA015 comes in a 44-millimeter-wide and 15mm-thick stainless steel case with, you guessed it, a 300-meter water resistance rating, Hardlex crystal, screw-down crown, and a unidirectional diver’s bezel. Inside the monocoque-construction case is the Seiko 8L35 caliber, with automatic winding, hacking seconds, 192 parts and 26 jewels, all with an autonomy of up to 50 hours.
Nothing to write home about, just yet, but what really sets the Seiko Marinemaster 300M SLA015 apart from all the other – no less lust-worthy – Marinemaster 300M watches is its very bright blue dial. With Seiko’s eye-wateringly bright LumiBrite lumed hands and indices floating above it, this wave-patterned dial is a rare one not just for Seiko, but for most high-end watches in general. It’ll surely stand out, and thanks to the Seiko Marinemaster 300M SLA015’s limited availability, it may just turn out to be an important piece among Seiko fans.
The gold plated, lume-filled hands make for an interesting contrast against this unusual, vivid blue – as is usually the case with high-end watches, though, you may want to take a look at the watch in the metal to determine whether you like how the dial changes its colors in different lighting situations. Even as powerful a color as this blue may appear different depending on the type of light and how it hits it. Anyhow, if you have been on the lookout for a Seiko diver of the more robust and better-equipped kind, but don’t want to rock what everyone else is rocking, the Seiko Marinemaster 300M SLA015 may just be the perfect option to stand out from the crowd a bit.
Price for the Seiko Marinemaster 300M SLA015 is €2,300, and it will be available in 200 pieces only. Included in the package is a “special box” as well as a strap changing tool and an additional rubber strap – in case, for whatever reason, you’d want to take the awesome Seiko bracelet off the SLA015. seikowatches.com
Via watchesbysjx.com