I’ll admit upfront that I’m not much of a sportsball guy, so take my enthusiasm here with that caveat in mind. Still, when a limited edition actually earns its design rather than just borrowing a name, it’s worth paying attention to. That’s where I land with Seiko’s latest Shohei Ohtani collaboration, the Prospex Diver’s 1965 Heritage SBDC222 and SBDC224, released to honor the LA Dodgers star’s back-to-back World Series wins.
Seiko brought Ohtani on as a brand ambassador during his MLB rookie year, which, in retrospect, was a pretty savvy move. The guy has since apparently collected four MVP awards. This is already the third time the brand has built a limited edition around him, following the SBDC191 in 2023 and a 1968-based GMT pair in late 2024. Seiko clearly found a formula that works, and this time they’ve leaned into it a little harder.
The 1965 Heritage platform is a reliable foundation for this kind of thing. The 40mm stainless steel case runs 13.0mm thick and 46.4mm lug-to-lug, which puts it firmly in wearable territory for most. At first glance, the two new colorways, gray on the SBDC222 and blue on the SBDC224, read as clean and restrained, pulled from the Dodgers’ visiting uniform palette and laid over a vertical dial texture that gives both watches a nice sense of depth. The blue one, in particular, has a quality to it that reminds me a little of what Rolex does with the “Bluesy” Submariner. That’s not a bad look if you ask me.
The gold accents are where the collaboration really speaks. They run across the partially gold-plated bezel, crown, hands, and indices, referencing the MLB logo patch that only players who’ve won MVP, Cy Young, or Rookie of Year honors in the prior season get to wear. Ohtani has worn it, and so goes the watch. The crown is engraved with “17” for his jersey number, the clasp carries his etched signature alongside a six-stage micro-adjustment system that can expand the bracelet up to 15mm, and the caseback is inscribed with “SHOHEI OHTANI LIMITED EDITION” and an individual serial number. It’s a lot of detail, but it doesn’t feel gratuitous. Inside runs the Caliber 6R55 automatic with a 72-hour power reserve, hacking seconds, and manual wind capability.
Production is capped at 1,700 pieces each, a direct nod to jersey number 17. Pricing lands at ¥286,000, roughly $1,832, and both references will be available exclusively through Seiko Global Brand Core Shops and select authorized dealers in Japan starting April 24. That Japan-only distribution will make these a difficult get for anyone outside the region, which is worth knowing before you get too attached to the idea.
Honestly, if I were shopping in this territory, I’d probably still reach for a standard production 1965 Heritage Prospex diver first. But I understand the appeal here, and I think Seiko did the design work to justify it. Whether these hold their value or secretly disappear into private collections is a different question entirely.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.