Are Seiko Watches Good?

The Marinemaster name carries a lot of weight in the Seiko world, and it’s had an interesting few years. After resurfacing in 2023 with a set of compact skin divers that caught people off guard, the line returned to proper 300m dive watch territory in 2024 with the SLA077 and SLA079. Now, Seiko is refining that formula again with two new references: the Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Diver HBF001 and the JAMSTEC Limited Edition HBF002. Both draw from the same 1968 Hi-Beat 300m Diver (ref. 6159-7001) blueprint we’ve seen before, but the upgrades here are meaningful enough to consider.

When Seiko brought the Vanac name back last year, I was into it immediately. It’s one of those slightly strange corners of Seiko history that collectors like to rediscover, very 1970s, very geometric, a little funky in the best way. The modern version leaned into that look with a sharply faceted case and integrated bracelet. I liked it, though I remember thinking two things at the time. The 41 mm case felt a touch large for the vibe, and titanium probably would have suited the design better than steel. Now Seiko has done exactly that.

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 language rather than just borrowing a name, it’s worth paying attention. 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 is adding three new solar chronographs to the Prospex Speedtimer lineup for 2026, and the approach here feels deliberately grounded. The SSC961, SSC963, and SSC965 are not limited editions or short-run references. They are regular-production models, positioned to sit in the catalog long term rather than cycle through quickly. It’s been hard for me to keep up with these but the exciting part here is getting access to previously limited colorways in a standard production run.

To mark its 145th anniversary, Seiko has introduced a quartet of commemorative watches spanning time only dress pieces through to high technology chronographs. Each model features gold toned details that serve as the visual link across an otherwise diverse lineup.

Seiko has unveiled the Prospex LX GMT SNR058, a US-exclusive addition to its high-end Prospex lineup. The watch pairs a Zaratsu-polished titanium case with Diashield coating and a Spring Drive GMT movement, positioning it at the upper edge of Seiko’s sport watch catalogue and inviting inevitable comparison with Grand Seiko.

I’ll just be honest. I’ve never really connected with Seiko’s Save the Ocean editions. Not in a cynical way, just in an eyebrow-raise sort of way where I look at the dial textures and the themed color stories and think, this one probably isn’t for me. They always felt a bit louder than what I tend to enjoy from Seiko, especially when the brand already does great color work without leaning on ocean narratives.

Seiko had a way of showing up when we least expected it this year. Between quiet revivals, quirky limited editions, and solid value drops, the brand managed to stay in the conversation without making too much noise. We didn’t get hands-on time with these, but each one felt worth remembering. If you’ve been watching from the sidelines or just catching headlines, these are five releases from 2025 that deserve a second look.

I never thought I’d see Seiko releasing a modern digital watch that actually caught my attention. I’m thinking about how much I dislike those newer digital Tuna models, for example. For a brand that helped define what digital watches could be in the ’70s and ’80s, they’ve spent most of the modern era acting like that chapter never happened. Believe me … people have been wanting this for a while.

When Seiko discontinued the SARB017 in 2018, it stung the community. That watch had become shorthand for affordable Seiko magic—sapphire crystal, 200 meters of water resistance, and that distinct dial layout that felt timeless without pretending to be “vintage-inspired.” The replacements that followed under the Prospex label were solid, but the “Alpinist-inspired” language always felt a little detached, like Seiko was reluctant to embrace its own legacy. That changes now.

A solar-powered Seiko chronograph that captures Daytona spirit without the Daytona price tag.

I’ve never, not once, looked at a purple watch and thought to myself—”hell yeah”. But Seiko has a way of making me reconsider things, especially when there’s a story behind the color. With the new Prospex SSC955, they’ve tied a punchy shade of Edo purple to something bigger: the World Athletics Championships coming to Tokyo in 2025. And the result is a solar chronograph that feels more thoughtful than flashy, which, frankly, is exactly what Seiko’s better at than most.