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Was this the greatest limited edition Seiko of 2019? Was this the greatest limited edition Seiko of 2019?

Was this the greatest limited edition Seiko of 2019?

Time+Tide

Editor’s note: Seiko dropped what seemed like an innumerable amount of limited edition timepieces in 2019, and that got us thinking – which one was best? That’s a much tougher question than it sounds, but this SLA033 dive watch surely has to be in the running. A revival of the prolific 6105, a watch made famous by Martin Sheen wearing one in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, the SLA033 is an exacting homage of the original. However, although it may look like the OG, it has all the benefits of a modern watch, such as domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating and Seiko’s impressive Calibre 8L35 movement. Just 2500 of these beauties were produced, and they sold out quicker than you could say, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”. 

Few things excite Seiko fans as much as a solid historical reissue (or re-creation in Seiko’s parlance), and this year’s limited edition, the SLA033, is about as exciting as they come.

First of all, it’s based on a diver. Indeed, for many of the Seiko cognoscenti, it’s based on the diver, the 6105, a watch that — thanks to its reliability and corresponding popularity with American servicemen involved in the Vietnam War — contributed to growing the popularity of the Japanese brand in America. But what really ensured this humble diver’s place in the history books was its (period-correct) placement on the wrist of Apocalypse Now’s protagonist Captain Willard, perfectly played by Martin Sheen.

Best limited edition seiko 2019

And when Seiko say re-creation, they mean it. This watch is, aesthetically, virtually identical to the original, and technically much improved — watch tech has come a long way in nearly 50 years. As a result, the SLA033 offers the best of both worlds.

Seiko Diver’s Re-Creation Limited Edition SLA033 Australian pricing and availability

Seiko SLA033, limited to 2500 pieces, $7000