INTRODUCING: The Seiko Prospex SRPJ53K “Eucalyptus”
Pietro PillaSeiko has gone beyond the green and gold to release two watches inspired by Australia’s natural environment that will be limited to the Australasian market. We’ll tackle the first of these now: the Prospex SRPJ35K “Eucalyptus”, but you can read our first impressions of the Prospex SBP347J “Noosa” right here. Both watches are released along with the news that Seiko will now contribute funds to ocean conservation from not just the ‘Save The Ocean’ series, but the entire Prospex range.
You might think that the name of this watch is simply a reference to the shade of green of eucalyptus tree leaves, which it evokes very well. But it goes deeper than that. The dial has a shimmer that captures a natural phenomenon in the warmer Australian months. For in the heat, these trees emit essential oils that are highly fragrant. When direct sunlight hits them and refracts off these tiny droplets, a golden shimmer is created that surrounds the tree crowns. This combination gives the trees almost a magical appearance, with a mirage-like aura that complements the olive green of the leaves. And the smell. It is truly eau de Australia.
Forgive us waxing lyrical, but Seiko has really managed to capture this moment at its best in the new limited edition. It is a watch you can practically smell. A rich sunray finish highlights the gradient dial, which goes from a golden yellow in the centre to a desaturated green on the edges, and continues in a deeper, earthier shade on the bezel insert. The day and date wheels are white, as well as all the text and the luminous indexes, and the effect is completed by a brushed yellow second that is said to evoke the yellow veins that run through eucalyptus leaves. The hour and minute hands also have a deeply brushed finish, but they come in a silver tone instead, giving a nice contrast to the overall design.
This eye-catching combination of colours and finishes is housed in the iconic “Turtle” case that, even with its 45mm diameter sits well on the wrist thanks to the short lug-to-lug measurement. While the case is certainly nothing new, the dial is an absolute showstopper. Yes, green is the colour of the season, but this is a truly different and thoughtful, shade and execution.
This watch is powered by calibre 4R36 and comes in a special presentation box on a stainless-steel bracelet that matches the case material and there is also an additional rubber strap in dark green, to emphasise the diving nature of this timepiece. I like this watch on the bracelet, however, the Noosa model looks better on rubber in my opinion.
Seiko, and in particular its Prospex series, actively supports ocean exploration and is committed to protecting the world’s ocean by contributing to various marine conservation activities. This dedication to ocean conservation feels particularly relevant to Australia – a country where 85 per cent of the population lives within 50 kilometres of the sea.
The Seiko Prospex SRPJ53K “Eucalyptus” pricing and availability:
The Seiko Prospex SRPJ53K “Eucalyptus” is limited to 1,000 pieces and will be available from Australian Seiko boutiques and authorized dealers from September 2022. Price: $895
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Case Dimensions | 45 mm |
| Water-Resistance | 200m |
| Dial | Sunray Gradient Green |
| Straps | Bracelet and Green Rubber Strap |
| Movement | Calibre 4R36 |
| Power Reserve | 40 Hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes, date |
| Price | $895 AUD |