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Exploring the dark side with the Seiko Prospex LX Black editions Exploring the dark side with the Seiko Prospex LX Black editions

Exploring the dark side with the Seiko Prospex LX Black editions

Felix Scholz

In case you’re not familiar with Seiko’s Prospex line, it’s a venerable series of ‘professional specification’ watches that are made with a purpose. It’s a long-running series full of iconic divers with colourful names like the Turtle and the Tuna Can. Baselworld 2019 bore witness to what is perhaps the boldest iteration of the collection yet — the Prospex LX collection. The same sense of purpose is there, but so too is a level of finish that’s uncommon in the Seiko line. Prospex LX is top-tier stuff, with Spring Drive movements and case finishing that we’re far more used to seeing under the Grand Seiko name. With this higher level of execution comes a higher price tag. One that makes sense given the overall quality, but one that Seiko fans are unaccustomed to nonetheless. 

We already looked at the collection as a whole at Basel, but today we want to drill down into the three blacked-out versions … 

Seiko Prospex LX SNR031 

Seiko Prospex LX SNR031 

The ‘safest’ of the trio is this Marine Master-esque diver. The bulk and blackness of the watch is offset by a clean dial layout and a water-ready silicon strap. RRP $8500 AUD

Seiko Prospex LX SNR027

Seiko Prospex LX SNR027

In contrast to the SNR031, the SNR027 is the outlier of the trio. It’s a GMT with a compass bezel which, when combined with the black titanium case, adds up to a very tactical-looking offering. Imagine if you swapped the calf strap for fabric. RRP $6950 AUD

Seiko Prospex LX SNR035

Seiko Prospex LX SNR035

Somewhere in the middle sits the SNR035, a smart-looking Spring Drive GMT (which sees the local time jump, rather than the 24-hour hand). Add to this the black ceramic bezel and you’ve got a distinctive travel watch. RRP $7750 AUD

Made in partnership with Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.