The aquatic Seiko Turtle

The aquatic Seiko Turtle

Who does not remember the cinematic slap that was Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” with Martin Sheen, or James Cameron’s impressive “Abyss” with Ed Harris at the top of the bill?

You're going to ask me what is the connection between Ed Harris and Martin Sheen (or between Apocalypse Now and Abyss - apart from the fact that these two films exceed 3 hours)? Besides the fact that they are both actors, the two men sport an iconic symbol of the diving watch: a Seiko 6309 aka the “Turtle”.

Just as the Submariner went from being a must have for any self-respecting diver to a legend after Sean Connery's wrist-onset, the Seiko Turtle followed the same path 20 years later. A little less chic and elegant than a Rolex Submariner perhaps, but much cheaper and with a big-mouthed bawler joke, the “Turtle” quickly won its place in the heart of divers of the 80s (production stopped in 1988). “Abyss”, released in 1989, was almost like a last tribute to this legendary diver.

Fortunately for us the recent wave of vintage and neo-vintage inspired watches has also caught the eyes of Seikos designers, who brought out and reawakened the old design drawings that have long slumbered. They have taken the cushion shape of the original “Turtle” (the nickname “Turtle" actually referred to the shape of its box) and updated it with a few modern tweaks. Success-story assured!

The "Turtle" is now available in multiple versions, but it’s the limited edition 2018 "Black Series" that made us crack and we chose to dress today with 7 different straps.

Between a black PVD-treated steel box that plays on sandblasted/polished finishing accents, a dial with beautiful cream indices and an orange hand that completes and cheers up the whole package, this Black Series is a superb mix between its evocative history and today’s modern technology in this watch. Our selection was made around a dual axis: the technical and the vintage. This will allow you to wear it for its performance or by referring to its glorious past.”