Introducing – Seiko Diver Scuba Limited Edition by Giugiaro Design Ref. SBEE001 / 002

The association between Italian designer Giugiaro and Seiko watches is nothing new and has already produced some of the most daring watches from the Japanese brand – for instance the Seiko Chronograph 7A28-7000, famous for its appearance in Alien movies. In the last few years, Seiko has reintroduced some of the greatest watches designed under the pen of Giugiaro, including the 2015 Limited Edition Reissue Seiko Sced035 and recently an Astron watch. Today, using its iconic asymmetrical case, Seiko reissues a rather unknown dive watch made in the 1980s with Giugiaro in the form of the new Seiko Diver Scuba Limited Edition by Giugiaro Design Ref. SBEE001 and 002.

The new Seiko Diver Scuba SBEE001 and 002 are quite faithful reinterpretations of a vintage model already designed in association with Giugiaro, the 7C43-7A00. These professional dive watches were incredibly bold in terms of design and integrated  several materials for the case. As usual with Giugiaro, the case was asymmetrical, with the strap fixed on the right side of the case and the crown being placed at 7 o’clock (making it more of a left-hander watch). Inside the case of these rather unknown 1980s watches was a high-torque quartz movement, the 7C43 – the smaller version of the 7C46, which is still used today in the Tuna 1000m.

The vintage versions of the Giugiaro / Seiko divers (source: web)

The modern versions of the Seiko Diver Scuba Giugiaro Design – ref. SBEE001 and 002

The new, retro-inspired Seiko Diver Scuba SBEE001 and 002 are clear reissues of the past models. Whether you look at the case, bracelet, dial or bezel, everything seems legit. The case, which measures 48mm from lug to lug, 43.8mm from 3 to 9 and 11.2mm in height, is made from a combination of stainless steel and plastic, for all the black inserts, which are meant to protect the watch in case of shocks. The SBEE001 and 002 are secured to the wrist by silicon straps, with the same pattern as the vintage version.

As in the past, the movement is quartz, with the calibre 7N36 running inside – displaying hours, minutes, seconds and day-date function, and with -/+ 15 seconds per month accuracy. The case is water resistant to 200m. Two versions of the Seiko Diver Scuba Limited Edition by Giugiaro Design will be available, the SBEE001 with non-coated stainless steel case and bright blue dial, and the SBEE002 with gold-coated steel case and golden dial – both being just like the vintage versions.

The Seiko Diver Scuba Limited Edition by Giugiaro Design will be only available for the Japanese market, priced at JPY 40,000 (ex. taxes) for the SBEE001 and JPY 45,000 (ex. taxes) for the SBEE002 – roughly EUR 335 and EUR 375 at the time we published this article. Both versions are limited to 2,000 pieces. More details on www.seiko-watch.co.jp.