There are some reoccurring collections from Seiko that receive plenty of hype. There’s their popular PADI editions dressed in the official colours of the PADI logo and the Save the Ocean series which raises proceeds for sea conservation organisations. Then you have the Seiko Prospex Black Series which takes inspiration from night diving and delivers stealthy, all-black coated models.
Understandably, the different Seiko Prospex Black Series models often merge into one. These are blackened sports and dive watches after all, and other than some subtle design differences, many of the models do look very similar. That said, last year they offered up something a little different and added bold turquoise markings to the black. The same hue returns for 2024 alongside a brand new diver that shares its construction with the King Turtle.
Seiko Prospex King Turtle Black Series 2024 SRPK43K1
Seiko Prospex King Turtle Black Series 2024 SRPK43K1 - Credit Seiko
This is the first time Seiko’s King Turtle has received the all-black treatment of their Black Series, so it makes sense we start with this model, found under reference SRPK43K1. The King Turtle is ultimately an upgraded version of the Japanese watchmaker’s iconic Turtle watch with a turtle shell or barrel-shaped case. It measures to 45mm wide and 13.2mm tall and presents the entirety of its stainless steel architecture with a black super hard coating.
The bezel is also black, utilising a ceramic insert with 60 minute diving scale which lays beside sapphire crystal glass with a magnifier over the day-date window. Typical Turtle models use Hardlex crystal, so this is one of the upgrades found on the King Turtle. The dial, also black, arrives with the turquoise-coloured markers and hands with glow in the dark Lumibrite Pro. Power for the hours, minutes, seconds, day and date comes from the Calibre 4R36 with a 41 hour power reserve.
The Seiko Prospex King Turtle Black Series SRPK43K1 watch is a non-limited edition and retails for £690.
Seiko Prospex Solar Speedtimer Chronograph Black Series 2024 SSC923P1
Seiko Prospex Solar Speedtimer Chronograph Black Series 2024 SSC923P1 - Credit Seiko
Last year, Seiko launched reference SSC917P1 as part of their Black Series collection, a 39mm wide solar-powered chronograph based on their Speedtimer model. It had an all-black case and turquoise accents on the dial. The new Seiko Prospex Solar Speedtimer Chronograph Black Series 2024 SSC923P1 watch is pretty much the same watch, just instead, we get a slightly larger case size of 41.4mm and a black nylon strap rather than a metal bracelet.
It still arrives with curved sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating, a 100 metre water resistant rating and a black tachymeter bezel. The chronograph dial is gunmetal grey and decorated with black counters for the running seconds, 24 hour display and 60 minutes chronograph. These functions are powered by the V192 solar-powered quartz movement.
The Seiko Prospex Solar Speedtimer Chronograph Black Series SSC923P1 watch is a non-limited edition and retails for £620.
Seiko Prospex Sumo Diver Black Series 2024 SPB433J1 Limited Edition
Seiko Prospex Sumo Diver Black Series 2024 SPB433J1 Limited Edition - Credit Seiko
The final model in Seiko’s 2024 Black Series line-up is the Sumo Diver SPB433J1 Limited Edition. As one of Seiko’s largest models, the Sumo has always suited the all-black look as it helps to slim down the oversized 45mm wide and 13.4mm tall case. Like always, we have the Sumo’s large 4 o’clock screw in crown with a 200 metre water resistant rating, sapphire crystal glass with AR treatment and a unidirectional rotating divers bezel.
This is the first time the Seiko Prospex Sumo has utilised the colourful ‘Night Vision’ green blue markers on the indexes and hands. Again, these are applied with Lumibrite Pro for exceptional readability. The classic time-and-date display is powered by the 6R35 automatic winding movement with a 70-hour power reserve. Finally, the watch is completed by a black super hard coated stainless steel bracelet and folding buckle.
The Seiko Prospex Sumo Diver Black Series SPB433J1 watch is a limited edition of 3,500 and retails for £1,100
We’re going to be getting hands-on with all three Seiko Prospex Black Series 2024 watches soon, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for reviews!
