Reviewed by our Dive Watch Geeks:
The Best Seiko Dive Watches in 2021
Our experts at work
We gave our Gear lovers one job:
Test 25 different Seiko Dive Watches and write reviews of the best.
The result is 15 of the best Dive Watches on the market today.
Anastasia Hamurari
Travel and Gear Writer
An ambitious writer with a thirst for content creation through storytelling.
Torben Lonne
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Torben is a dive nut, with a passion for traveling and gear.
When you’re about to invest in a watch, the first brand that comes to mind is usually Seiko.
And there is a good reason for it – Seiko is known for its easy-to-use watches that provide accurate data readable in every imaginable lighting under the water.
No matter what depths you are venturing out to explore and what circumstances you might find yourself in, a dive watch from Seiko will do the trick.
Their devotion to creating a standout watch that are distinguished by their design, long-lasting mechanisms, and affordable prices. Everyone from a diving beginner to a dive watch collector is able to get their hands on a pair or two with no exceptions.
Please note, that a dive watch is not the same as a Waterproof Watch or Dive Computer
Top 10 Best Seiko Dive Watches In 2021
See our quick top 10, or go further down and read our in-depth reviews.
- Seiko Prospex Samurai Save The Ocean SRPC93 Diving Watch
- Seiko Prospex SNE441 Divers Solar Watch
- Seiko Prospex PADI SNE435P1 Solar Watch
- Seiko SKX009K2 Stainless Steel Automatic Watch
- Seiko Prospex Automatic SRP639K1 Dive Watch
- Seiko PADI Solar SNE499 Dive Watch
- Seiko Prospex PADI SBDC055 Special Edition
- Seiko SPB083J1 Diver’s Watch
- Seiko Prospex SRPB55 Automatic Dive Watch
- Seiko Prospex SNE5371P1 Street Diver’s Watch
Still unsure as to what waterproof watch to choose? We have answered the most popular questions about the Seiko Dive Watches in the last section of the guide.
A midrange watch of this kind has a quirky nickname ‘Turtle’ thanks to its case shaped like a cushion. The blue dial and the stainless steel case justify this accessory to be belonging to the underwater world. You and the rich waters of oceans will be matching! As for the functionalities, rest assured that this Samurai watch will serve you well. It has got a 200 meters water-resistance rate, luminescent hands and markers, and a unidirectional bezel that will help you get accurate data on the time you spent diving last Tuesday. To top it all off, it’s automatic. This means that besides an elegant design you are also getting a highly regarded mechanism. With a 2-year warranty, there is no reason for you to worry about possible damages – put it on and enjoy your dive with a peace of mind. You may be wondering why the watch’s framing of the dial has a different color. There is merely one logical answer – it is incorporated into the watch to supply divers with additional data readability when the depths of the water become low. The yellow on the SNE441 acts as a pair of glasses one needs to be able to read. The other great feature this watch has is a quartz movement powered by solar energy. You are basically killing two birds with one stone by discovering the rich underwater realm while also being mindful of the fragile ecosystem we are living in. Having employed every essential element from the Prsopex series like a practical design, lucid numbers, and a sufficient 200m water-resistance rate, this dive watch will become your great companion on your next dive. Another Solar powerhouse by Seiko made its debut a long time ago and yet is still breaking dive watches charts. It is bold, utilitarian, and eco-friendly. It checks all the boxes in one fell swoop. The red and blue pairing is eye-catching, while the multifunctional dial with a rotating bezel gives hope that it will last a long time. Supplementary elements like a triangular pointer help to measure the oxygen level underwater, whereas the 200-meter water-resistance guarantees the permanent workflow of the watch on the greatest of the depths. You won’t make a mistake by investing in a watch of this kind as its value is completely proven by the high-caliber features it possesses. Continuing on the red and blue Seiko theme, here is another contestant that is worth your attention and consideration. It includes a combination of a stylish design and a functional mechanism, which is the ultimate duo for any proficient diver. You will be pleasantly surprised by the battery-free mechanism behind this watch that also incorporates a two-tone unidirectional bezel. A detail in the form of the scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal is another point essential to note when weighing out the pros and cons of this model. As we finish up with the 3 o’clock window that depicts both day and time, you can already deduce the amount of value you get by purchasing this watch. A ‘busy’ dive watch means that its display is abundant with features a diver would appreciate having. This dive watch is not an exception – it is equipped with an analog display that is powered by the solar mechanism. The unidirectional bezel is numbered, a crown is red striped, and black dial is endowed with three chronograph subdials. What an assortment indeed! Although the side buttons are bulky, the watch has a sleek look to it – a look preferred by the majority. This look allows you to wear it to your water sports adventures and fancy evening outs alike. It represents class and the absence of nonsense. It is essentially the real deal on the dive watch market. A big statement watch that comes at a lavish price is an investment not everyone is willing to make. Those who do, however, can freely exhale – this model will last them a lifetime, if not longer. Let us intrigue you with the features the manufacturer supplied it with before you make a decision to purchase it or not. With a 41 power reserve, this watch does not seize to impress the most skeptical divers. At the astounding 46.5m diameter it has a lot of presence while also leaving room for features like 24 jewels and luminous markers to have their say. The black and yellow bezel is memorable and practical at the same time – who wants to struggle under the water while trying to discern the data written on the dial? Not us. Experienced divers will surely appreciate this number and everything it has to offer. What do we have here? Right, another Solar Power dive watch. Seiko is killing the eco-friendly game! This mechanism is hassle-free as you don’t need to recharge the battery. Place it under the direct sunlight and you have got yourself a watch with 6-months worth of natural functioning. There are other features in this model every diver would appreciate having – a versatile design, a function-full display, and the black and blue aesthetics. The Hardlex window is responsible for your dial to stay scratchproof and shockproof, while the unidirectional bezel is in charge of the smooth operating activity of the watch that is accompanied by the clicking sound during the rotation. Still not convinced? Well, here’s the promising part – this watch has an ISO 6425 certification. Be certain that your new purchase will function under the water in an efficient and wasteless manner. A Seiko model under $250 is reminiscent of the most famed dive watch known as the Golden Tuna. And the reasons for it are as follows. The power reserve is around 10 months, which is already a good start for a watch of this price. The one-way rotating bezel is the next great thing that has happened to this watch. Then, the screw-down crown and case display the security needed for a diver who prefers going deep down the ocean. The bulkiness is absent – its rather sleek design tops it up with a feature no one can resist when looking for a lightweight dive watch that does not lack in the set of basic functionalities. This special edition piece might just be your cup of tea if the aforementioned points are of interest to you. This recommendation of ours proudly wears the name of ‘Big Tuna’ on the basis we are about to cover. The Marinemaster is truly a one in a million type of watch that many tend to put on their Christmas wishing list. The massive 48mm case features a shroud that adds the mandatory protection needed when diving – be sure it will last you at least a few decades. It is anti-magnetic, has a 300-meter water-resistance rate (not common for Seiko watches), and has a battery life that reaches 5 years. How mindboggling is that? You definitely get your money worth when investing in a piece like this. With a rubber strap that fits snug on your wrist, you can conquer the underwater world in no time. This recommendation of ours proudly wears the name of ‘Big Tuna’ on the basis we are about to cover. The Marinemaster is truly a one in a million type of watch that many tend to put on their Christmas wishing list. The massive 48mm case features a shroud that adds the mandatory protection needed when diving – be sure it will last you at least a few decades. It is anti-magnetic, has a 300-meter water-resistance rate (not common for Seiko watches), and has a battery life that reaches 5 years. How mindboggling is that? You definitely get your money worth when investing in a piece like this. With a rubber strap that fits snug on your wrist, you can conquer the underwater world in no time. This recommendation of ours proudly wears the name of ‘Big Tuna’ on the basis we are about to cover. The Marinemaster is truly a one in a million type of watch that many tend to put on their Christmas wishing list. The massive 48mm case features a shroud that adds the mandatory protection needed when diving – be sure it will last you at least a few decades. It is anti-magnetic, has a 300-meter water-resistance rate (not common for Seiko watches), and has a battery life that reaches 5 years. How mindboggling is that? You definitely get your money worth when investing in a piece like this. With a rubber strap that fits snug on your wrist, you can conquer the underwater world in no time. This recommendation of ours proudly wears the name of ‘Big Tuna’ on the basis we are about to cover. The Marinemaster is truly a one in a million type of watch that many tend to put on their Christmas wishing list. The massive 48mm case features a shroud that adds the mandatory protection needed when diving – be sure it will last you at least a few decades. It is anti-magnetic, has a 300-meter water-resistance rate (not common for Seiko watches), and has a battery life that reaches 5 years. How mindboggling is that? You definitely get your money worth when investing in a piece like this. With a rubber strap that fits snug on your wrist, you can conquer the underwater world in no time. This recommendation of ours proudly wears the name of ‘Big Tuna’ on the basis we are about to cover. The Marinemaster is truly a one in a million type of watch that many tend to put on their Christmas wishing list. The massive 48mm case features a shroud that adds the mandatory protection needed when diving – be sure it will last you at least a few decades. It is anti-magnetic, has a 300-meter water-resistance rate (not common for Seiko watches), and has a battery life that reaches 5 years. How mindboggling is that? You definitely get your money worth when investing in a piece like this. With a rubber strap that fits snug on your wrist, you can conquer the underwater world in no time. The settle black and gold colors give this SRPB55 dive watch a sleek look that every diver can make use of both underwater and at business meetings. It comes with a one-way rotating bezel, Lumibrite hands and markers, and an astonishing 41-hours of battery reserve. We believe this is not too bad for a watch under $400. The water-resistance of 200 meters is basic for the majority of the Seiko watches just like the screw-down crown and case back. With 23 jewels and 21,600 vibrations per hour, this model can easily make it to the top of your accessory list. Whether you choose to explore the rich marine world through diving or snorkeling, it will serve you well in either one of the scenarios. And, you can push away the worries regarding its longevity thanks to the warranty the manufacturer provides. Aren’t you captivated yet? Perhaps the most optimal option for those avid divers with busy work schedules and frequent night outings is the SNE5371P1 watch from the Prospex collection. It encompasses a stylish camo pattern running through the strap and the bezel and a glossy black and silver case. The overall design is minimalistic, but don’t assume that it takes away from the just as lavish features. It maintains a 200-meters water-resistance rate while also having a Solar quartz movement, a crucial detail in the 21st century when the issue of climate change is burning more than ever before. The accuracy reaching +/- 15 seconds per month, this model can win over some of the more expensive options presented by Seiko. Just note the three-dimensional bezel that supplies you with the additional security when timekeeping your diving time – that alone is worth every penny you would spend on this dive watch.
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Questions & Answers:
1. Why should I choose Seiko watch over any other brand?
The transparency behind the Seiko brand is not only inspiring for other companies across industries but is also what makes it trustworthy. The company makes an emphasis on their products being designed in house as opposed to its competitors who opt for delegating this job to third parties. This, undoubtedly, leads to a higher quality of every element of the watch as it is closely supervised by the experts of the watchmaking industry. Besides, the range of watches is diversified to the maximum without releasing pieces that are overpriced. With that being said, the standards the affordable watches are held to are exactly the same as the ones for the more luxurious models. This means that no matter how cheap or expensive your watch is, its quality is never compromised.
2. What is the difference between the Quartz and Automatic movements?
Before we fill you in on the difference between the two movements, we must say that Seiko takes pride in producing watches with both Quartz and Automatic movements of equally superb quality. The decision regarding the movement will ultimately depend on your personal criteria and preference.
In essence, the Quartz mechanism means that the watch is powered by the traditional battery that has an expiration date. Although many watch brands do incorporate this particular movement into their products, the ones released by Seiko are known to have a Solar element to them. They are, therefore, prone to last longer due to their ability to self-charge with the sufficient amount of light directed at them for some periods of time. The automatic mechanism, on the other hand, works in accordance with the movement of your wrist with the watch on. This movement implies that the watch will be working as long as you are wearing it. The only issue that arises with this type of mechanism is that the watch tends to slow down the more it stays off the wrist. To fix this issue, Seiko and other watch brands developed a so-called ‘reserve time’ – the period of time the watch is going to tick for while it is not worn.
Keep in mind that although there are pros and cons for both of the mechanisms, the fast technological advances have enabled these movements to serve the wearer well for prolonged periods of time with no defects.
3. Are 200 meters enough for deep dives?
Generally speaking, the scuba diving watches with 200 meters of water-resistance are designed to withstand the following levels of water exposure:
– Light splashes
– Heavy downpours
– Showers
– Swimming pools activities
– Scuba diving
Truth to be told, however, even the most experienced diver hardly ever goes below 200 meters. That is not to say that the dive watch he is wearing is not going to benefit him at deep depths. As you saw from the above reviews, the majority of the Seiko dive watches have a water-resistance rate of about 200 meters, which is considered to be sufficient for most dives. This means that you can enjoy your dive to the fullest without worrying about your watch stopping to work. We have to mention, however, that the only scenario these watches will not work in is during saturation diving – the kind of diving when divers spend a few days or weeks underwater at a time.
4. Can I use a dive watch in everyday life?
Although the answer seems obvious for experienced divers, the beginners might be wondering how viable it is to wear dive watches on a daily basis. We can happily reveal to you that it is not necessary to wear your dive watch strictly during diving activities only. Seiko has taken this factor into account and has thus been able to generate watches that are both a practical diving tool and a stylish accessory. This combo makes the watches appealing to a broader audience, which is a win-win for both the company and the loyal customer.
5. Why did my Solar-powered watch suddenly stop working?
As a rule, the watch that is powered by direct sunlight is in need of a certain amount of either sun or artificial lighting exposure to properly function. Usually, 5 to 6 hours of exposure is enough for a Seiko watch to charge and operate for at least some time. Even so, you should take into account the environmental conditions you are in to gain a better understanding of how a Solar-powered watch will work for you. In case winters or gloomy days persist throughout the entire year, you should put your watch under the artificial light more often. In addition, if you keep your watch in the dark or covered by the sleeve of your shirt for long periods of time, expect it to stop functioning until you charge them with solar power again.
6. What is the Lumibrite technology that Seiko often incorporates?
The dedication to innovation resulted in Seiko coming up with a Lumibrite technology that has revolutionized the way modern dive watches perform. Lumibrite is basically a high-grade luminescent material that enables the watch to be of a big service when the ocean waters become dark. This material is used to paint with over the hands and indices located on the dials of the Seiko watches. The ingredients of the material are safe to use and they indeed provide a brighter picture than the old school luminous paints do. It makes sense to look into a watch with built-in Lumibrite technology for extra security when diving deep under the water.
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Are Seiko dive watches any good?
The short answer is: Yes.
Seiko dates all the way back to 1881 – and was back then know as “Seiko-sha” which roughly translates to exquisite workmanship. Ever since, Seiko has created history with its advancements in watchmaking. They’ve won awards in several worldwide competitions for releasing a lot of ‘firsts’ in the world of dive watches.
Their achievements continue to push the company to create innovations that promote high quality but sell at an affordable price. The Seiko brand remains a formidable name in the watchmaking industry and is one of the manufacturers that produce the best diver watches under $500.
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Are Seiko watches worth the money?
Value: Whether you’re buying a last-minute gift at the drugstore or dropping ten figures on a solid gold handmade Grand Seiko, you’ll be getting an impressive value.
Quality: Even the lowest-tier Seikos are well made and will typically outperform their price-point counterparts from other brands. Seiko manufactures all of its movements themselves and the has proved to be quality time after time.
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What are the best alternatives to Seiko Dive Watches
No doubt, the Seiko Dive Watches are a great built and with models to suit all needs and budgets, they are popular.
But you might want something more unique or with a more personal history.We’ve created a shortlist of relevant alternatives to a Seiko Dive Watch:
- Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic – Prices around $500 this watch is both great in design and quality
- Zodiac Super Sea Wolf – Has a nice slim design that looks good for everyday use
- Oris Divers Sixty-Five – Priced slightly above $1500 this is a higher quality built and some would say also a better design
- Tudor Pelagos 25600TB-95820T Titanium Automatic is in the premium price range, but this will also give you a lightweight watch with helium escape valve and SuperLuminova Lume which glows more brightly than any watch we’ve ever seen
If you already have a Seiko Dive Watch or you just bought one, leave a comment in the comment section below and share your experience with it.
I’ve owned a Seiko Diver’s watch, model number 7548 -700B since about the late 1970’s. It says Sieko Quartz on the face of the watch and also Divers 150m. I wear it pretty much most days and when the second hand starts skipping in 2 second intervals, then I know the battery needs changing. There are other numbers around the back of the watch. What I would like to know is what model is it: ie. is it a SKX007?
Where can I get my seiko diver watch repaired? It does not keep correct time.
Thanks, CB
Hi Charlie,
Depends on where you are in the world?
To Seiko Watch Co.
My name is Wardell Jr. I am a scuba Diver turned pro in the 1980. I brought Seiko Divers Quartz Batt. Around 1985 has kept perfect time for me until now. I’ve done some Scuba in my watch, I’ve worked on cars, my motorcycle and I’ve worked
In my watch and school. My watch is about 35years old. Here are some pictures of my watch. I bought a new Seiko is SSc741p (Special Edition). Last week.
I just would like to say Thank-you, for building a great watch.
Wardell Jr.
I bought a second hand seiko over 40 years ago and its still going strong never been serviced
i now have a collection of them
That’s why we love them 🙂
Hi,
My message is for all who are reading the comments here. My father bought a Seiko 6106 8227 in early 70s (He doesn’t remember the exact year). The watch was under his use till 1985, after which he replaced it with a Bulova. The seiko was placed somewhere and forgotten. Fee days back, while I was sorting some stuff, I found this Seiko watch lying in old stuff of my father. The watch was looking dirty and I had to spend some time cleaning it. The watch started functioning perfectly thereafter. A watch which is almost 50 years and remained unattended for 35 years functioning perfectly speaks of the quality with which Seiko makes its stuff. Honestly, I am not much into wearing watches, but ever since, I have laid my hands on this watch, I am reading all about different models of Seiko watches. Very soon, I will buy a good seiko, for my son to find in my old stuff ????????
Regards all.
Bought my first one in 1975, learning how to scuba dive in Guam.
an avid collector of Seiko watches since 1975 their digital series was groundbreaking .I have a 1990s dancing hands example timekeeping perfect .Have numerous other examples presently wear a SS kinetic divers a lovely accurate watch on the look out for a new addition soon Would recomend this brand over more expensive NAMES
Hi Peter,
AS you’re an avid collector I’m sure you’re aware of the pros of a Seiko dive watch. And yes, I’d always recommend a Seiko, if you’re looking for a good quality watch. If you’re looking for inspiration on other brands check out our dive watch guide here.