Seiko PADI watches are a special edition of diving watches, characterized precisely by bearing the distinctive mark of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, known as PADI, among other features that make them especially useful underwater.
These are special editions by Seiko that radically alter the appearance of some of their most well-known divers, although not all of them are available everywhere. Their distribution is selective depending on each design.
This, combined with the brand’s quality, gives them an air of exclusivity that makes them very appealing to both watch collectors and diving enthusiasts. Therefore, in this post, we will compile and analyze the Seiko PADI watches that can be obtained in Spain.
- Seiko Modelo Reloj Prospex SRPF09K1 Diver's PADI Samurai
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✚ Seiko Padi: Origin and History
Seiko launched its first dive watch back in 1965, becoming the first Japanese diver to achieve a water resistance of 150 meters. Since then, the brand has made numerous advancements in the field of diving, becoming highly sought after by diving enthusiasts.
By sheer coincidence, a few months after this milestone, two diving enthusiasts from the United States decided to establish a good training standard in the discipline and founded the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).
Over time, this association has become the world’s most important organization of diving instructors, with over 136,000 PADI-certified diving professionals and more than 6,300 training centers worldwide.
To commemorate both milestones, 50 years later, the Japanese brand decided to design a special edition Seiko PADI with a very characteristic color combination and the distinctive logo prominently displayed on the dial of some of their best divers.
That’s how in the early months of 2016, various PADI versions of their most well-known dive watches were released, such as the Seiko Tortuga, a clear reference to that first diver from 1965, the Tortuga 6309, although much more advanced and capable of diving up to 200 meters instead of the previous 150.
Since then, many other Seiko PADI models have been introduced, all belonging to the Prospex diver’s collection, including watches with automatic, solar, or even kinetic movements.
✚ The Best Seiko Padi Watches for Sale
Although there is a wide variety of Seiko PADI divers, they are not easy to come by due to being a special edition. However, in Spain, it is relatively easy to find the following:
➤ Seiko Samurai Padi
In 2018, Seiko decided to give a new look to its recently revamped Seiko Samurai and launched the PADI version with its classic Pepsi-style color combination in blue and red.
This is a model from 2004 that was reissued in 2017 with new colors, a redesigned bezel, and a mechanical update that replaced the old 7S series movement with a more modern 4R35 caliber.
The PADI edition adds a twist to the design of this model with subtle changes to the bezel, dial, and hands, while still retaining the 4R35 movement, an automatic caliber with 24 jewels and 21,600 vph that provides up to 41 hours of power reserve.
A true diver’s watch that includes all the features a diver needs, such as the unidirectional bezel, screw-down crown, screw-down case back, and a dive extension strap.
| Crystal | Hardlex |
| Movement | Automatic Caliber Seiko 4R35 |
| Case Diameter | 43.8 mm |
| Case Thickness | 13.4 mm |
| Materials | Stainless steel case and silicone strap |
| Weight | 200 grams |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
➤ Seiko Tuna Padi Solar
The Tuna models (named because their shape resembles a tuna can) also come in several PADI versions, like the SNE499P1 model, which operates on solar power.
The self-sufficiency offered by solar and automatic models is particularly useful in a dive watch, as it allows it to operate almost indefinitely without the need to open the case to change the battery, thereby preserving its watertightness.
Specifically, the power reserve of the SNE499P1 is 10 months, meaning it can function for that long without needing exposure to light.
Furthermore, it’s a watch with a substantial size (47 mm diameter) but very lightweight, with a dial that offers good visibility with or without light, thanks to the generous amount of luminescence on its hands and markers.
When combined with the unidirectional bezel, screw-down crown, screw-down case back, and 200 meters of water resistance, you have a sports watch designed for water sports from the get-go.
| Crystal | Hardlex |
| Movement | Solar Caliber Seiko V157 |
| Case Diameter | 47 mm |
| Case Thickness | 12.4 mm |
| Materials | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
➤ Seiko Tortuga Padi
The Tortuga PADI is the model with the most history behind it. In fact, the first dive watch honored by the brand was a Tortuga 6309, although the 50 years of evolution between the two models are reflected in their specifications.
As mentioned earlier, water resistance has increased from 150 to 200 meters in the new model, and the new Tortuga PADI incorporates an updated automatic movement, the caliber 4R36, with a longer power reserve (40 hours), hacking seconds, and manual winding.
It’s an attractive and functional dive watch that is usually not very expensive, although being a special edition, it’s not always easy to find.
| Crystal | Hardlex |
| Movement | Automatic Caliber Seiko 4R36 |
| Case Diameter | 44 mm |
| Case Thickness | 13 mm |
| Materials | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
➤ Seiko Prospex Padi 1968
Created as a tribute to the high-level diving watches manufactured by Seiko in 1968, the Prospex Padi is a watch whose specifications go a step further in resistance and durability.
On one hand, it features sapphire crystal instead of the classic hardlex crystal that most Seiko divers typically use, a very hard and virtually scratch-proof material.
On the other hand, it integrates a superior automatic movement, the Seiko 6R15, a 23-jewel caliber with 21,600 vph that can achieve a 50-hour power reserve, also with manual winding and second-hand stop.
It is a very sporty watch with a screw-down crown and a screw-down case back, ready to go underwater at any time, although its price is slightly higher than the other PADI models.
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. Seiko 6R15 |
| Case Diameter | 44 mm |
| Case Thickness | 13 mm |
| Materials | Stainless Steel Case |
| Weight | 118 grams |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
➤ Seiko Padi Kinetic GMT
The PADI Kinetic version is inspired by Seiko’s 1975 diver watches, known for introducing various advancements in the industry, such as the double-layer case that increases the watch’s resistance to shocks and corrosion.
The new model incorporates these advancements as well as more modern features, along with the eye-catching PADI aesthetics with the Pepsi-colored bezel. The stainless steel case features ridges on the sides to make it lighter, and the crystal is sapphire to offer extra protection against scratches.
It also includes a GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) function, an additional third hand that travels around the dial marking the hours and can be used to display a second time zone.
Furthermore, it is a Kinetic watch, meaning it has a battery that charges with movement. A system that allows it to accumulate an energy reserve of up to 6 months.
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Movement | Kinetic Cal. Seiko 5M85 |
| Case Diameter | 47.5 mm |
| Case Thickness | 14.5 mm |
| Materials | Stainless Steel Case and Rubber Strap |
| Weight | 154 grams |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
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Last update of links and images on 2024-05-02.
