SEIKO Prospex Transocean SBDC039 Japan Diver

Quality and brand awareness has made the SEIKO Prospex TransOcean SBDC039 a collectible timepiece. The Transocean is positioned as a wristwatch for both business and sports activities. It is a design which blurs two distinct environments as one. That makes the introduction of the ‘Dia Shield’, sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel even more relevant.

The dial has a black textured surface. There are five lines of text. Above the centreline is the brand name all on its own. Then comes the Prospex logo, the type of caliber, the watch genre, its water rating and finally (in very small print) the manufacturing reference in code. Meanwhile, the date function is located in a small aperture between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock position. The date aperture has a black background which helps minimize any distractions.

This watch follows the classic three-hand design operating from a central pin on the centre of the dial. To my knowledge, the design of the hands is new. The hour hand has a thick arrowhead and a short thinner stem. Seiko made these two sections appear separate with borders segregating them. Within the borders, Seiko’s proprietary LumiBrite paint was added. The minute hand is a long Scottish broad sword design with LumiBrite paint added within a slim border around it. Finally, the second hand that looks like a slender arrow. Only the arrowhead is with luminous paint. Interestingly, the overhang of the hand is flared out slightly like the fletching of a real arrow.

SEIKO Prospex TransOcean SBDC039 is a dive watch that would look equally at ease in a boardroom as it is on a diving platform on the stern of an ocean going boat.