The Spirit of Prospex
Timepieces created for extreme explorers are designed with certain key attributes in mind.
These include legibility, robustness, and ease of use.
As Prospex has evolved, it has adapted to the spirit of the times while preserving, at its core, a form that is rooted in fundamental functionality.
This article series uncovers the philosophy behind four signature designs—the 1965 Diver, the 1968 Diver, the Speedtimer, and the Alpinist—from the designer’s perspective.
The first article in this series features Design Director Takumi Kishino discussing Prospex design. He has been involved with the collection for over a decade.
The Values Underpinning Prospex
When we design a Prospex model, we must first understand the collection’s three pillars.
First, a Prospex watch is professional grade.
Second, it delivers reliability backed by history and facts.
And third, it supports those who put in the efforts.
Timepieces made for professional use must leave no room for doubt.
Not only the specifications, but also the story behind the collection, should convince professionals that they can’t go wrong by choosing the product.
These are the values at the heart of our approach to designing Prospex.
The Core of Prospex's Design
If you take the three pillars as the starting point, the core of Prospex’s design naturally emerges.
It must be designed for real-world use.
Its design must fuse function and beauty.
It must avoid flamboyance.
Every detail of a Prospex timepiece is designed for a reason.
Why this shape? Why these specifications? For each question, our team engages in thorough discussions until we find the right answer.
Four Signature Designs
Prospex has four signature designs: the 1965 Diver, the 1968 Diver, the Speedtimer, and the Alpinist.
These models, though born from different fields, best embody the philosophy of Prospex.
The 1965 Diver, Japan’s first diver’s watch, is the starting point of Seiko Divers.
The 1968 Diver, which symbolizes a spirit of adventure, is the “evolution” driven to meet the demands of extreme environments.
The Speedtimer is the ultimate “pursuit of perfection” in measurement precision.
The Alpinist represents a sensibility honed through facing the mountains and confronting nature.
Although the four designs differ in their fields and histories, they were all created to support professionals.
The Prospex Spirit that Runs Through Each of the Signature Designs
What the signature designs have in common is not just their outward form but the very philosophy of Prospex, which runs through them.
So, rather than simply reproducing the original models, we decipher the philosophy that underpins them and update the form to suit modern times.
Instead of chasing trends, we should keep asking ourselves, “Why should it be designed this way?”
That’s the essence of the signature designs.
We base our creations on true craftsmanship rooted in history and facts. Therefore, the designs will never become outdated.
The Reasons for Constantly Pursuing Practicality
Today, what consumers expect from a watch is changing.
Why, then, does Prospex continue to pursue practicality?
Prospex is a collection of professional-grade timepieces.
Such timepieces should be crafted with utmost precision and integrity, and have a solid story backed by history.
They should also provide profound peace of mind and be a real source of reassurance to their wearers when they take on a challenge, like protective charms.
These are the ideals I strive to realize most as a designer, and I’m convinced that these are precisely what Prospex design aims for while carrying on the passion and dedication of our predecessors.