Seiko

Historical Context & Development

The Seiko 62MAS, reference 6217-8001, debuted in 1965 as Seiko’s first professional-grade dive watch. It entered a market dominated by Swiss icons like the Rolex Submariner, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, and Omega Seamaster 300. The 62MAS — short for autoMAtic Selfdater — was built for Japan’s growing professional diving community and maritime industries, offering robust underwater performance at a far more accessible price than its European rivals.

Before the 62MAS, Seiko’s water-resistant watches were dress-oriented. The new model represented a leap forward in engineering, achieving a 150m water resistance rating thanks to a screw-down caseback, reinforced crystal, and innovative sealing system for its large push-pull crown. Its clean, functional design — matte grey dial, broad luminous hands, and a date complication — reflected Seiko’s focus on legibility and utility.

In 1966, the watch was issued to the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, enduring extreme cold and pressure, solidifying its reputation as a reliable tool watch. The model even appeared in the 1977 film The Deep, adding a pop culture footnote to its history.

Seiko used a smaller crown at the beginning of the production run for this watch in 1965. The example we have here is from the first series of 62MAS watches with the 5.5mm crown. Another interesting detail about watches from the first series is that the characteristic dolphin etching on the caseback was etched lighter to begin with, and many have rubbed away due to wear, leaving only the case number on the back visible." The Small Crown was produced for only two months in April and May 1965.

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Technical Specifications & Innovations

 
• Movement: Automatic Cal. 6217A, 17 jewels, 18,000 bph, ~47–50hr power reserve, no hacking, quickset date.
 
• Case: Stainless steel, 37mm diameter, ~13mm thick, 19mm lug width, screw-down dolphin caseback.
 
• Water Resistance: 150m (pre-ISO but competitive for the era).
 
• Crystal: Thick acrylic (domed).
 
• Crown: Large push-pull with internal seals.
 
• Dial: Matte grey, rectangular tritium lume plots, broad baton hands, date at 3 o’clock.
 
• Bezel: Bi-directional friction, aluminum insert with 60-minute scale and lume pip.
 
• Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel oyster-style bracelet or Tropic rubber strap.

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Competitive Landscape in the 1960s

When it launched, the 62MAS cost around ¥13,000–¥15,000 (~$36-  $40 USD in 1965), less than a quarter (More like 1/6) of the price of a Rolex Submariner 5513 (~$230 USD). Despite the lower cost, it offered equivalent water resistance to most Swiss rivals: Seiko’s 150m WR was impressive for a push-pull crown (most Swiss used screw-down).

Model	WR	Movement	Case Size	Crown	Bezel	Notes
Seiko 62MAS	150m	6217A, 17j, 18,000 bph	37mm	Push-pull sealed	Bi-dir	Japanese Antarctic Expedition
Rolex 5513	200m	Cal. 1520, 17j	40mm	Screw-down	Bi-dir	Military use
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms	200m	AS 1361N, 17j	41mm	Screw-down	Bi-dir	French & US Navy
Omega Seamaster 300	200m	Cal. 552, 24j	42mm	Screw-down	Bi-dir	Military issues
DOXA Sub 300	300m	ETA 2472, 17j	42mm	Screw-down	Uni-dir	Cousteau partnership

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Legacy & Collector Perspective

Today, the 62MAS is one of the most sought-after vintage Seikos. Surviving examples in original, unpolished condition with correct bracelets command high prices — often exceeding $4,000–$6,000 USD at auction, with near-mint or boxed sets fetching even more.

Collectors prize two main dial/case variations: early small crown models and later large crown versions. Patina on the grey dial and tritium lume is often considered part of the watch’s charm.

Seiko has paid homage to the 62MAS multiple times — most notably with the SLA017 (2017) and SJE093 (2023) — both staying true to the original’s design language while upgrading materials, movements, and ISO certification.

From a disruptive 1960s tool watch to a 21st-century collector’s icon, the Seiko 62MAS remains a cornerstone in dive watch history — proving that Japan could compete with, and often out-engineer, the Swiss in the professional watchmaking arena.

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Image credits: WatchProSite Seiko forum members hmmmcamu, DoesNotTickTock, Mach. Historical pricing and specifications cross-referenced from Seiko archives, period advertisements, and dive watch literature.

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