Seiko celebrates 30 years since the debut of their Landmaster watch and launches a limited edition of 1,000 pieces suitably named the Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary SLA071J1 watch.
Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - Credit Seiko
The Seiko Landmaster is a name you don’t hear much of recently, with even some of the most seasoned Seiko enthusiasts being completely unfamiliar with the design. The rugged adventure watch was originally launched in 1993 for mountaineers and explorers, combining the water-resistant nature of the Seiko Prospex with a chunky rotating compass bezel. The almost aggressive-looking timepiece was engineered to conquer both land and sea.
The new Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition is a worthy successor of its 1990’s counterpart but is by no means a vintage re-edition. It is crafted entirely from titanium with a modern in-house movement at its core and a vibrant gradient blue dial at the centre. It’s still designed on the same principles however, and offers incredible functionality that will no doubt withstand the harsh environments experienced by mountaineers and outdoor explorers.
Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - Credit Seiko
Starting with the case, the Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary SLA071J1 watch presents a rugged 42mm wide and 12.7mm tall full titanium architecture with super-hard coating. It’s not a small watch by any means, but thanks to its titanium construction it will feel light on the wrist (according to Seiko, it weighs in at 137 grams with all the links on the bracelet).
The Landmaster’s most notable feature, the bezel, is also present. Again, it is large and almost hostile in its appearance with finely ratcheted detailing and a whole mass of black printing for the compass scale. The bezel is bi-directional and sits beside sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating for easy legibility of the dial beneath. The case is completed by a screw down crown and screw down case back with a 200 metre water resistant rating.
Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - Credit Seiko
The dial of the Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition is really nicely executed, and my personal favourite part of the design. It has a gradient blue backdrop which Seiko say is inspired by the view on a mountain’s peak where the ice blue land and the deeper blue sky meet. There’s also a contrasting black minutes track and plenty of glow in the dark Lumibrite set on the three-dimensional indexes and thick sword-shaped hands. Finally, small touches of gold are added to the Seiko logo and the central seconds hand.
Powering the Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary SLA071J1 watch is the Japanese watchmaker’s Calibre 8L35 movement, one of their higher-end automatic calibres. You may also know it as the Calibre 9S55 which is found within some of their Grand Seiko models and hand-assembled at their Shizukuishi Watch Studio in Morioka. It runs at a frequency of 28,800vph, warrants a power reserve of 50 hours and is rated with an accuracy of 15 to -10 seconds per day.
Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - Credit Seiko
Completing the novelty is a lightweight three-row link titanium bracelet and a three-fold clasp with secure lock. The Seiko Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary watch is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces and retails at £2,400. It’s expected to land on wrists in November 2023.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Seiko
- Model: Prospex Landmaster 30th Anniversary SLA071J1
- Price: £2,400
- Material: Titanium with super-hard coating
- Movement: Calibre 8L35 automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, compass
- Dial: Blue gradient with Lumibrite hands and indexes
- Size: 42mm wide, 12.7mm tall
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: While hiking the Matterhorn in Switzerland or testing the warm waters somewhere exotic.
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: A seasoned adventurer.
- Best characteristics of the watch: I really like the colouring and layout of the dial. The high-end movement is also a very nice addition.
- The worst characteristics of the watch: The bezel feels a little wide, but then you can’t deny the compass scale is very legible because of it.
