The most well-known are their Alpinist line. These models were developed for the ' Yamaotoko', or Japanese ' Mountain Man'. The kind of man who spends his weekdays in the office and the weekends climbing mountains. Surprisingly, the reissue is slightly smaller than the original. As a fan of smaller watches that is a plus for me. But at 42mm, this isn't a small watch. It's just more compact than the original But the watch is a legitimate diver and has 200M of water resistance. And the other specs are good too - they should be - this isn't an inexpensive watch. These watches were designed to be versatile. They could be used in both environments. They're tough but refined. Legible, but stylish. In short, they're functional without being sporty. But this is a more expensive watch than the discontinued SKX007. However, it does feature their mid-range 6R35 automatic movement.

Seiko Recraft UFO Limited Edition – KibbleWatches

Like the Captain Willard model, Seiko has listened to its customers. Many of whom favour slightly smaller watches. So the 1968 re-issue is 42mm - rather than the 44mm of previous models. The Seiko Captain Willard was a real Seiko watch that was first released in 1968. Officially known as the Seiko 6105, it was a tough dive watch that was on sale in Vietnam during the war.But the watches real fame comes from Hollywood. In Apocalypse Now, Martin Sheen's character - Captain Willard - wore the Seiko 6105. The inspiration for this modern reinterpretation was a hand-winding model known as the Laurel Alpinist. It was a modest 35mm wide. This new version is slightly larger at 38mm. And rather than hand-winding, it is powered by an automatic movement. This watch, the Seiko Captain Willard, is a similar offering to the 62MAS. It's one of Seiko's most iconic divers and a favourite among the brand's fans.

The 6 Best Seiko Reissues, Reinterpretations, Re-creations

I'm sure that you'll find something here. Be it a re-creation of Seiko's debut dive watch or a modern interpretation of their 'mountain man' piece. The Alpinist line is still available. It has now been widened to include watches that celebrate their debut models.

This watch isn't an exact homage to a previous model. Instead, it's influenced by Seiko's Crown Chronograph from 1964. But obviously, this isn't a chronograph. And that is how it should be. It's not a Skin Diver like the 62MAS. Instead, this model is a professional diver. A tough watch designed for long periods in water. At the time of the watches release, manufacturers were breaking new dive records. Diver's were going ever deeper - for both work and recreation. But not everyone into dive watches needed that functionality.

Seiko Recraft SNKP27 Review: An Affordable Green and Gold Beauty Seiko Recraft SNKP27 Review: An Affordable Green and Gold Beauty

Watch companies spotted a gap and began to release lighter, slimmer dive watches. These were aimed at more casual divers.

Points of Mention

The beautiful green version has a strong military vibe. I like that. The turtle or cushion case looks like a vintage diver. But the drab green feels authentic to the time period and its use in Vietnam. Skin Diver watches of the time had generic cases (often built by Squale). So this watch has an angular case with pronounced lugs. This is matched with a simple rotating bezel. Some of these are high-spec expensive watches and some are more modest and affordable. I've included both in my article. Technically, the reissue is an upgrade of the original. The water resistance is increased from 150 to 200M and the modern Seiko movement is an improvement. That's why this watch is top of my list. Perhaps your forebearer never owned such a watch, or at least never passed it down to you. That’s where I imagine the Seiko Recraft SNKP27 steps in. It’s a different sort of watch, offering the flair of yesteryear, crafted with modern parts, at a modern size. The Recraft gives you a sense of a connection to the past. And it should earn you plenty of compliments in the present. The affordable and vintage-inspired Seiko Recraft SNKP27 The Seiko Recraft Series

Seiko Gents automatic Seiko recraft Limited Edition SRPC13K

The 62MAS was a straightforward automatic watch. But it had 150M of water resistance. That was impressive when previous Seiko watches could only boast 50M.But most are probably looking for that affordable standout piece in their collection, unlike anything else that they have. It will appeal to those who want vintage style and the look of craftsmanship from a past era. And it should appeal to people with the confidence to wear such an out of the ordinary watch, particularly in a time of featureless aluminum and glass slabs gracing so many wrists. The Seiko Recraft SNKP27 will stand out—and you will get noticed for wearing it. It was at this point that Seiko built their debut dive watch. The name 62MAS comes from the watches features - an autoMAtic Selfdater. But that simple design, with its round case and slim profile, doesn't do justice to the watches specs. This watch has 200M of water resistance and a sapphire crystal.