The overall look of the watch is known as the Evolution 9 Styleand it will be an important part of the Grand Seiko’s signature in the years to come. Its powerful hands and grooved, prominent markers ensure perfect legibility, its Zaratsu polished, distortion-free mirror finish and delicate The dial beneath the mineral crystal is of white mother of pearl that houses gold-tone hands and hour markers and a magnified date window. However, not all watches follow the same pattern. For example, a white dial dive watch is a breeze of fresh air for its unique aesthetics compared to typical divers. It may not be as legible as dark ones in daylight but will offer plenty of lume in dim conditions. But, first and foremost, it is a through and through dive watch. Equipped with a 20 ATM water resistance that is compliant with rigorous NIHS 92-11 standards (equivalent to ISO 6425), the timepiece can be submerged to great depths without any concerns.

In terms of legibility, the white face with silver-tone hands and indices may not be the best combination. However, due to an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, the readability is enhanced drastically. Japan’s Seiko watches are on a roll and a slew of new watches for 2020 have something from just about all watch-lovers, whether their timepiece budget is a few hundred dollars or a few thousand. Today, I look at the Seiko Prospex “King Samurai” SRPE35 and SRPE37 watches that build upon the popular Seiko Prospex Samurai collection. The “King” part of the name implies a few welcome upgrades to the core watches, including a ceramic bezel insert, sapphire crystal, and new more attractive, textured dial.The ref. SNZG13K1 is paired with a three-piece link stainless steel bracelet. The ref. SNZG15K1 is an identical timepiece, but mounted on a textile strap. Both versions start at around 180 USD. Like the name already suggests, this Mako XL is a larger version of the classic Mako with a case diameter of 45mm. However, despite the somewhat bigger face, it won’t feel too bulky on a wrist due to the three-link metal bracelet that takes off some of the burdens from the case. Further, the lug-to-lug distance stays at a modest 51mm, while the height measures a convenient 14mm. There is a wide array of automatic watches with designs inspired by diving watches in the Seiko 5 Sports collection. These include the refs. SRPD51K1, SRPD63K1, and SRPD55K2. The first two models belong to the Seiko 5 Sports family, while the latter is part of the Specialist series. All three watches are similar in terms of technology and design.

Suigetsu” is evocative of viewing the moon reflected onto water, and it’s the theme that defines the SPB171. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the cool blue against the glossy surface of the white porcelain, a theme that’s carried on with the blue crocodile strap, which is actually a new color for Seiko. The Seiko 5 "Military" are among the most sought-after sports watches from the Japanese watch manufacturer. The design of these automatic watches resemble field and pilot's watches. True, some of them may not be for professional diving, but hey, how many of you are going to use them for the occasion, anyway? What truly matters is an excellent water resistance and the looks of a classic dive watch design. Inside the case, you get an automatic Seiko Caliber 7S26 self-winding movement, which is a real treat at this price point. That movement delivers 40 hours of power reserve and is resistant to 30m of water depth. This is one of the best Seiko field watches around and only gets better when you consider the price point. You’re getting a nice field watch design, on a steel bracelet, with an automatic movement and 100m of water resistance – what more could you need?! 3. Seiko Solar SNE329 (Solar Powered)An element that may cause it is the white rubber band the timepiece comes with. Those not in favor of the band can opt for other colors as Luminox offers a variety of different straps. After winter came, a blueish rugged leather strap was put on and it can be enjoyed in the winter days too. It wears fantastic, light plays joyfully with it and it got an over 90% wrist time between July and August. It feels strong, precious but without the need to baby it. So I swam, drove, hiked, partied and SPB213 was on my wrist. The dial on the ref. SNKE01K1 has a similar layout, but is surrounded by a stainless steel bezel with five-minute gradations. This model also uses the caliber 7S26 and costs roughly 145 USD.

All this preamble aside, the Arita porcelain dial is what the SPB171 is all about. Rich and deep with blue accents, it’s not hard to understand why porcelain is a potent material when put in capable hands. For Seiko, Arita porcelain artisan Hiroyuki Hashiguchi has been overseeing the creation of these dials (more on Arita porcelain and Mr. Hashiguchi here). The pictures will say more than words can, frankly. And even then, porcelain dials need to be seen in person be fully appreciated. “Depth” and “richness” are, again, the two descriptors that work best to describe it, and the contrast against the blue hands, indices, and other dial aspects is absolutely stunning.Prices for standard models like the SPB121J1 with a green sunburst dial fall around 700 USD. For limited models, expect prices from 1,100 USD. Baby Alpinist In contrast to most of the watches on this list, the Tag Heuer timepiece is powered by a quartz movement. As a result, it’s not as glamorous as an automatic equivalent but, on the other hand, offers better accuracy and is much cheaper.