It seems that there has been a dry spell in Marinemaster posts lately, so I decided to take some pictures to remind you of how this watch looks
Most of the pictures of this watch show it on the bracelet so here?s how it looks on its rubber strap.
The dial is very deep-set and the depth of the dial makes it very easy to read at a quick glance even in odd angles.
This is in my experience, the best dive watch bezel ever made, it is extremely easy to grip and the ratchet action is precise, secure and has just the right amount of resistance. Furthermore, the fit is extremely tight to prevent dirt and sand from entering. Should anything get lodged under the bezel, there is a small gap on the other end of the case that allows for easy cleaning.
The solid case back reduces an extra opening to the case and with specially shaped gaskets, this watch is impervious to helium.
This is easily one of the most legible watches I have ever seen.
A wonderful detail about the hands is that they have a brushed finish which prevents them from blending in with the dial which happens when polished hands reflect dark surfaces or the dial from the crystal. The bold hands and markers allow for high visibility in all sorts of lighting conditions.
Despite its rather large size, the Marinemaster is very easy to wear because, in typical Seiko fashion, the case is faceted and angled which minimizes the obstruction of the watch to the flexion of the wrist. This also adds aesthetic appeal to the design.
Another merit of this watch is that it runs on a Seiko calibre 8L35 which is found only in the Marinemaster and Landmaster automatics. This chronometer grade movement utilizes the same design as the Grand Seiko 9S55 calibre (above chronometer standards) but without the extra refinements.
The main drawback of the Marinemaster is its use of hardened mineral crystal rather than sapphire. This was done because the engineers were concerned about the strength of sapphire crystals under pressure, as they are prone to developing micro-fractures during its cutting process. The fractures will weaken its structure and rather than risking having a sapphire succumb to pressure, the engineers elected to use a hardened mineral crystal instead. I would much prefer a sapphire crystal; however, Seiko designed this watch for professional divers, not a recreational/desk diver like me
Pictured below is the elusive Seiko 6159 300m professional from 1968, this is the watch from which the Marinemaster is descended.
The above photo was taken by Randall Benson aka 2Manywatches.
