Seiko Australia has released two limited edition Australasian watches to their range, with only 1000 of each timepiece available worldwide.
One of those two watches, the Seiko Prospex SRPJ53K “Eucalyptus”, is inspired by the bush of Australia. The iconic eucalyptus, or gumtree, is as iconic as Vegemite.
These beautiful trees are found all over the country, housing koalas and possums, and giving the land its vibrant ‘green and gold’ colour. That same colour is found in the Seiko Eucalyptus, which presents as a love letter from Seiko to its loyal Australian fans.
Shaping to be one of our favourite Seiko watches of the past year, the SRPJ53K is full of amazing details.
Overview
Case & Dial
So much of what makes the Seiko Eucalyptus so special is in its dial. Its olive green shade is emphasised with a sunray surface that looks beautiful under the Australian sun.
Seiko are known for their attention to detail, and there is a magical touch that makes this timepiece one to remember. Eucalyptus leaves are filled with oils, which is how they get their mixture of green and yellow colour. Under summer heat, these leaves release some of that yellow oil that glows gold under sunlight.
You might notice those same golden tones shining through from under this watch’s attractive green surface to create that same effect.
The bezel, too, makes some new territory with its olive tone with hits of Australian ochre colouring. While both green, the dial and bezel move past the vogue trend of green watches and bring their unique style to the forefront.
Its case is reminiscent of the evergreen ‘turtle’ case that has been a signature of Seiko’s diving watches since its 1976 inception. The brushed steel and larger size gives this watch a striking appearance on the wrist.
Seiko Eucalyptus Bracelet
The Seiko Eucalyptus comes with two strap options: a steel link bracelet, and a green rubber strap to match the theme colour.
Seiko’s choice to include both gives this watch a lot of versatility in style and use. The rubber strap gives this timepiece the look of a traditional diver, all the while giving you a softer feel on the skin.
The steel bracelet has a three-link design, captivating with its pattern to match the visual interest of the gumtree-green dial. To pair with the case, the bracelet option has been finished with a brushed surface.
If you buy this watch, you’ll probably find yourself using both options as they offer considerably different styles to fit several occasions.
Specifications & Features
Seiko has backed this watch with a powerful calibre 4R36 automatic movement which includes hand-winding capability and a day/date window. This movement will keep up to 41 hours in reserve.
It wouldn’t be a Seiko Prospex watch without a strong water resistance, and a 20bar rating will survive snorkelling and light diving. And, like a lot of Seiko diving watches, the Eucalyptus has a solid 45mm case diameter.
Here the full list of specifications:
- 45mm diameter x 47.7mm length x 13.2 thickness
- Stainless steel case
- Stainless steel bracelet / rubber strap
- Calibre 4R36 movement
- Hardlex glass
- 200m water resistance
- Screw down crown
And features:
- LumiBrite hands
- One way rotating bezel
- Date/day window
- Hand winding
- Interchangeable straps
Final Verdict
Finally, a watch just for Australians, inspired by the natural beauty of our land. Seiko is one of the most popular watchmakers in the country, and their Seiko Eucalyptus is a true gift. Though there are only a finite amount of these watches being released, anyone who gets their hands on one will appreciate the work and craft that’s gone into them.
The absolute standout feature of this timepiece is its colour and yellow undertones. Seiko have made sure that this watch captures everything that makes the native Eucalyptus so unique. The sunray dial is just about perfect for use under the Aussie sun, too.
Both the Seiko Eucalyptus and Noosa watches are fairly large in size at 45mm diameter, but they will still fit comfortably on your wrist: excellent for daily use.
Keep in mind that this Aussie-inspired watch is limited edition, so you’ll have to be quick once they're released if you want to snatch one up.
