Michael Satterfield
TGR Staff -03/14/2023
In 1970, Seiko unveiled a new design for their diver’s watch, featuring a sleek case and an offset extension that safeguarded the crown at the four o’clock position. This model came five years after Seiko created Japan’s inaugural diver’s watch. The 1970 version proved its reliability under the harshest conditions when it accompanied Japanese explorer Naomi Uemura on his Arctic expedition.
Naomi Uemura was born in 1941 and started climbing mountains while he was still a university student. By the age of 29, he had already conquered Mont Blanc, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Aconcagua. In 1970, he accomplished the impressive feat of being the first Japanese mountaineer to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Just three months later, he became the first adventurer ever to conquer all five of these peaks by scaling the top of Alaska’s Denali (then called Mt. McKinley).
Today, Seiko honors Uemura’s triumphs by releasing a limited edition watch that portrays Mont Blanc, the first peak he climbed, on its dial. This exclusive collection consists of only 500 pieces.
