Seiko’s Prospex HBC010 European Limited Edition Looks Like A Postcard From Austria
Summer is here, so many Europeans are starting to explore their beloved lands. Maybe that’s why Seiko drew inspiration from the beautiful Lake Hallstatt in Austria for its newest European-exclusive limited edition. The new Prospex HBC010’s deep green dial reflects the calm water and surrounding nature of Hallstätter See, enhanced by a sunray finish that captures light like ripples on the surface. The watch comes with Seiko’s recently updated stainless steel bracelet and a silicone strap, and it’s a limited edition of 1,400 pieces.
I went to Austria a couple of times for skiing trips, but I’ve never been to Lake Hallstatt. That’s unfortunate because the lake, a one-hour drive south-east of Salzburg, looks absolutely stunning in both summer and wintertime. Let’s take a look at the watch, though, because it seems very promising, as it’s derived from an old favorite of mine, the Seiko SPB143.
The new Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch HBC010
When the Seiko Prospex SPB143 was introduced, I almost immediately bought one and wore it very happily for a while. In the end, I sold it, though, because I felt it was a bit too chunky for my wrist. Luckily, in 2024, Seiko introduced the sleeker and more refined Prospex SPB451, SPB453, and SPB455. Today’s new EU-exclusive HBC010 features the same updated 40mm skin-diver case. That means it has a 13mm thickness and a 46.4mm lug-to-lug length, making it wear a lot better than its chunkier predecessor.
In terms of finishing, it features circular brushing up top, horizontal brushing along the sides, and sharply polished bevels all around. Just like my old favorite, it features Seiko’s ultra-hard coating, which should keep scratches at bay.
The HBC010 comes on a familiar three-row bracelet, which features Seiko’s updated folding clasp with a wetsuit extension and a toolless slide adjuster. This first appeared on the 145th-anniversary HBC005. The handy holes in the lugs are still there, making it easy to swap out the bracelet for the included silicone strap.
As you’ll probably know by now, this collection runs on Seiko’s in-house caliber 6R55. This automatic movement beats at 21,600 vph, features 24 jewels, and has a 72-hour power reserve. It lies hidden behind a screw-in, numbered case back, and you operate it with the screw-down crown. Both components help keep the watch water resistant to 300 meters. That should be enough for Lake Hallstatt, which doesn’t get deeper than 125 meters.
A dial and bezel in Lake Hallstatt green
As mentioned, the Seiko HBC010’s green colorway is inspired by the surroundings of Lake Hallstatt in Austria. The sunburst green dial features gold-colored applied indexes, gold-colored hands, and gold printing. I still think it’s a shame that the HBC010 doesn’t feature a brushed stainless steel bezel insert, as the SPB143 did. However, it’s nice that the aluminum one features the same green shade as the dial and that the markings match the gold-tone accents. Of course, the indexes, hands, and lume pip are all filled with Seiko’s LumiBrite for good readability in darker situations.
Since the update, the date window has moved from 3 o’clock to 4:30. In my view, this is a compromise; either make a good date window or don’t include one at all. Here, though, it is a little less “in your face” while remaining there for those who appreciate having a date function on their watch.
Image: Visitaustria.info
It seems like the Seiko designers took a good look at pictures of Lake Hallstatt in summer. The combination of the green dial and bezel, gold-tone details, and slightly yellowish LumiBrite does resemble the postcard pictures I saw online. And the good thing is that you can actually use your Seiko HBC010 during dives in Hallstätter See. The lake features clear alpine water, marked entry points, and unique underwater sights, including ancient sunken trees, a shipwreck, and an underwater wedding altar. Make sure to bring a thick wetsuit, though, because the water is freezing year-round.
The Seiko HBC010 on the wrist
It was nice to try on the new Seiko Prospex HBC010. It reminded me of my time with the great SPB143, but it also showed me again how much better the updated case is. The case back sinks nicely into the wrist, the mid-case is slim, and the watch feels very sturdy yet sleek. While the bracelet still feels a bit chunky, it’s also very solid, and the updated clasp is a very nice upgrade. Luckily, this model features a 20mm lug spacing, so you can easily swap the bracelet out for something lighter if you feel like it. The included black silicone strap is already a nice start.
I also like how the green and gold colorway not only resembles the Austrian scenery very well but is also pretty to look at, even if you don’t care about its inspiration. There’s no quirky pattern or logo on the dial, which keeps the watch quite neutral apart from the chosen colors. The dial’s sunburst finish is also very subtle. Along with the gilt accents, it gives the watch a friendly appearance. And as you can see in the pictures, when there’s not much light, the dark green might even appear black.
A European limited edition of 1,400 pieces
The new Seiko Prospex Diver HBC010 is a European-exclusive limited edition of 1,400 pieces. That’s actually quite a low number for Seiko. The watch costs €1,650 and comes with both the stainless steel bracelet and the black silicone strap. Let us know in the comments below what you think of the new Seiko Prospex HBC010.
