Introducing: The Spring Drive-Powered Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition SNR058
The first thing that popped up in my head when laying eyes on the Spring Drive-powered Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition SNR058 was “Root Beer.” The colors, shapes, and vibe make me think of that famous GMT watch made by The Crown. It’s a good thing this watch is designed for the U.S. market and not for the Japanese market, though, because the Japanese don’t have a fondness for the herby soft drink, and therefore, I suspect they don’t get all warm and fuzzy when they hear the famous nickname. Here’s why.
The reason root beer has never gained traction in the Japanese market is pretty apparent. Even in the United States, where it originated, the drink has plenty of detractors, but in Japan, the number of people who find it unbearable is overwhelming. What makes root beer so intensely unappealing to Japanese consumers? The most common explanation is simple: it “tastes like medicine.” The soft drink’s flavor is quite similar to the smell of a shippu, the chemical hot or cold patches used to treat muscle pain and injuries. With that out of the way, here’s the Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition SNR058. It’s made especially for a market where root beer rules. But while the watch may have “Root Beer” vibes, we’re not going to call it that.
Introducing the Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition
So, “Root Beer” is out, but what about “Nebula”? The Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition SNR058 features a design inspired by the North America Nebula, a cosmic formation located approximately 2,000 light-years from Earth. The dial features a cosmic gradient that mirrors the nebula itself, transitioning from rich brown to deep black as it fades into the darkness of space. Encircled by a rose-gold-colored outer bezel with a glossy black and brown sapphire insert, the dial is accented by a rose-tone GMT hand. It features a power reserve indicator, date display, and LumiBrite hands and markers for enhanced legibility.
Spring Drive power and accuracy
The position of that power reserve indicator on the dial reveals that underneath the space-like dial beats a Spring Drive movement. That’s rather special since there’s only a handful of Seiko Prospex and Presage models that use such a movement, which was, for a long time, a Grand Seiko-only caliber. The “flyer-style” GMT caliber 5R66 has an accuracy of ±1 second per day (or ±15 seconds per month) and a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.
Super hard, super light
The Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition is lightweight, yet it appears to be heavy. The robust-looking case has a 44.8mm diameter, a 50.9mm lug-to-lug, and a 14.7mm profile — “very U.S.” sizes, if I may say so. Just like the three-row bracelet, it’s made from durable titanium with a super-hard coating. As you would expect from a top-range Prospex model, the watch has a sapphire crystal with a super-clear coating. Additional features include a screw-down crown and screw-in case back, a folding push-button-release clasp, and a 100m water resistance rating.
Now it’s time to reveal the price of the Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition SNR058. This Spring Drive-equipped travel dive watch costs US$6,600. Now, what do you think, is this nebula-inspired, very precise, large-sized travel diver worth the money? Please let me know in the comments section.
