1965 Seiko Diver 62MAS (Ref. 6217-8000) "Small Crown"

Founded in 1881, Seiko has established itself as one of Japan’s most influential watchmakers, with a rich history of innovation and an extensive catalog spanning everything from rugged mechanical tool watches to groundbreaking quartz technology. Throughout its history, the brand has consistently pushed the boundaries of watchmaking, producing some of the industry's most recognizable and historically significant timepieces.

Introduced in 1965, the Seiko 62MAS marked a pivotal moment in the brand’s history as both Seiko’s and Japan’s first purpose-built dive watch. Featuring an automatic movement and 150 meters of water resistance, the 62MAS established the foundation for a lineage of Seiko dive watches that continues to this day. Its straightforward, utilitarian design, characterized by a broad, angular case without crown guards, oversized luminous hour markers, and a rotating timing bezel, embodies everything we love about early dive watches. The 62MAS remains one of the most important models in Seiko’s history, representing the brand’s first venture into the world of professional diving instruments.

The example offered here is the original ref. 6217-8000, affectionately known among collectors as the “Small Crown,” representing the earliest and most elusive iteration of the 62MAS. Produced for only a brief period in the spring of 1965, this initial execution was quickly superseded by the ref. 6217-8001, which introduced the larger crown that would earn it the “Big Crown” nickname. With its remarkably short production run and historical significance as the very first execution of Seiko’s inaugural dive watch, the 6217-8000 occupies a particularly special place in the brand’s history, making it an exceptionally compelling example for collectors of early Japanese tool watches.