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A comprehensive collection of Turtles, King Turtles, Mini Turtles, Slim Turtles, Captain Willards and Land Tortoises.
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The Seiko Turtle originated in 1976 with the 6306-7001, a 150m automatic diver recognizable by its cushion-shaped case and 4 o'clock crown guard. Seiko produced the line through the early 1980s using the 6306A and later 6309A automatic calibers, as well as the 7548 quartz movement.
Notable variants include the SCUBAPRO 450 collaboration, limited to approximately 1,000 units, and the extremely rare Antarctica expedition models produced in quantities of around 20 pieces each.
The original Turtle series established the case shape and design language that Seiko would revisit decades later across multiple product lines.
Reintroduced in 2016 under the Prospex line, the New Generation retains the original cushion case silhouette but updates everything inside. The movement is now the 4R36 (hacking and hand-winding), the case grows to 45mm with a 22mm lug width, and the crown sits at 3.8 o'clock. Crystal remains Hardlex.
Produced through 2023 across a wide range of standard, limited, and regional editions, including the PADI and Save the Ocean collaborations.
Quiet ISO update: Around 2022, Seiko silently updated production across the line, adding a lume pip at 3 o'clock to maintain ISO 6425 compliance.
Premium variant of the New Generation. Same 45mm case and 4R36 movement, but sapphire replaces Hardlex and ceramic replaces the aluminum bezel insert, improving scratch resistance and long-term durability.
Distinguished by a range of textured dials, with the waffle pattern becoming its signature.
Often nicknamed the "Baby Turtle" by collectors, the Mini Turtle scales the Turtle case down to 42mm with a 20mm lug width, making it more accessible for smaller wrists. The crown moves to 3.0 o'clock, giving the case a more symmetrical profile than its larger siblings.
It runs the 4R35 automatic, which shares the hacking and hand-winding of the 4R36 but omits the day complication. Crystal remains Hardlex. Released in a variety of colorways, several as regional or limited-edition variants.
The vintage Slim Turtle refers to Seiko's thinner-cased dive watches from the late 1970s and 1980s. They share the Turtle's cushion case silhouette but with a reduced case height, offering a more everyday-wearable alternative while keeping 150m water resistance.
Powered by either the 7548 quartz caliber or the 6309 automatic caliber. Seiko produced them in both JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) and export configurations, with differences in dial text, day wheel languages, and color options between markets.
The modern Slim Turtle is a contemporary reinterpretation of the vintage slim-cased Turtles, with a 41mm case measuring just 12.3mm thick. It runs the 6R35 automatic with a 70-hour power reserve, a significant upgrade over the movements in both the vintage Slim Turtles and the New Generation series.
Specification includes sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel insert, 200m water resistance, and a crown at 4.1 o'clock. Sold under the SPB reference numbering as part of Prospex, placing it above the SRP-series Turtles in Seiko's hierarchy.
The Captain Willard takes its name from Martin Sheen's character in Apocalypse Now (1979), in which Sheen wore a Seiko 6105-8110 on screen. The original 6105-8110, produced in the early 1970s, features an asymmetrical cushion case with a distinctive bayonet-style crown at 4 o'clock and is powered by the 6105B automatic caliber.
Seiko has since produced modern reissues under the SLA and SPB reference lines, using either the high-grade 8L35 movement or the 6R35 with 70-hour power reserve. The modern interpretations retain the period-correct case proportions and crown design while adding contemporary specifications such as sapphire crystal and 200m water resistance.
The Land Tortoise adapts the Turtle case for land-based use by replacing the rotating dive bezel with a fixed compass bezel marked with cardinal directions, intended as a directional reference when used with the sun rather than as a functional electronic compass.
Powered by the 4R35 automatic, retaining 200m water resistance despite its land-oriented positioning. Released in earth-toned colorways suited to field and outdoor use, visually distinct from the ocean-themed palette of the dive-oriented Turtle models.
