Not quite a Seiko
The unidirectional bezel, for one, looks like a generic diver bezel and doesn’t mark off every single minute like most Seiko dive bezels. There’s a date window at 3:00, not a day-date like on the SKX and Turtle, and it’s magnified with a discreet cyclops, something more common on a Rolex than a Seiko.
The watch features a display caseback where you get a glimpse of an automatic Japanese movement — but it’s not from Seiko. Instead, it’s made by Seiko rival Citizen’s Miyota, and is likely the Cal. 8215 based on its 21-jewel count and date complication. It’s a reliable workhorse movement with hacking seconds, a feature that was infamously absent from the old SKX.
Timex went with a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating for the Deepwater Meridian, which is definitely an upgrade over the Hardlex mineral crystal you’ll find on the modern Prospex Turtle. The 44mm recycled stainless steel case features vertical brushing and a nicely polished chamfer. It’s a fairly basic design, but it appears to be well-executed with nice, sharp lines, and it looks better than the finishing you’d get on a Seiko at this price.
Timex describes the case as “shock-resistant,” though it’s unclear if this goes beyond the movement’s built-in Parashock anti-shock system. The case is definitely water-resistant, however, with a screw-down crown and caseback guaranteeing 200m of water resistance — the same you’ll find on an SKX or Turtle. Unlike Seiko divers, however, the Timex does not claim to meet the ISO 6425 diver’s watch standard.