Seiko released the Prospex Shohei Ohtani Limited Edition GMT Diver last week. 500 pieces. ¥330,000 JPY - roughly €2,100. Sold out in minutes.
The Watch #
It’s a GMT diver based on the Prospex platform. 42mm case, 200m water resistance, sapphire crystal. The 6R54 movement handles the GMT complication - same caliber found in the regular Prospex GMT lineup.
What makes it “Ohtani” is the colorway. Blue and red accents reference the LA Dodgers colors. The caseback has his signature and jersey number. There’s baseball stitching texture on the strap.
The Reality Check #
Let’s be honest here. This is a €1,000 watch with €1,100 of celebrity tax.
The base Prospex GMT costs around €900-1,000. You’re paying double for a caseback engraving, some color coordination, and the privilege of owning 1 of 500 pieces.
If you’re a serious Ohtani fan, I get it. Sports memorabilia collectors think differently than watch collectors. This is more merchandise than horology.
The Flip Market #
Within hours of release, these appeared on resale sites for €4,000-5,000. Classic limited edition speculation.
Will they hold that value? History says no. Sports-themed limited editions rarely appreciate long-term unless the athlete becomes truly legendary. And even then, the watch needs to be good on its own merits.
Should You Have Bought One? #
If you wanted to actually wear it - probably not. The Prospex GMT in standard trim is a better value proposition. You get the same movement, similar build quality, and you don’t have to explain your watch choice to everyone who asks.
If you wanted to flip it - you missed the window. The easy money was made by the bots.
Celebrity collaborations will keep happening. They’ll keep selling out. The cycle continues.