Watch Paparazzi

Explorer Fabien Cousteau spotted wearing Seiko

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and a working ocean explorer in his own right, was photographed at what appears to be a watch-related event — note the large Seiko dive watch backdrop — wearing a Seiko Prospex Turtle with a vivid blue dial on a black rubber strap. The setting underscores a genuine partnership between Cousteau and the brand, making this far more than a casual celebrity endorsement.

The Seiko Prospex Turtle family sits in the SRPC/SRPD lineup and this example, with its deep blue dial and matching blue bezel insert, points strongly toward the SRPC91K1 or a closely related variant. The Turtle's calling card is its cushion-shaped case — wider at the lug ends and subtly curved — a silhouette revived from the iconic 6309 reference of 1976. Powering it is the Seiko 4R36 automatic movement, offering 41 hours of power reserve, hacking, and hand-winding. Water resistance is rated to 200 metres, entirely credible for professional-adjacent diving use.

Among collectors, the Turtle occupies a rare sweet spot: it delivers genuine dive-watch provenance, robust specifications, and that immediately recognisable case shape at a price that remains accessible. The blue 'Bluelagoon' references in particular have developed a loyal following, with secondary-market demand consistently outpacing the grey-market discount typical of entry-tier Seiko pieces.

Fabien Cousteau is not a celebrity who wears dive watches ironically. He led Mission 31 in 2014, spending 31 days living and working at the Aquarius underwater research station off Florida — surpassing his grandfather's own record. He founded the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center and remains an active ocean advocate. A Seiko Prospex Turtle on his wrist is a working tool, not a styling choice.

Retail on the Prospex Turtle blue variants sits comfortably below $500, making this one of the most democratically priced celebrity watch sightings we cover. Grey market pricing tracks closely to retail, occasionally dipping below. For collectors, the Cousteau association only strengthens the narrative case for adding one to the collection.