Seiko’s story began in 1881, when founder Kintaro Hattori opened a small watch shop in Tokyo’s Ginza district. He believed watches should be more than practical—they should add beauty and enjoyment to everyday life. That philosophy led to the founding of the Seikosha factory in 1892 and, three years later, the creation of Japan’s first pocket watch, the Timekeeper.
Following the same spirit, the brand now commemorates its 145th anniversary of uninterrupted watchmaking, with the launch of four limited-edition models across its core collections: King Seiko, Prospex, Presage, and Astron. United by gold-coloured accents and dial patterns inspired by decorative engravings once applied to Hattori’s early timepieces, each watch expresses the founder’s pioneering spirit through a distinct lens in regards to heritage, sport, craftsmanship, and innovation.
King Seiko KS1969 – Ref. SJE121
Joining the KS1969 series, the new King Seiko anniversary edition draws direct inspiration from the decorative engraving patterns seen on Kintaro Hattori’s early watches. Its gray gradient dial, covered by a box-shaped sapphire crystal, darkens toward the outer edge, subtly emphasizing the intricacy of the pattern while highlighting the gold-coloured hands, indexes, and lettering. The watch’s refined presence is reinforced by a slim 39.4mm case with a low center of gravity and a multi-row bracelet that alternates mirror-polished and brushed surfaces. Inside, the slim automatic Caliber 6L35, protected to magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m, enables the sleek profile of 9.9mm in thickness, while offering a power reserve of 45 hours.
This model is a limited edition of 800 pieces and has a recommended retail price of Rs. 2,80,000 (approx.)
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph – Ref. SRQ059
Seiko’s long-standing role in sports timing, marked by milestones such as Japan’s first chronograph wristwatch in 1964 and the 1969 Speedtimer, is the base of this Prospex anniversary model. The new Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph features a dial pattern inspired by engravings from Hattori’s early timepieces, reinterpreted to balance classic aesthetics with the high legibility expected of Prospex watches. Gold-coloured hands, indexes, and the Seiko logo stand out against a crisp white dial, lending the chronograph a refined yet purposeful character. The case and bracelet design echo the flowing lines and ergonomic profiles of Speedtimer models from the 1960s and 1970s. There's also a tachymeter scale aboard. The Speedtimer is driven by the automatic Caliber 8R48, equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch for smooth chronograph operations. The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of approximately 45 hours. Strengthened with Seiko's Super Hard Coating, the steel case measures 42mm in diameter and 14.6mm in thickness. A dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects the dial. Water resistance is rated to 10 bar, magnetic resistance of up to 4,800 A/m. The Speedtimer Chronograph is limited to 700 pieces and priced at Rs. 2,25,000 (approx.)
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Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Enamel Dial – Ref. SPB538
The Presage anniversary model takes inspiration from a historical variation of Seiko’s first pocket watch, the aforementioned Timekeeper. Vintage cues define the design, from the prominent onion crown to the knurled bezel that echoes the silhouette of the original timepiece. A smooth white enamel dial, accented with slender Roman numerals and protected by a box-shaped sapphire glass, delivers an old-school aesthetic. Movable lugs and a pull-through leather strap, sourced from Leather Working Group tanneries, underscore Seiko’s attention to comfort, craftsmanship, and responsible sourcing. The three-hand timepiece is powered by the automatic Caliber 6R51, which operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and provides an extended power reserve of approximately 72 hours. It features a magnetic resistance to 4,800 A/m. The PVD gold steel case measures a modest 35mm in diameter and 12.3mm in thickness. This limited edition comprises 1,450 pieces and carries a retail price of Rs. 1,71,000 (approx.)
Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph – Ref. SSH186
Since the launch of the Quartz Astron in 1969, the world’s first quartz watch, the Astron name has been synonymous with innovation. That legacy continues with this GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph, which celebrates Seiko’s anniversary through gold-coloured accents across the dial, case, and bracelet. A gold-coloured sapphire crystal insert in the bezel adds depth, while subtle gold markings on the UTC scale reference the brand’s 145-year anniversary. Designed for global precision, the watch automatically connects to the GPS satellite network up to twice a day when exposed to light and can be manually synchronized at the push of a button. It is powered by the GPS Solar Caliber 5X83, which offers GPS-controlled time and time zone adjustment, dual-time display with AM/PM indication, and a chronograph with a 1/20th-second counter at 12 o’clock and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock during chronograph operation. Additional functions include a perpetual calendar accurate until 2100, automatic daylight saving time adjustment, world time for 38 time zones, and a power-save function. Accuracy is rated at ±15 seconds per month without GPS signal reception. The titanium case and bracelet feature a black super-hard coating. The case measures 44.1mm in diameter and 14.4mm in thickness and is water-resistant to 10 bar, with magnetic resistance of 4,800 A/m. This model is limited to 1,450 pieces and priced at 2,98,000 (approx.)
This article first published in WatchTime.com
Images: Courtesy brand
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