SEIKO Celebrates 145th Anniversary with Four Limited-Edition Watch Collections Paying Tribute to Watchmaking Heritage Since Kintaro Hattori opened his watch shop in Ginza, Tokyo in 1881, SEIKO has continuously shaped people's understanding of time. From the debut of Japan's first wristwatch, Laurel, in 1913, to the Quartz Astron revolutionizing the entire watchmaking industry in 1969, and extending to numerous key technologies spanning mechanical and electronic fields, SEIKO's 145-year history is not only a chronicle of innovation, but also a trajectory of continuous evolution that brings time closer to life.
Therefore, to celebrate its 145th anniversary, SEIKO uses gold as a visual and spiritual symbol, bringing together its King Seiko, Prospex, Presage, and Astron collections to launch four limited-edition commemorative watches. The design inspiration traces back to the engraved patterns on Kintaro Hattori's early pocket watches, reinterpreting them through contemporary watchmaking language, so that history is no longer just treasured in the past, but worn again and experienced in the present.
Among this series of anniversary pieces, the Presage SPB538 undoubtedly best reflects the brand's origins. This timepiece draws inspiration from SEIKO's first pocket watch, the Timekeeper, in 1895, and the design language of Laurel in 1913, continuing the classic silhouette of the Presage "Craftsmanship Series" and fully inheriting the spirit of craftsmanship to this day.
Enamel Dial Combined with Pocket Watch Design Language
Presage Craftsmanship Series SPB538
The white enamel dial was hand-fired by craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team, showcasing the warm, nuanced layers that only high-temperature enamel can achieve. Black Roman numerals, gold leaf-shaped hands, and the gold applied SEIKO logo echo each other, achieving a perfect visual balance and subtly and precisely celebrating the 145th anniversary theme. Notably, this is also the first time this design line has featured a central seconds hand, bringing a subtle yet crucial contemporary adjustment to the classic proportions.
Meanwhile, the 35mm gold-plated stainless steel case, paired with movable lugs and an onion-shaped crown, clearly echoes the historical context of the transformation of pocket watches into early wristwatches. The box-shaped sapphire crystal strikes a balance between vintage aesthetics and modern durability. Inside, the 6R51 automatic movement offers a 72-hour power reserve, and a continuous leather strap from an LWG-certified tannery seamlessly blends historical texture with contemporary watchmaking standards.
replica seiko watches replica Jacob & Co. Epic X best luxury replica watchesreplica swiss watcheshigh quality replica watchesKing Seiko KS1969 SJE121: Recreating Engraved Patterns from the Kintaro Hattori Era
The King Seiko SJE121 shifts its focus to the brand's early decorative vocabulary. The gray gradient dial deepens from the center outwards, inspired by the engraved patterns on timepieces from the Kintaro Hattori era. This is not merely a reproduction of the patterns, but a contemporary response to the brand's aesthetic origins.
In terms of design, the 39.4mm stainless steel case continues the modern proportions of the KS1969 series, paired with a box-shaped sapphire crystal, achieving a good balance between sharp lines and wearing comfort. The multi-row bracelet combines brushed and mirror-polished finishes, maintaining King Seiko's consistently refined aesthetic. Inside, the 6L35 slim automatic movement maintains a sleek feel even under high-frequency operation, showcasing the brand's maturity and stability in the field of high-end practical movements.
A Sporty Chronograph Infused with Mature and Understated Quality: Prospex Speedtimer SRQ059
SEIKO's position in the chronograph watch field was established with Japan's first domestically produced chronograph watch in 1964, and the launch of the Speedtimer with its column wheel and vertical clutch in 1969 marked a key milestone. The Prospex SRQ059 is a contemporary expression of this chronograph heritage.
The white dial, also inspired by the engraved textures of early pocket watches, is paired with gold hands, hour markers, and logos, infusing this sports chronograph with a mature and understated elegance. Within the 42mm stainless steel case lies the 8R48 movement, hand-assembled by SEIKO's top watchmakers. Its column wheel and vertical clutch structure ensure smooth start-stop operation and long-term accuracy; the application of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) further enhances the overall stability of its operation.
Avant-garde Visual Layers Mark its Technological Position
Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph SSH186
As the most technologically significant piece in the anniversary collection, the Astron SSH186 directly inherits the core spirit established by Quartz Astron in 1969. The black ultra-hard coated titanium case and bracelet, accented with gold details, create a striking and avant-garde visual layering, clearly indicating its technological positioning within the series.
In the details, the UTC time zone markings on the sapphire crystal bezel are presented in gold for the numbers 1, 4, and 5, cleverly incorporating "145" into the design language. Internally, it houses the 5X83 GPS solar-powered movement, which automatically receives GPS signals and adjusts the time zone in real time, ensuring accurate timekeeping anywhere in the world, fully embodying the Astron series' core philosophy of "making technology serve everyday life."
These four 145th-anniversary watches are not merely a retrospective of history, but a conscious continuation. Returning to the spirit of craftsmanship, innovative attitude, and lifestyle established by Kintaro Hattori, SEIKO once again proves with four distinct watchmaking languages that history is not a burden, but a driving force propelling the brand forward.