Seiko Watch Corporation will release four limited edition models commemorating the company's 145th anniversary, launching on February 6th. The collection includes special timepieces from King Seiko, Seiko Prospex, Seiko Presage, and Seiko Astron, with retail prices ranging from 264,000 yen to 396,000 yen (tax included).
Seiko Celebrates 145 Years of Innovation in 2026
Since its founding in 1881, Seiko has consistently pursued innovation, viewing watches as solutions to societal challenges. Founder Kintaro Hattori's belief in "always staying one step ahead of the times" has driven the company's continued evolution.
Kintaro established the "Hattori Watch Shop" (now Seiko Group Corporation) at age 21 in 1881, primarily engaged in the sales and repair of imported watches. In 1892, he founded the "Seikosha" manufacturing facility, beginning production of wall clocks. Three years later, responding to the growing demand for pocket watches, the company began producing them and released Seiko's first pocket watch, the "Timekeeper." Through continued research and development in anticipation of the wristwatch era, Seiko completed Japan's first wristwatch, the "Laurel," in 1913.
Seiko also commercialized Japan's first chronograph in 1964, the "Crown Chronograph," which integrated stopwatch functionality into a wristwatch. In 1969, the company released the world's first automatic chronograph with a vertical clutch and column wheel, the "1969 Speed-Timer," applying the timing technology developed during the 1960s to wristwatch manufacturing.
Throughout its history, Seiko has created watches not merely as time-telling tools but as objects that enrich daily life and bring color to everyday moments.
Looking forward, Seiko aims to create a future filled with smiles worldwide by continuing its relentless pursuit of innovation, bringing trust and inspiration to people and society.
The 145th anniversary limited edition models feature warm gold as an accent color, symbolizing success and prosperity. These timepieces embody Seiko's wish to remain a companion in people's lives and illuminate the future through watches.
Product Features
King Seiko: Inspired by the Intricate Engravings on Imported Pocket Watches by Kintaro Hattori
The King Seiko limited edition comes from the KS1969 series, featuring a case design emphasizing thinness and elegant brilliance, paired with a comfortable multi-row bracelet. The dial combines a pressed pattern inspired by the beautiful engravings that Kintaro Hattori's ideas brought to imported pocket watches before the establishment of Seikosha, along with a deep gray gradation. The exquisite beauty of the pattern and the gold-colored logo, hands, and indexes create a striking appearance.
King Seiko, born in 1961, led the evolution of Japanese mechanical wristwatches during the 1960s. Revived in 2022 after approximately 50 years, King Seiko continues to radiate new appeal as a Japanese mechanical wristwatch with performance and design befitting its name, representing Seiko's high-end mechanical watch brand.
Seiko Prospex: Intricate Pressed Pattern and Gold Color in Harmony
The Speed Timer Mechanical Chronograph, equipped with visibility and legibility for accurate time reading, records every moment precisely not only in sports scenes but in all situations. Like the King Seiko limited edition, this model features a dial with a pressed pattern inspired by the beautiful engravings applied to imported pocket watches through Kintaro Hattori's ideas. The serene white dial finish creates harmony between the intricate pressed pattern and gold color, befitting Seiko Prospex.
Seiko Prospex is a comprehensive sports watch brand offering reliability and authentic functionality for activities requiring precise time management, such as diving, sports competitions, and mountaineering. The history of Seiko sports watches began with Japan's first diver's watch released in 1965, later developing into world-leading chronograph technology that continues to evolve today. In recent years, the brand has also implemented ocean conservation activities worldwide, protecting the richness of the seas that watch over the evolution of the flagship diver's watch collection.
Seiko Presage: Inspired by the "Timekeeper" Pocket Watch from Seikosha's Early Days
During an era when watches were difficult to obtain, Seiko not only sold imported pocket watches but also pursued research and development toward a future where everyone, everywhere, could access accurate time. In 1895, Seiko completed its first pocket watch.
This model pays homage to the "Timekeeper," a pocket watch created during Seikosha's early days, designed to evoke the atmosphere of that era. Like the distinctive decorations on the Timekeeper's case, the bezel features three-dimensional and intricate ornamentation. The characteristic onion-shaped crown remains unchanged, while the refined thin Roman numeral indexes have been updated to a highly visible typeface.
The gold-colored case with its distinctive pocket watch-like shape and proportions further enhances the lustrous sheen and warm texture of the enamel dial, also used in the Timekeeper.
The connection between the strap and case employs a movable structure with a pass-through strap, similar to Japan's first wristwatch, the "Laurel." The strap uses leather produced by a tanner certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), of which Seiko is a member.
Seiko Presage is a watch brand that inherits over 100 years of Seiko's watchmaking tradition and communicates Japanese aesthetics to the world. Its unique worldview has earned high praise from mechanical watch enthusiasts.
Seiko Astron: Majestic Black and Gold Model from the Brand Rooted in the "Quartz Astron"
In 1969, Seiko released the world's first quartz wristwatch, the "Quartz Astron." Furthermore, by disclosing proprietary technologies such as the tuning fork-shaped quartz oscillator and distributed step motor developed specifically for quartz watches, Seiko aimed to deliver accurate time to everyone, contributing significantly to the worldwide popularization of analog quartz watches. In 2012, the company released the world's first GPS solar watch, inheriting the Astron name.
This model features black on the beautifully polished case and bracelet, highlighting the gold color scattered throughout, including the transparent sapphire glass bezel, indexes, and hour, minute, and second hands.
On the dial ring, the time zone display numbers 1, 4, and 5 are rendered in gold, commemorating Seiko's 145th anniversary.
Seiko Astron is a brand symbolizing Seiko's progressive spirit, inheriting its name from the Quartz Astron, the quartz watch Seiko released to the world in 1969. As a business watch combining story-driven sophisticated styling with ever-evolving unique functionality, it supports people's lifestyles worldwide with high time accuracy. In addition to the world's first GPS solar model launched in September 2012, the lineup now includes solar radio wave models, offering a wide range of variations.
As proof of the limited edition status, each model's case back is engraved with "LIMITED EDITION" and a serial number.
Product Specifications
Seiko 145th Anniversary King Seiko KS1969 Limited Edition
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Number | SDKA027 |
| Retail Price (tax included) | 396,000 yen |
| Case/Bracelet | Stainless steel |
| Glass | Box-shaped sapphire glass (inner anti-reflective coating) |
| Water Resistance | Enhanced water resistance for daily use (5 ATM) |
| Case Size | [Diameter] 39.4mm (excluding crown) [Thickness] 9.9mm |
| Limited Quantity | World limited: 800 pieces (300 in Japan) |
| Release Date | February 6th (Fri) |
Movement Specifications:
- Mechanical movement Caliber 6L35
- Winding method: Automatic (with manual winding)
- Accuracy: +15 to -10 seconds per day (when worn on the wrist at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C)
- Power reserve: Approximately 45 hours
- Number of jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (8 vibrations/second)
Seiko 145th Anniversary Seiko Prospex Speed Timer Mechanical Chronograph Limited Edition
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Number | SBEC031 |
| Retail Price (tax included) | 352,000 yen |
| Case/Bracelet | Stainless steel (Dia Shield) |
| Glass | Dual curve sapphire glass (inner anti-reflective coating) |
| Water Resistance | Enhanced water resistance for daily use (10 ATM) |
| Case Size | [Diameter] 42.0mm (excluding crown and protrusions) [Thickness] 14.6mm |
| Limited Quantity | World limited: 700 pieces (150 in Japan) |
| Release Date | February 6th (Fri) |
Movement Specifications:
- Mechanical chronograph movement Caliber 8R48
- Winding method: Automatic (with manual winding)
- Accuracy: +25 to -15 seconds per day (when worn on the wrist at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C)
- Power reserve: Approximately 45 hours
- Number of jewels: 34
- Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (8 vibrations/second)
- Additional functions: Stopwatch function (30-minute counter, 12-hour counter)
Seiko 145th Anniversary Seiko Presage Classic Series Craftsmanship Enamel Dial Limited Edition
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Number | SARX136 |
| Retail Price (tax included) | 264,000 yen |
| Case | Stainless steel (gold plating) |
| Strap | Cowhide leather |
| Glass | Box-shaped sapphire glass (inner anti-reflective coating) |
| Water Resistance | Enhanced water resistance for daily use (5 ATM) |
| Case Size | [Diameter] 35.0mm (excluding crown) [Thickness] 12.3mm |
| Limited Quantity | World limited: 1,450 pieces (400 in Japan) |
| Release Date | February 6th (Fri) |
Movement Specifications:
- Mechanical movement Caliber 6R51
- Winding method: Automatic (with manual winding)
- Accuracy: +25 to -15 seconds per day (when worn on the wrist at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C)
- Power reserve: Approximately 72 hours
- Number of jewels: 24
- Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (6 vibrations/second)
Seiko 145th Anniversary Seiko Astron Nexter GPS Solar Dual Time Chronograph Limited Edition
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Number | SBXC186 |
| Retail Price (tax included) | 374,000 yen |
| Case/Bracelet | Titanium (Super Black Dia Shield) |
| Glass | Dual curve sapphire glass (Super Clear Coating) |
| Water Resistance | Enhanced water resistance for daily use (10 ATM) |
| Case Size | [Diameter] 44.1mm (excluding crown and protrusions) [Thickness] 14.4mm |
| Limited Quantity | World limited: 1,450 pieces (600 in Japan) |
| Release Date | February 6th (Fri) |
Features Comfotex Ti
Movement Specifications:
- GPS solar movement Caliber 5X83
- Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month (when not receiving signals, when worn on the wrist at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C)
- Dual time display function
- Stopwatch function (1/20 second measurement, 12-hour counter)
- World time function (38 time zones)
- Solar charging function (operates for approximately 6 months from full charge)
- Reception function: Time zone correction via GPS satellite signal reception
- Super Smart Sensor (automatic time adjustment function)
- Forced time adjustment function
*Caliber 5X83 reflects DST (daylight saving time) implementation information for the region when time zone adjustment (excluding manual) succeeds.
These limited edition models celebrate Seiko's 145 years of watchmaking excellence, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative technology. Each piece represents a chapter in the company's journey from a small watch shop to a globally recognized timepiece manufacturer.
