With a history spanning over 140 years, Seiko has almost every year a reason to look back at a technical milestone. 2023 is an especially intriguing year as it marks the 110th anniversary of the introduction of the first wristwatch, the Laurel.
For this reason, the Japanese manufacturer is releasing seven anniversary editions in its most important collections, namely Presage, Prospex, Astron, and 5 Sports, dubbed the Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Limited Editions. All of these watches will be available as limited editions from October 2023 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide. They are presented on a strap made with leather from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries, either as the main form of attachment or in addition to the bracelets pictured.
Presage
Three new watches are introduced in the Presage collection mirroring the design codes of the Laurel to varying degrees. All of them sport a stainless steel case with with Seiko’s super-hard coating and an exhibition case back and are attached to a leather strap. They are protected against magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m.
The first new release joins the Presage Craftsmanship Series and unmistakably follows the design of the Laurel. Its immaculate white enamel dial is the creation of master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team. Sporting a dial with a red “12” and classically designed blue hands, reminiscent of the Laurel, this debutante is driven by Seiko’s high-performance caliber 6R27 offering a power reserve of 45 hours. Designed for longevity, the glossy white enamel dial showcases the date at 6 o’clock and the power reserve at 9, while the case – 40.2mm wide and 12.8mm thick – adopts a recently updated design to accentuate the exquisitely crafted dial and offer a slimmer profile on the wrist.
Limited to 1,500 pieces, the ref. SPB401 retails for approximately $1,500 when converted to USD.
The Ref. SPB413 joins the Sharp Edged Series and features an angular, modern case with a diameter of 40.2mm and a thickness of 13.0mm. Like the SPB401, its water-resistance is rated to 100 meters. A subtle red mark at the 12 o’clock position on the inner ring honors the Laurel. The faceted hour and minute hands combine with the dial’s asanoha or “hemp leaf” pattern for a very elegant appearance. Beneath this beautiful watch face ticks the self-winding caliber 6R55 with a power reserve of 72 hours or 3 days.
This edition is limited to 2,000 pieces and retails for approximately $1,230 when converted to USD.
They say “three is a charm” and so is the third addition to the Presage collection, the Seiko Presage Style60’s creations is a Style60’s GMT powered by the self-winding caliber 4R34. In this model, the monochromatic dial serves as a backdrop to the striking blue hands, including the GMT hand. The classically designed case boasts a diameter of 40.8mm and a thickness of 13.0mm. Complementing the central GMT hand, the bezel features a 24-hour scale for indicating a second timezone. Thanks to Lumibrite applied to the hour and minute hands, the time remains legible day and night. The ref. SSK015 is equipped with the automatic caliber 4R34, offering a power reserve of 41 hours.
Limited to just 350 pieces, it is priced at approximately $700 when converted to USD.
Prospex
The Prospex collection welcomes two new models in tribute to the Laurel. These creations serve as a homage to the Laurel’s legacy, with one designed for sports timing and the other for exploring new horizons.
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer 1/100 sec Solar Chronograph is an analog chronograph capable of measuring elapsed time to 1/100th of a second. To honor the Laurel, the sub dial hands at the 2, 10, and 12 o’clock positions are a vivid shade of red. This debutante comes encased in stainless steel, with a diameter of 42.0mm and a thickness of 12.9mm, housing the solar-powered caliber 8A50. Limited to 350 pieces, the ref. SFJ009 is available for approximately $1,180 when converted to USD.
Seiko’s Alpinist watches are well-regarded for their combination of functionality, durability, and unmistakable design. They are a popular choice for those who enjoy outdoor activities or simply appreciate a robust and reliable timepiece for every-day wear. The commemorative timepiece of this special edition features the latest GMT movement from the tried and trusted 6R caliber family in which the power reserve has been extended to 72 hours. As with the 1913 Laurel, blue-colored hands are set against a light-colored dial. A red mark on the inner compass ring reinforces the connection to the Laurel while indicating the cardinal direction north. The Seiko Prospex Alpinist measures 39.5mm wide and is 13.6mm thick. Its stainless steel case is water-resistant to 200 meters and equipped with a see-through screw case back.
Limited to 3,000 pieces, the ref. SPB409 retails for approximately $1,600 when converted to USD.
Astron
The Astron is an emblem of innovation, much like the Laurel, and it made its debut with the world’s first commercially available quartz watch. This latest iteration of the Astron GPS Solar, powered by the caliber 3X62 movement, features a revamped design with a faceted titanium bezel introduced earlier this year. The white dial pays homage to the Laurel, while the inner dial ring is marked with numerals every five minutes, with a solitary red “60” at 12 o’clock in tribute to the Laurel. Between 8 and 9 o’clock, a sub dial displays the GPS signal reception process, along with the watch’s charging status, leap second data acquisition, and in-flight mode.
This timepiece automatically connects to the GPS network up to twice daily to maintain its remarkable precision of one second every 100,000 years. Its titanium case is protected by a super-hard coating and measures 41.2mm in diameter. The ref. SSJ019 boasts water resistance to 100 meters and is limited to 800 pieces. It is priced at approximately $2,100 when converted to USD.
Seiko 5 Sports
Last but certainly not least, the commemorative edition introduces a new model in the 5 Sports collection. Its dial pays tribute to the Laurel with blue hands and red numerals on the 24-hour scale. The Seiko 5 Sports also features a day and date indication, all powered by the self-winding caliber 4R36. Encased in stainless steel, it boasts a diameter of 39.4mm and is water-resistant to 100 meters.
The ref. SRPK41 is presented on a five-link bracelet, limited to 6,000 pieces, and is available for approximately $500 when converted to USD.
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