140 years of Seiko; This is the special anniversary collection
Posted 12 March 2021 by Miriam Reading time approximately 3 minutesJapanese watch brand Seiko celebrates its 140th anniversary this year. This is celebrated with a number of very special Limited Edition watches that have been created in the spirit of Seiko founder Kintaro Hattori.
Hattori was a progressive watch manufacturer whose goal was to always stay one step ahead of others. With this vision, and inspired by Japanese landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes, Seiko has put together a special collection that will only be available this year - in a limited edition.
As green as the island of Iriomote: Prospex diving watches SPB207, SLA047, SSC807
The inspiration for this series of watches comes from the surroundings of the island of Iriomote in Okinawa prefecture. Unique animal and plant species grow and flourish here. These are a magnet for divers and nature lovers from all over the world.
The reefs, jungle, mangrove forests, beaches, rivers and waterfalls have an unprecedented rich and varied beauty, the nature of which is reflected in the deep green dials of this anniversary series of Prospex watches.
The second mechanical watch - model SPB207 - is a contemporary reinterpretation of the original from 1968 and manufactured in an edition of 6,000 worldwide.
The diving watch is equipped with a 6-beat caliber 6R35 movement, is water resistant for 200 meters and has a power reserve of no less than 70 hours.
Model SLA047 is a 300-meter waterproof, 8-beat diver's watch with a unique one-piece case structure. Suitable for both saturation diving and diving with compressed air.
The watch is - in an edition of 3000 worldwide - made, assembled and adjusted by the skilled craftsmen of Shizukuishi. It is powered by an 8L35 caliber timepiece specially developed for diver's watches.
The third model in this series is the SSC807 chronograph. This watch is water resistant to 200 meters and equipped with a Solar V192 movement, released in a limited edition of 4,000 copies worldwide.
The two mechanical watches in this series are based on Seiko's renowned diver's watches from 1968. All three watches come in a special box with an extra silicone strap.
Presage Sharp Edged SPB205; Beautiful as the morning sun rising over Tokyo.
Introduced in 2020, the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series combines flat surfaces with sharp corners. Wherever the light hits the case, it creates a dazzling effect. Characteristic of the Sharp Edged Series is the use of the Asanoha or hemp leaf pattern on the dial, which further enhances the intriguing light.
For this special anniversary edition, gold-coloured indexes and hands have been combined with a deep black dial that evokes the suggestion of the golden morning light falling over Tokyo.
The watch, produced in an edition of only 4000 copies worldwide, comes in a special box with an extra leather strap.
The case is made of stainless steel with a super hard black coating. The structured dial with Asanoha pattern is highly visible through the anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The SPB205 is an automatic watch with a caliber 6R35 movement with a tick number of 21,600 per hour and 70 hours of power reserve.
Want to know more about these beautiful watches? Then read on in this article about the Sharp Edged series.
The magic of Yozakura depicted in the Astron SSH083
In Japan, the cherry blossom - sakura - has a special meaning. As a typical spring flower, Sakura has symbolized fleeting beauty for centuries. It is closely associated with bushido, the life teachings of the samurai, who saw life as beautiful, but short.
For the magical and ethereal radiance of these flowers under a clear starry sky, there is even a special word in Japanese: Yozakura.
The dial turns softly darker towards the six o'clock position. This creates a mysterious nighttime depth.
The advanced GPS Solar Dual-Time 5X53 caliber adjusts to the exact time anywhere in the world.
The matte black case, combined with the black strap, depicts the night sky, and the subtly shimmering purple-pink dial symbolizes the breathtaking beauty of Yozakura.
The case of the SSH083 has the same curved silhouette and the same lug width as the original Seiko Quartz Astron from 1969. This watch, produced in an edition of 1500 copies worldwide, also comes in a special box.
Sneak preview: Even more special anniversary watches
But that's not all! Another series of special watches will appear later this spring. The four watches in this anniversary series have a blue-silver-white colour scheme. Yet they all have their own character.
The Astron GPS Solar represents the pinnacle of high-tech electronic timepieces, while the Presage GMT automatic is a traditional mechanical watch.
The Prospex watch is a modern reinterpretation of Seiko's very first diving watch from 1965. And the Seiko 5 Sports symbolizes the appreciation that sports watch enthusiasts have cherished for this series for more than half a century.
These four watches will be available from May 2021. So keep an eye on our special Seiko anniversary page and be quick. Because these watches are also released in a very limited edition.