Seiko 145th Anniversary Two-Tone Watches
New Release

Seiko 145th Anniversary Two-Tone Watches

By cazalea · Jan 8, 2026 · 11 replies
cazalea
WPS member · Seiko forum
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Cazalea introduces four new two-tone Seiko watches released to celebrate the brand's 145th Anniversary, emphasizing their limited availability. The post delves into the historical inspiration behind these models, particularly the intricate dial patterns reminiscent of founder Kintaro Hattori's early timepieces.

The watches should arrive at the beginning of February at selected Seiko dealers. Since these are limited models, act now if you want to find one of them or have it directed to a store near you.



The Seiko story began in 1881 when company founder Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Tokyo’s Ginza district for the import, sale, and repair of timepieces. Occasionally, Kintaro had his timepieces engraved with an intricate pattern that was popular at the time, allowing his company to showcase the beauty of its craftsmanship. From its early days to the present, Seiko has always sought to provide not just a means to tell the time, but a way to enrich the lives of its customers with joy and beauty through timepieces.

In 1892, Kintaro established his own factory, Seikosha, to produce his own timepieces, and in just three years created his company’s first pocket watch, the Timekeeper. Kintaro’s pioneering spirit laid the foundation for Japan’s watchmaking industry and has driven innovation and progress for the past 145 years.


The new King Seiko watch features a dial inspired by the pattern that Kintaro arranged to have engraved on his timepieces. Its gray gradation darkens toward the edge, enhancing both the intricate beauty of the pattern and the brilliance of the gold-colored hands, indexes, and letters. Thanks to a multi-row bracelet with mirror polishing and brushed finishing, a slim case with a low center of gravity, and the slimline Caliber 6L35, the watch offers a sleek profile and a comfortable wearing experience.

King Seiko KS1969
Caliber 6L35
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Power reserve: 45 hours
Number of jewels: 26
Specifications
Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
Screw case back
Diameter: 39.4mm, Thickness: 9.9mm
Water resistance: 5 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Recommended retail price in Europe: €3,200
Limited edition of 800


Seiko’s pioneering legacy in sports timing is dotted with milestones that include Japan’s first chronograph wristwatch in 1964 and the world’s first automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch, the Speedtimer, in 1969. The new Speedtimer mechanical chronograph features a dial pattern inspired by the design that was engraved on Kintaro’s early timepieces, reimagined to combine a classic look with the legibility that defines every Prospex watch. Gold-colored elements set against the white dial further enhance this timepiece’s refined elegance. Shaped by heritage, the watch finds inspiration in the flowing designs and gracefully contoured bracelets of Speedtimer chronographs from the 1960s and ‘70s. Powered by the Caliber 8R48, hand-assembled by Seiko’s most skilled watchmakers, the chronograph delivers high precision and reliability through its vertical clutch and column wheel. Its escapement, made lightweight and strong thanks to MEMS technology, further enhances this movement’s performance.

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph
Caliber 8R48
Driving system: Automatic
Column wheel and vertical clutch
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Power reserve: 45 hours
Jewels: 34
Chronograph with 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock and 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock
Specifications
Stainless steel case and bracelet with super-hard coating
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
Screw case back
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 42.0mm, Thickness: 14.6mm
Three-fold clasp with push-button release
Recommended retail price in Europe: €2,700
Limited edition of 700

In 1969, Seiko launched the Quartz Astron, the world’s first quartz watch, and subsequently opened its patent to the world to bring precise time to everyone. In 2012, the Astron name was revived when the world’s first GPS solar watch was launched. The new Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph celebrates Astron's spirit of innovation, with gold-colored accents gracing every part of the watch – from the dial and bracelet to the case. The bezel features a gold-colored sapphire crystal insert that adds depth and dimension. Even the gold-colored markings at 1, 4, and 5 on the UTC scale offer a subtle tribute to the 145th anniversary. 

Powered by Caliber 5X83, the watch automatically connects up to twice a day* to the GPS network, and connects manually with the simple push of a button, to maintain its precision anywhere in the world. When the dial detects sunlight, the watch connects to the GPS satellite network and adjusts automatically to the correct time. If the watch is hidden from light, it remembers the time of its last successful manual connection and attempts to receive the GPS signal again at that same time. (If there are changes in the region / time zone / DST, manual selection may be required.)

Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph
Caliber 5X83
GPS-controlled time and time zone adjustment
Dual-Time with AM/PM indication
Chronograph with 1/20th second counter at 12 o’clock
12-hour counter (hours and minutes) at six o’clock during chronograph operation
Perpetual calendar correct to the year 2100
Automatic DST adjustment function
High-speed time zone adjustment
Time transfer function
Signal reception result indication
World time function (38 time zones)
Power save function
Accuracy: +/-15 seconds per month (without receiving a GPS signal and at temperatures between 5°C and 35°C)
Specifications
Titanium case and bracelet with black super-hard coating
Titanium bezel with sapphire crystal insert
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with super-clear coating
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 44.1mm, Thickness: 14.4mm
Easy-adjust three-fold clasp with push button release
Recommended retail price in Europe: €3,400
Limited edition of 1,450

The Presage model draws inspiration from a variation of the Timekeeper. It features an onion crown, and the bezel, which is adorned with intricate and dimensional detailing, echoes the silhouette of the historical timepiece. And like the Timekeeper, the Presage creation features a dial in smooth white enamel. Marked with slender Roman numerals, it evokes old-world charm while ensuring high legibility. The box-shaped glass, another vintage-inspired feature, provides the design with a rich depth. The watch is powered by the automatic Caliber 6R51, which provides a power reserve of three full days.

Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Enamel Dial
Caliber 6R51
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour (6 beats per second)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Number of jewels: 24
Specifications
Stainless steel case
Enamel dial
Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
Screw case back
Diameter: 35.0mm, Thickness: 12.3 mm
Water resistance: 5 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Leather strap
Recommended retail price in Europe: €2,000
Limited edition of 1,450

About the Seiko Seiko Prospex Ref. SSC947

The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SRQ041 is a limited edition automatic chronograph released in 2022, commemorating Seiko's long-standing role as the official timekeeper for the World Athletics Championships. This model draws inspiration from Seiko's pioneering sports timing instruments of the 1960s and the original 1969 Speedtimer chronograph, which introduced significant innovations like the vertical clutch and column wheel.

Powered by the Caliber 8R46, the watch features a stainless steel case with a super-hard coating and a dual-curved sapphire crystal. The sand-patterned dial, designed to evoke a running track, incorporates yellow accents on the chronograph second hand and 30-minute counter, reflecting Seiko's signature timing device colors. Lumibrite on the hour and minute hands ensures readability.

Limited to 400 pieces, the SRQ041 comes with both a specially designed stainless steel bracelet and an additional black leather strap. Its robust construction and precise movement, including the vertical clutch and column wheel, position it as a modern tribute to Seiko's chronograph history and its commitment to high-precision sports timing.

Specifications

Caliber
8R46
Case
Stainless steel with super-hard coating
Dial
Sand-patterned
Crystal
Dual-curved sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
AU
AuHavrePro
Jan 8, 2026

are too gaudy for my tastes 😉

QU
quattro
Jan 8, 2026

The dial pattern is inspired by a motif Kintaro Hattori engraved on some imported pocket watches. Best, Emmanuel

KM
KMII
Jan 9, 2026

But would like it even more without the Automatic 3 days script on the dial 😉🤷🏻‍♂️

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