Longevity is often mistaken for legacy in watchmaking. A few names, however, embody both like Seiko. As the Japanese watchmaker celebrates its 145th anniversary, the milestone is a testament to founder Kintaro Hattori’s vision. Hattori was driven by a belief that Japan could rival the finest watchmakers of the West through precision and uncompromising quality. As such, after opening his Ginza storefront in 1881, he established the Seikosha Factory, named after the Japanese word Seiko, meaning precise. That pioneering spirit laid the foundation for Japan’s modern watchmaking industry and propelled 145 years of relentless innovation. This year, four core Seiko collections, the King Seiko, Prospex, Presage and Astron, commemorate 145 years of the brand’s journey with emblematic gold accents and touches. Each pillar represents Seiko’s seismic innovations over the decades, from mechanical mastery to quartz revolution and satellite-linked accuracy.

Born in 1961 at Seiko’s Daini Seikosha factory in Kameido, Tokyo, King Seiko was developed as a high-performance, high-quality watch for a larger population amid a booming economy. This year’s King Seiko KS1969 SJE121 is based on a King Seiko blueprint from the late 1960s. Apart from the watch’s characteristic case shape and profile, the 800-piece limited edition King Seiko SJE121’s dial is embossed with a fine pattern inspired by an intricate motif Hattori engraved on imported pocket watches during his company’s early era. Grey gradations darken toward the dial edge, reflecting a modernity in its design while subtly highlighting the beauty and brilliance of the gold-coloured hands, indexes, and letters.

​Seiko’s precision capabilities were tested to extremes in sports timing. With a rich history spanning decades, Seiko unveiled Japan’s first chronograph watch in 1964, followed by the Speedtimer, an automatic chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch, in 1969. This year’s Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph SRQ059 features a similar engraving to the King Seiko KS1969 SJE121, with a sporty white dial and gold-coloured elements. Further touches of nostalgia punctuate the watch, the most telling being the case and bracelet shapes and designs that take cues from 1960s and 1970s Speedtimer chronographs. The 700-piece limited edition watch is powered by the Calibre 8R48, featuring a vertical-clutch column-wheel chronograph and a MEMS-technology-made escapement that enhances chronometric performance.

​Japan’s innately rich and timeless artisanal traditions are brought to life in the Seiko Presage collection. The Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Enamel Dial SPB538 pays tribute to the Timekeeper Type 17, created in 1895 under Hattori’s watchful eyes. Touches such as the onion crown, fluted bezel and wired lugs are a throwback to the historical timepiece’s silhouette, while the slender Roman numerals evoke an old-world charm. To highlight Seiko’s expertise in artisanal crafts, the 1,450 limited-edition watch’s dial is artfully crafted from smooth white enamel, renowned for its delicate, painstaking process. Within its gold-plated stainless steel case lies the Calibre 6R51 with a three-day power reserve.

Seiko’s final piece in the 145th anniversary commemorative quartet is named after a figure that revolutionised the watchmaking industry. The Quartz Astron, unveiled in 1969, was the world’s first quartz watch, bringing unrivalled precision timekeeping to the world. Its name was later revived in 2012 when Seiko championed another first by introducing the world’s first GPS solar watch. The 1,450 limited edition Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph SSH186 makes a stylistic departure from its three other companions, featuring a black super-hard-coated titanium case and bracelet accented by gold touches. Mechanically, its Calibre 5X83 is the brains behind its multitude of functions, including world and dual time functions, time synchronisation with GPS networks, a perpetual calendar and a chronograph, amongst many others.

Together, these four Seiko collections reflect a continuum of Hattori’s foresight. Timekeeping is not merely measuring fleeting seconds but shaping the future with discipline, imagination and unwavering precision. The Seiko 145th anniversary collections are available at the Seiko Takashimaya and VivoCity boutiques and online boutique.

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