Introducing Seiko's new watches for 2024! [Credor, King Seiko, Prospex, and more]

Seiko Watch began its history in 1881 as Hattori Watch Shop. Driven by the desire to "succeed in producing exquisite timepieces," the company named its watch factory "Seikosha" in 92, and released the first wristwatch bearing the SEIKO name in 1924. This means that 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Seiko brand. To mark this milestone, we present a selection of Seiko's new watches for 24.

The white porcelain dial stands out. Seiko Presage's new 2024 "Craftsmanship Series"

Seiko Presage's Craftsmanship Series aims to "highlight traditional Japanese craftsmanship and promote Japanese beauty through mechanical wristwatches." This series features dials that demonstrate the craftsmanship that symbolizes this concept. The dials use traditional Japanese craft techniques such as enamel, lacquer, Arita ware, and cloisonné. Of these, a new model has been released featuring an Arita ware dial, a technique that has been passed down for over 400 years.

　The first thing that catches your eye when you look at this watch is the white porcelain dial made of Arita ware. The dial has a unique magnetic luster that is elegant, and simple bar indexes are used to highlight this dial. Although simple, they are equipped with intricate details. For example, the inside of the indexes are decorated with a fine pattern, the outer periphery is curved, and the subdial at 6 o'clock has a bowl-shaped depression.

　This elaborate dial is then glazed and fired, resulting in a simple yet richly shaded dial, just 31.6mm in diameter and 1mm thick. The classic blue hands add elegance to the white porcelain. The minute and second hands are also bent toward the dial, which is a nice touch.

　The stainless steel case and bracelet are primarily satin-finished, with the bezel, chamfered edges, and central links of the bracelet given a polished finish. It's also worth noting that the DiaShield coating makes the exterior scratch-resistant.

　The retail price is 259,600 yen (tax included). Sales will begin on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

The King Seiko "KS1969" is an evolution of the heritage design of the model that first appeared in 1969.

　King Seiko was revived in 2021, marking the 140th anniversary of Seiko's founding. King Seiko is a collection that the company created in 1961 as a luxury model second only to Grand Seiko. The 2021 reissue of this King Seiko was based on the design of the second-generation "KSK" that appeared in 1965. While the 2021 model was limited to a production run of 3000 pieces, it was added to the lineup as a regular brand the following year in 2022. Since then, new variations have been added, expanding the range of options available.

　In 2024, new models have been added to the King Seiko line. The newly announced models are based on the 45KCM, which was launched in 1969 and has influenced subsequent King Seiko designs. Three regular models and one limited edition model are available.

　The most distinctive feature of this model is the cushion-shaped case, which follows on from the original 45KCM. Together with the rounded box-shaped sapphire crystal glass, it has a design full of vintage taste.

　The multi-row bracelet, inspired by Seiko watches manufactured in the 1970s, also emphasizes the feel of vintage watches from the past. This bracelet has also been newly developed.

　The case is not too large, with a diameter of 39.4mm and a thickness of 9.9mm, and has a low center of gravity. Combined with the flexible multi-strand bracelet, it also provides excellent wearing comfort.

　The three regular models released are a silver dial, a purple dial, and a green dial. Each dial has its own concept. The silver dial features a newly developed embossed pattern based on the modern cityscape of Tokyo. The purple dial is inspired by Edo purple, a traditional Japanese color, while the gradated green dial is inspired by the lush greenery of Tokyo.

　The retail price is 396,000 yen each (tax included), and sales are scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

Limited edition model commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Seiko brand

　As mentioned above, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Seiko brand. To commemorate this milestone, a limited edition model featuring a rising dragon on the dial has been released from the new King Seiko.

Aiming to "continue to make great strides over the next 100 years," the watch features a newly developed stamped pattern of dragon scales on the dial, inspired by the image of this year's zodiac sign, the Dragon, soaring in flight. The use of a refreshing light blue-green color is also significant. This color evokes the freshness of a "clear stream," the source of life and symbolic of the dragon.

　The retail price is 396,000 yen. Only 700 bottles will be produced worldwide, with 300 allocated to Japan.

Credor 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Model Recreates the Brand's Original Dial Design Using the Latest Techniques

　To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Credor, a commemorative model has been released that combines a dial design representative of the brand's early days with a classic from the 1960s. The base model is a successor to the "Gold Feather," a model that pursued thinness and became synonymous with luxury watches in the 60s. The case is 37.1mm in diameter and 8mm thick.

The Credor brand originated in 1974 when it established its "special selection wristwatches" made from precious metals. True to its name, which means "top of gold" in French, the brand continues to offer models that demonstrate Japanese aesthetic sense and craftsmanship to this day.

　The dial is a reproduction of a design representative of the brand's early days, recreated using cutting-edge techniques. The delicate texture of washi paper, which was present on the dials of that time, has been applied to the spherical dial of this model. The way the light reflects softly and expressively when it shines through is one of the watch's defining features. Furthermore, the spherical dial, despite its thin design, also creates a three-dimensional effect.

　In the past, the indexes were hand-drawn by artisans, resulting in delicate, clear prints, but this model has been recreated with improved printing technology. For example, slits have been added to the printing plate to prevent ink buildup during printing and to prevent the intersections of the V and X Roman numerals from being crushed, and whiskers have been added to the edges of the right angles of the Roman numerals to make them appear neater.

　The model name UTD stands for Ultra Thin Dress, which represents the characteristics of this piece. This piece will be limited to 100 pieces worldwide.

"Mechanical Divers 1965 Heritage" inherits the origins of diver's watches

　Prospex has announced two new "Mechanical Divers 1965 Heritage" models. These are upgraded versions of the Ref. SBDC101, which was released in 2020. They are scheduled to be released on June 8, 2024.

　As its name suggests, this model inherits the design of the 1965 model, which was the origin of Seiko's diver's watches and the first Japanese-made diver's watch. While the previous model, Ref. SBDC101, was water resistant to 200m for air diving and had a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, this model is water resistant to 300m, the highest specs for a Seiko air diving diver's watch, and has a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.

　The date display on the dial has been moved to the 4:30 position, creating a symmetrical design and improving visibility. The case is slightly more compact than the Ref. SBDC101, measuring 40.0mm in diameter and 13.0mm thick, giving it a more rugged look.

　The bezel insert is made of aluminum, adding a classic feel, while the laser-engraved diving scale is painted to create a precise finish and prevent the paint from peeling. Furthermore, the newly developed bracelet is made up of flexible, short-pitch links and a compact buckle, which, combined with the downsized case, improves the wearing comfort.

"Mechanical Divers 1965 Heritage" commemorative model celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Seiko brand

　The newly announced Mechanical Divers 1965 Heritage also features a commemorative model celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Seiko brand. The model features a charcoal gray dial and bezel with gold accents, representing the brilliance of the watchmaking progress that has continued under the Seiko name over the past century.

　As a special feature unique to this commemorative model, it comes with a replacement fabric strap made from 100% recycled PET bottles, which is environmentally friendly. This fabric is woven using a traditional Japanese technique called "seichu," resulting in a three-dimensional, expressive woven pattern. This strap also meets the strict standards of Seiko diver's watches, and is durable enough to withstand long periods of use in tough environments.

Two new "Diver Scuba" models in "The Black Series" that use "night vision" as their design inspiration

　The fourth installment of the popular "The Black Series," launched in 2020, features a solid all-black design and a "night vision" theme. The "Diver Scuba" series, which combines the functionality and reliability of a diver's watch with a design that blends seamlessly into everyday life, has added two new models to its regular lineup.

　Its distinctive feature is the use of "Green Lumibrite Pro," a color Lumibrite that appears the same green regardless of the brightness of the environment and emits green light in dark places. This expresses the worldview of night vision, ensuring clear visibility even in pitch darkness.

　The Ref. SBDY127 is a model characterized by its crown located at the 4 o'clock position and its integrated crown guard and case. It features a large, iconic arrow-shaped minute hand, a sharply pointed hour hand to distinguish it from the minute hand, and a large index at 12 o'clock, creating a highly visible dial, highlighted by the green Lumibrite Pro.

　The Ref. SBPK007 is a solar-powered model with a GMT function. The dial design, crown at 4 o'clock, and voluminous, three-dimensional lugs all follow Seiko's diver's watch design. It also features a GMT hand and a date display at 3 o'clock.

Solar-powered quartz chronograph added to "The Black Series"

　Another regular model added to the Black Series is the Speedtimer light-powered quartz chronograph. This model also features a night vision design, and the Green Lumibrite Pro creates a clear and striking contrast between black and green, even in bright light.

　The black dial and bezel feature various scales and a tachymeter, and the green Lumibrite Pro design evokes the stoic, professional look of a timepiece. The black nylon strap adds a sporty touch.

"The Black Series" limited edition model

　In addition to the above three models, a limited edition "Diver Scuba" model will be added to The Black Series. The Ref. SBDC193 is based on the Ref. SBDC083, affectionately known overseas as the "Sumo," and features a design that evokes the lineage of the "1968 Mechanical Divers" and "Marinemaster Ref. SBDX023." Its distinctive features include a crown at the 4 o'clock position, voluminous, three-dimensional lugs, an accent on the tip of the second hand, and an index with a center line at 12 o'clock.

　The large, 45mm diameter, 13.4mm thick case is finished in black, giving it a striking presence, and the ceramic bezel insert adds a touch of texture. This model will be limited to 3500 pieces worldwide.

Introducing the new "Classic Series," inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of "beauty of utility."

　A new lineup will be added to the popular Seiko Presage collection, which offers models suitable for both formal and casual occasions. The newly announced Classic Series is a new series inspired by the "beauty of utility" found in the colors, materials, and textures used in traditional Japanese crafts, clothing, and other everyday items, and expresses this suppleness.

A three-hand model that strongly reflects the beauty of practicality, the "beauty of utility."

　The three-hand model added to the Classic Series has a classical taste with a design that has been stripped of any ornamental details. The theme of the watch is "beauty of utility," which is the beauty of practical items as opposed to ornamental items, and this model is a strong reflection of this theme.

　The case incorporates curves that exude a sense of suppleness, with lines connecting the case sides to the lugs creating a silhouette reminiscent of Seiko's classic models. Dual-curved glass ensures good visibility while its classic three-dimensional appearance matches the style of this watch. The newly developed bracelet is a multi-row bracelet, a style often seen in the 1970s, which also contributes to the style of this watch while improving the fit to the wrist and reducing the contact area with the skin, ensuring a comfortable fit.

　The dial incorporates the texture of silk, an essential part of Japanese culture. The rounded curved dial is decorated with a stamped pattern reminiscent of the weave of silk fabric. The three dial colors available incorporate traditional Japanese colors, including "shiroiro," an ivory color that is the color of silk fibers themselves, as well as "sensaicha," a deep greenish-brown color that was popular during the Edo period, and "araigaki," a pale persimmon color.

New "Classic Series" items combine a simple design with an open heart

　Along with the launch of the Classic Series, an open-heart model was also announced, featuring an openworked design at the 9 o'clock position that allows a peek at the balance wheel.

　A 24-hour display is placed at the 6 o'clock position. The openwork section and the 24-hour display subdial are chamfered to emphasize the three-dimensionality of the curved dial. The Alpha Vari, which is common to both the three-hand model and the three-hand model, ensures visibility while also providing a sharp edge that tightens the soft impression of this watch.

　This model also features a dial texture inspired by silk products, with a randomly arranged radial pattern that expresses the texture of raw silk. Two colors are available: "Shiroiro" (plain white) and "Sumiiro" (ink black), a grayish-black color also used in monk's clothing, which has an appearance reminiscent of ink paintings.

Seiko 5 Sports announces new SNXS series, an evolution of its heritage

　Seiko 5 Sports, a casual watch brand featuring Japanese-made mechanical movements, has added the SNXS series, a new design concept. This follows on from the SKX series, which is based on the silhouette of a diver's watch, and the Field series, which is based on the style of a field watch.

　The "SNXS Series" was developed based on the "SNXS model," beloved worldwide, with the concept of EDC (Everyday Carry). It inherits the compact size of the SNXS model, the flowing case shape with a bulge in the center, which the development department at the time nicknamed "Hebitama," and the crown at 4 o'clock that does not interfere with the flow. These are features that can be found not only in the SNXS model, but also in various Seiko models from the 70s.

　The second hand follows the orange color often used on 5 Sports models from the 1970s, and is combined with bar-shaped hour and minute hands and linear, powerful indexes that echo them. The three newly announced colors, navy, black, and silver, are also combined with ivory, which has a subdued saturation and resembles a burnt color, creating a classic impression along with the silhouette of the 37.4mm case diameter.

Three new models of "Seiko Astron NEXTER" equipped with a newly developed movement

　Seiko Astron NEXTER, whose design concept is to encourage the success of the next generation of leaders, has added three new regular models equipped with the newly developed movement, Cal. 5X83.

　The newly developed Cal. 5X83 movement builds on the Astron's GPS satellite signal reception and solar power generation, and is equipped with a dual time display function that simultaneously displays the time in two different time zones. The new 1/20-second stopwatch function is a notable addition. The subdial at 12 o'clock measures 1/20, while the subdial at 6 o'clock, which normally displays the second time zone, functions as an hour and minute counter when the stopwatch is running.

　Furthermore, subtle improvements have been made to the user experience. The time transfer function, which switches between the main time zone display, indicated by the central hour, minute, and second hands, and the second time zone at 6 o'clock with the push of a button, has been significantly reduced in the Cal. 5X83. The ability to quickly switch functions is a major improvement in practicality for a multi-function watch.

　The case and bracelet are made of titanium, making them lightweight and suitable for long periods of wear. The bezel, which combines ceramic and titanium, is inscribed with the word "CHRONOGRAPH" and indexes, giving it a sporty look.

Seiko brand 100th anniversary model named after founder Kintaro Hattori

　A model commemorating the Seiko brand's 100th anniversary will also be added to the Nextar line. The concept of this model is to express as "brilliance" the progress in watchmaking that has continued based on founder Kintaro Hattori's creed of "always being one step ahead of the times." Another notable feature of this model is that it bears the founder's name, and it ties together the path of Kintaro Hattori's pioneering spirit with the Astron and Nextar models, which incorporate cutting-edge technology.

　The design of this watch is inspired by the night view of Earth from a satellite. This is expressed through the all-black case and bracelet, the gradient dial with a radial pattern, and the addition of yellow gold accents. Furthermore, the bezel insert is made of faceted ceramic, and the polygonal titanium bezel combines to create an even more dazzling design.

　The case back features a three-dimensional layout of the "Rounded S Mark," a trademark registered in 1900, and is marked with Kintaro Hattori's philosophy, "ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE REST," and "KINTARO HATTORI." Additionally, a reinforced silicone strap and a pin badge with the Rounded S Mark are included.

Collaboration model with Studio Ghibli's "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind"

　Seiko Presage has added a new collaboration model with Studio Ghibli, themed on the timeless classic film "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind," released in 1984. This marks the third collaboration between Seiko Presage and Studio Ghibli, based on the philosophy of "sincere Japanese craftsmanship," which is held dear by both brands.

　The design of this watch is inspired by the tools and machines used by Nausicaä in the film, which have a gentle, warm impression not found in modern industrial products. The watch features a rounded design, eliminating straight lines from the entire watch. The case has a vintage-style finish, expressing the worldview of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, set approximately 1000 years after the destruction of a massive industrial civilization after the "Seven Days of Fire." The leather strap, which has a somewhat rough impression, also echoes the various accessories seen in the film.

　　The dial, inspired by the blue outfit worn by Nausicaä in the final scene of the film and symbolically associated with the legend in the film, is made of blue enamel and produced under the supervision of enamel artisan Mitsuru Yokozawa. The crest depicted in the film is designed at the 6 o'clock position. This model is limited to 1500 pieces worldwide.