2026 marks 145 years of the founding of Seiko by Kintaro Hattori. To celebrate, the maison releases 4 new anniversary models in their key collections of King Seiko, Prospex, Pressage and Astron.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: King Seiko, Prospex, Presage and Astron commemorates the 145th anniversary of Seiko
The retail pricing are as follows:
- King Seiko KS1969 Ref. SJE121 EUR 3,200. Limited edition of 800.
- Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph Ref. SRQ059 EUR 2,700. Limited edition of 700.
- Presage Classic Enamel Dial Ref. SPB538 EUR 2,000. Limited edition of 1,450.
- Astron GPS Solar Dual Time Chronograph Ref. SSH186 EUR 3,400. Limited edition of 1,450.
Commentary
Seiko seems to be celebrating lots of anniversaries. They have too many. Each line and sub-line has its own anniversary limited edition models. And this has the effect of confusing the market. Even for professionals who track these releases, we are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of these limited edition releases. But this set of releases mark a truly exceptional milestone for Seiko. The 145 anniversary of the founding by Kintar Hattori way back in 1881. The Hattori family still controls the Seiko group, which has grown to a giant, with multiple subsidiaries and related companies.
The watches that we so love and continue to admire from the brandnames Seiko, Grand Seiko, and even Orient and Orient Star are part of this large conglomerate. This anniversary is celebrated by the main brand – Seiko.
This release is significant for this reason. And also firing all the Seiko machinery’s cylinders at once. With limited edition releases in the major lines – the King Seiko, the Prospex, the Presage and the Astron collections.
The limited editions are rather large, especially when compared to those from Swiss or other European makers, but not unusual if treated in the Japanese mentality of such. The editions range from 700 to 1,450 pieces.
Prices are as usual rather reasonable for the quality of each of the releases.
Release details
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.
Today, King Seiko, Prospex, Presage, and Astron unveil new limited-edition models whose gold-colored accents express Seiko’s enduring commitment to enriching lives with joy and beauty.
King Seiko
The creation joins the KS1969 series.
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.
Prospex
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 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.
Presage
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.
Aston
From the beginning, the Astron name has always been imbued with a spirit of innovation. 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 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. Each anniversary creation is marked on its back to denote its status as a limited edition. The watches will be available from February 2026 at the Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide.
King Seiko, Prospex, Presage and Aston 145 Anniversary Technical Specifications
King Seiko KS1969
Ref: SJE121
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
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph
Ref. SRQ059
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
Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Enamel Dial
Ref. SPB538
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
Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph
Ref. SSH186
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
