Although Seiko (then “Seikosha”) introduced its first pocket watch called the Timekeeper in 1895 and its first wristwatch dubbed the Laurel in 1913, it wasn’t until 1924 that the first wristwatch with the name “Seiko” on the dial made its debut. That marks the origins of the Seiko brand as we know it today.
As such, 2024 is the centennial of the Seiko brand, and the famed Japanese watchmaker is celebrating with a slate of 100th Anniversary watches. Here are all the Seiko 100th Anniversary watches released so far.
Seiko Presage Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SPB441
To kick off its 100th year of the brand celebrations, the company aptly introduced a revival of the wristwatch that started it all in the form of the Seiko Presage Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SPB441.
Although not an exact replica of the first, the SPB441 is a faithful homage with its compact 35mm proportions, white enamel dial, blue hands, Breguet style numerals, boxed-shaped crystal, and of course, vintage-styled logo. Inscribed on the back of the watch is the text “Always one step ahead of the rest,” which was the guiding principle of founder Kintaro Hattori. Accompanying the inscription is the trademark “S,” registered in 1900 as a symbol of the Seikosha factory.
The Seiko Presage Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SPB441 comes fitted with movable lugs and a pull-through leather strap, reminiscent of watches made during that early era. Powering the watch is the new Caliber 6R5H automatic movement, featuring a 24-hour sundial at 6 o’clock.
Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch Limited Edition SJE097
In 2023, Seiko unveiled a trio of Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation watches, blending touches from the beefy Marinemaster and Seiko’s original diver from 1965, the 62MAS.
Among the trio is the limited edition SJE097, the silvery-white dial version made in celebration of the brand’s 100th anniversary. The watch sports a slimmed-down 39.5mm steel case (12.3mm thick and 47.2mm lug-to-lug) and is paired with a new bracelet with ellipse-shaped links with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces. Both the case and bracelet benefit from Seiko’s “super hard” coating for improved resistance to scratching while the case is water resistant to 200 meters. Inside the case is the slimline Caliber 6L37 automatic movement with a 46-hour power reserve.
Seiko Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph Limited Edition SRQ049
Another watch that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Seiko Brand is the Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph SRQ049 with a reverse panda dial. Based on Seiko’s 1972 Speedtimer precision chronograph, the modern iteration features a 42mm case that clocks in at a hefty 14.6mm thick. Attached to the short lugs is a redesigned and intricate nine-link bracelet, further emphasizing the seventies spirit of the watch.
Beneath the stylish charcoal dial with three silver subdials and a date window at 4:30 lies the Caliber 8R48, the brand’s flagship vertical clutch and column wheel automatic chronograph movement with 46 hours of power reserve.
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch Special Edition SPB455
Seiko is no stranger to modern versions of its maiden dive watch from 1965 and for 2024, the brand rolled out a new-gen collection of the fan-favorite model. Among the fresh lineup is the Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch Special Edition SPB455, designed specifically for the Seiko Brand’s 100th Anniversary.
With its charcoal gray colorway with gold accents, the SPB455 includes a 40mm steel case (13mm thick) paired with a stainless steel three-link bracelet. Seiko also includes an additional strap made from recycled plastic bottles, braided into shape via the traditional Japanese Seichu technique. The result is a watch strap that’s four times stronger than the company’s standard fabric straps. Despite the slimmed-down proportions of the SPB455, the watch offers an increased water resistance rating of 300 meters and a longer power reserve of 72 hours.
Seiko Astron GPS Solar Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SSH156
The Astron GPS Solar collection is now home to a Seiko Brand 100th anniversary model that pays tribute to the legacy of Kintaro Hattori. Based on the concept of “brilliance” the black and gold SSH156 model not only symbolizes Seiko’s pursuit of a brighter future through innovation but its design is also meant to evoke a view of the earth at night as seen from an orbiting satellite — a nod to the groundbreaking tech at the heart of the Astron GPS Solar.
Design-wise, the SSH156’s 43.4mm case is fashioned from black-finished titanium that’s crowned with a faceted black ceramic bezel and accented with gold-finished pushers, crown, and caseback. That caseback is again inscribed with the founder’s favorite saying and the original “S” trademark. The black-finished titanium bracelet includes black ceramic center links with glossy high-polished middle sections, and Seiko includes an additional black silicone strap fitted with a gold-toned signed clasp.
Powering the watch is the brand new Caliber 5X83 radio-controlled solar quartz movement that boasts a long list of functions including automatic synchronization with GPS signals for accurate timekeeping, dual time zones, chronograph, calendar indications, and more.
King Seiko KS1969 Limited Edition SJE115
The new-for-2024 King Seiko KS1969 range is based on the King Seiko 45KCM from 1969; while there are some standard production models within the lineup, this SJE115 model is the limited edition version developed to honor the Seiko Brand’s 100th Anniversary.
Inside the mirror-polished steel tonneau-shaped case that measures 39.4 x 9.9mm sits a light green-blue dial with a textured pattern resembling the scales of a rising dragon — a metaphor for the Seiko brand progressing toward the next 100 years. The Slimline Caliber 6L35 automatic movement with a 45-hour power reserve serves to drive the trio of hands at the center of the dial and the date window at 3 o’clock. Finishing off the look of the mid-century styled King Seiko watch is the multi-row bracelet with alternating brushed and polished surfaces.
There you have it; six special edition Seiko watches to celebrate the brand’s centenary, all of which are limited to 1,000 examples except for the King Seiko’s 700-piece run.
But the year is far from over, so stay tuned as we’re sure more will be added to the list before the end of 2024. What do you think of these commemorative models so far? Is there a special edition Seiko Brand 100th Anniversary watch you hope the company will release soon? Share your thoughts below!