Seiko Celebrates 145 Years in Edo Violet: Eight Limited Editions, from Alpinist to Rotocall

145 Years of Seiko—an anniversary the Japanese brand is celebrating with a series of limited-edition watches that highlight different facets of its history. After warm gold accents and the brand’s signature “Seiko Blue,” the focus now turns to a color with special cultural significance: Edo purple.

The deep violet evokes the color palette of historic Edo, now known as Tokyo. Shades of purple have long held special significance in Japan. They were labor-intensive to produce, appeared precious, and symbolized a refined urban culture in which clothing, craftsmanship, and aesthetics were closely intertwined. During the Edo period, this gave rise to a distinct color tradition: more understated than pure, ostentatious violet, yet possessing great depth and elegance.

Seiko draws on precisely this impression in its anniversary collection. The violet serves as a cultural reference, blending historical color, Japanese design, and modern watchmaking into a line that appears more understated than gold and less familiar than blue—but is, for that very reason, particularly distinctive.

Thus, the Edo series embodies a captivating concept within this anniversary year. Seiko not only looks back on 145 years of watchmaking but also translates cultural heritage into contemporary models—with dials whose violet hue bridges history, depth, and modern presence.

Prospex Alpinist: An Unusual Color, a Familiar Design

The Prospex Land Alpinist HBC006J1 is one of the more understated models in the series. Its light purple dial features the design elements that have defined Seiko’s Alpinist line for years: Arabic numerals, striking hour markers, and an inner compass ring that can be adjusted using an additional crown.

The stainless steel case features a durable hard coating designed to better protect its surface from scratches and signs of wear. It measures 39.5 millimeters in diameter and 12.7 millimeters in height. With a length of 46.4 millimeters across the lugs, the watch remains relatively compact. Seiko pairs the case with a leather strap featuring a folding clasp.

Inside, the watch is powered by the automatic Caliber 6R55. It offers a power reserve of more than 72 hours, a seconds stop, manual winding, and a date display. It also features anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, and water resistance up to 20 bar. The Prospex Alpinist is limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide and costs 950 euros.

Speedtimer: Edo Violet in Panda Format

The Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph HBJ005P1 has a distinctly sportier look. The purple dial is accented by three black sub-dials. The tachymeter bezel also combines black with purple elements. The result is reminiscent of the classic “panda” layout of a racing chronograph, but its color scheme clearly breaks away from the usual black-and-white scheme.

The stainless steel case has a diameter of 41.4 millimeters, is 13 millimeters thick, and measures 45.9 millimeters from lug to lug. A domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial. The watch is water-resistant to 10 bar.

The chronograph is powered by the solar-powered Caliber V192. It allows for time measurements up to 60 minutes in increments of one-fifth of a second and features a 24-hour display, a date function, and a remaining power reserve indicator. When fully charged, the watch has a runtime of up to six months. The Speedtimer, limited to 8,000 pieces, costs 770 euros.

Presage Cocktail Time GMT: An Additional Time Zone for the Bar

In the Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006J1, Seiko makes particularly consistent use of the shade of violet. The textured dial is meant to evoke a cocktail created specifically for the anniversary, called “Edo Murasaki.” Gold-colored accents on the logo and the GMT hand stand out against the violet background.

Technically, the watch is based on the 4R34 automatic caliber. In addition to hours, minutes, seconds, and the date, it displays a second time zone via an additional hand. The movement can be wound manually, features a seconds stop, and has a power reserve of more than 41 hours.

The 40.5-millimeter-wide stainless steel case is 12.8 millimeters high. With a water resistance rating of 5 bar, it is more suited for everyday use than for sports. Instead of sapphire crystal, Seiko uses a domed Hardlex crystal. A screw-down caseback offers a view of the movement. The edition is limited to 6,500 pieces, and the price is 600 euros.

Astron GPS Solar: the top-of-the-line model

At the top of the new anniversary collection is the Astron GPS Solar HAB011J1. Its purple dial features a vertical gradient and is paired with gold-tone accents and black ceramic elements on the bezel and bracelet.

The GPS-Solar Caliber 5X83 synchronizes the time and time zone via satellite signals. It also accounts for daylight saving time, offers a second time zone, and features a perpetual calendar programmed through February 28, 2100. The chronograph measures time intervals of up to twelve hours and, in short measurement ranges, is accurate to one-twentieth of a second.

The 43.3-millimeter case is made of hard-coated titanium and features partial gold plating. The titanium bracelet is also hard-coated and features black ceramic elements. A fine-adjustment mechanism in the clasp makes it easy to adjust the watch to the wrist. The watch is water-resistant to 10 bar and features a double-domed sapphire crystal. It is limited to 1,500 pieces and costs 3,000 euros.

Seiko 5 Sports: SKX Design with a Purple Dial

The Seiko 5 Sports HDB003K1 incorporates the anniversary theme into the familiar SKX design. Its 42.5-millimeter stainless steel case, the crown at the 4 o’clock position, and the unidirectional rotating bezel remain true to the established design. The main new feature is the color combination of a purple dial, a dark bezel, and small gold-colored details.

Inside the case is the automatic 4R36 caliber with day-of-the-week and date display. It can be wound by hand, features a seconds stop, and offers a power reserve of more than 41 hours. The watch is water-resistant to 10 bar; a domed Hardlex crystal covers the dial. With 9,999 pieces produced, the Seiko 5 Sports has the largest production run in the series. It is priced at 440 euros.

The Return of the Digital “Rotocall”

The most distinctive model in the anniversary collection is the HFL001P1 digital alarm chronograph. Its historical predecessor was known among collectors as the “Rotocall.” Unlike conventional digital watches, the functions are selected not only via pushers but also via a rotating bezel.

The new model combines a black stainless steel case coated with titanium carbide with purple and gold-colored accents. With a diameter of 37 millimeters and a height of 10.6 millimeters, it is noticeably more compact than many current digital watches.

The A824 quartz movement features a chronograph, a countdown timer, a second time zone, an alarm, and various counting functions. The automatic calendar is programmed through the end of 2074. It also features LED illumination and a low-battery warning indicator. The digital chronograph is limited to 4,000 pieces and costs 650 euros.

Two special editions for select European markets

A special feature for buyers in Germany and some neighboring markets is the availability of two additional quartz models produced in extremely limited quantities. They are offered exclusively in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and Poland and are therefore not part of the regular international lineup for the anniversary series.

The HGH004P1 features a 29.6-millimeter stainless steel case that is just 6.2 millimeters thick. Roman numerals, a purple dial, and gold-colored details give it a more classic look. Inside, it is powered by the 6N01 quartz movement. The watch is equipped with sapphire crystal, is water-resistant to 5 bar, and costs 370 euros. Only 485 pieces are available for all five markets combined.

The HGK003P1 quartz chronograph, on the other hand, takes a distinctly angular approach. Its 40-millimeter stainless steel case features a gold-plated finish; the purple dial is accented by silver-colored sub-dials. The 8T63 caliber features a 60-minute chronograph, a 24-hour display, and a date.

The watch, which is water-resistant up to 10 bar, features sapphire crystal and a screw-down case back. Only 445 pieces have been produced for the five selected markets. The price is 470 euros.

One color theme, eight very different watches

Edo Violet creates a visible connection between eight watches that showcase very different aspects of Seiko, both technically and in terms of design. The spectrum ranges from the classic mechanical sports watch to GPS and solar technology, and includes a reinterpretation of a digital model from the brand’s history.

The theme is interpreted in a particularly unique way when the color is closely linked to the watch’s specific character. The Presage showcases Edo Violet on a textured dial inspired by a cocktail theme. On the Astron, it appears as a vertical color gradient, while the digital Rotocall combines the color with an unusual, historic operating concept. The Alpinist stays closer to the collection’s familiar look and feel, making it one of the most versatile watches in the series.

All eight limited editions are scheduled to be available in October 2026. Seiko provides further information on its official anniversary website.