Seiko Power Design Project Turns The Panda Chronograph Into A Literal Panda

A playful pair of limited-edition chronographs transforms one of watchmaking’s most familiar nicknames into an unmistakable tribute to the animal itself.

The Seiko Power Design Project Panda collection takes the familiar “panda” chronograph concept and transforms it into a literal interpretation of the animal, combining playful design with a functional quartz chronograph.

In watchmaking, “panda” is a nickname inspired by the animal itself, used to describe chronograph dials with a white background and contrasting black sub-dials, referencing the panda’s distinctive colouring. Over the decades, this type of dial has become a familiar presence across the watch industry, including in Seiko’s own history. For the latest additions to its power design project collection, however, Seiko has decided to take that association one step further and turn the traditional “panda” into a literal panda.

The result is a pair of highly specialised chronographs created for panda enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate a more playful approach to watch design. Developed from an idea by Seiko in-house designer Kiyotaka Sakai, the two watches transform the visual characteristics of a panda into the architecture of the dial, case and even the chronograph controls.

There is a familiar black-and-white version, alongside a pink interpretation inspired by a newborn baby panda. Both are unmistakably shaped by the same animal, but the concept goes considerably further than simply printing a panda on a dial.

From A Panda Dial To A Panda Watch

The story began with Seiko’s power design project, an initiative first introduced in 2001. The project gives Seiko’s in-house designers an opportunity to explore watchmaking from perspectives that sit outside their everyday responsibilities, encouraging experimentation, surprise and unusual solutions.

In 2024, Seiko took that philosophy further with its “Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition”, where seven participating designers were challenged to create highly specialised watches. The results included a watch designed specifically for panda lovers.

That particular concept proved popular enough for Seiko to develop it into a commercial watch. The new creations therefore retain the spirit of the 2024 exhibition while bringing the design into the power design project collection for a wider audience.

Rather than treating the panda as a decorative theme, designer Kiyotaka Sakai built the animal into the watch’s visual language. The result is deliberately playful, but the design also demonstrates how familiar watchmaking elements can be reinterpreted when the starting point is something as specific as an animal rather than a conventional horological brief.

The Eyes Become Sub-Dials

The most obvious element is the dial.

The two chronograph sub-dials are shaped to suggest the panda’s characteristic gentle, drooping eyes. Instead of simply using contrasting circles within a conventional chronograph layout, Seiko has altered their form so that they contribute directly to the animal-like expression of the watch.

The dial surface itself is also textured to evoke the appearance of a panda’s coat. This gives the watches a more tactile visual character and reinforces the idea that the animal is being represented through the construction of the watch rather than simply through graphics.

The first model follows the familiar black-and-white panda colour scheme. The second introduces pink, taking inspiration from a newborn baby panda and giving the concept a distinctly different personality.

It is an unusually literal interpretation of the term “panda chronograph”, and that is precisely what makes the watches stand out within Seiko’s broader collection.

Panda Ears Become Chronograph Pushers

The playful approach continues around the case.

The chronograph pushers have been designed in the shape of panda ears, using their distinctive rounded silhouette as part of the watch’s functionality. This means that one of the animal’s most recognisable physical characteristics becomes an integral part of the chronograph rather than simply a decorative detail.

The tachymeter scale has also been given a new identity. Seiko calls it the “SASAMETER”, referencing sasa, the Japanese word for bamboo, one of the panda’s favourite foods.

The scale can measure speeds of up to 30 km/h, corresponding to the theoretical maximum running speed of a panda. The playful name is also printed directly on the dial ring, making the connection between the chronograph function and the animal explicit.

It is a good example of the power design project’s approach: a conventional watch function remains intact, but its presentation is rethought entirely around the chosen subject.

Even The Panda’s Tail Is On The Caseback

The panda theme does not stop when the watch is turned over.

The caseback features a three-dimensional representation of the panda’s tail, while the surrounding design draws inspiration from the pattern found on a panda’s back. The words “LIMITED EDITION” are positioned above the tail, making the reverse side another part of the overall concept rather than simply a technical cover.

This attention to the rear of the watch is particularly fitting for a design built around an animal. The front establishes the panda’s face through the sub-dials, while the caseback continues the representation with details that would otherwise be easy to overlook.

The result is a watch designed to reveal its concept from multiple angles.

Quartz Chronograph At The Core

Despite the deliberately unconventional appearance, the technical foundation remains straightforward.

Both watches use Seiko’s Caliber 8T61, a quartz chronograph movement. Accuracy is rated at ±15 seconds per month between 5°C and 35°C, while magnetic resistance is rated at 4,800 A/m.

The watches use stainless-steel cases measuring 43.0 mm in diameter and 14.6 mm in thickness, with a water resistance of 3 bar. A Hardlex crystal protects the dial, while the watches are paired with leather straps incorporating suede-like sections.

The straps add another layer of texture to the design, with the suede-like material creating a brushed appearance that complements the textured panda-inspired dials.

Each watch is also supplied in a special presentation box designed to reinforce its distinctive character.

Two Limited Editions

The new Seiko power design project collection consists of two limited editions: HHK001 and HHK002.

The black-and-white panda interpretation, together with the pink newborn panda-inspired model, gives the collection two distinct expressions of the same idea. According to Seiko, the watches were conceived as specialised pieces for panda enthusiasts around the world, but their appeal extends naturally to collectors interested in unusual and experimental watch design.

The production numbers also distinguish the two references. HHK001 is limited to 3,000 pieces, while HHK002 is limited to 2,000 pieces, making a total production of 5,000 watches across the collection.

Both are scheduled to become available from November 2026 through Seiko Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide.

With a recommended retail price in Europe of €590, the watches occupy an accessible position within Seiko’s broader range while offering a concept that is considerably more unconventional than a standard chronograph.

A Panda With A Stopwatch

The power design project has always provided Seiko with an opportunity to explore ideas that would not necessarily emerge from conventional watch development. These two chronographs are a particularly clear example of that philosophy.

The watches take a familiar horological expression — the panda dial — and remove much of its metaphorical distance. The sub-dials become eyes, the pushers become ears, the tachymeter becomes a SASAMETER, the dial texture evokes fur and the caseback gains a three-dimensional tail.

It is an approach that is playful without abandoning the basic functions of a chronograph. More importantly, it demonstrates what can happen when a watch is designed around a very specific idea rather than around a conventional category.

For Seiko, the result is one of the most literal interpretations of a “panda” chronograph imaginable. For collectors, it is a reminder that watch design does not always have to take itself too seriously.

Technical Specifications

For more information, please visit the official Seiko website.

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