Seiko 145th Anniversary Edo Purple Collection: Six Limited Editions Inspired By Tokyo

Seiko celebrates 145 years with six limited-edition watches inspired by Edo purple, a traditional colour connected to Tokyo’s heritage.

Seiko celebrates its 145th anniversary with a collection of six limited-edition watches united by Edo purple. Inspired by the traditional purple associated with Tokyo’s Edo-period heritage, the colour appears across the Prospex, Presage, Astron, Seiko 5 Sports and Seiko Selection collections.

Founded in Tokyo in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori, Seiko has evolved from a small clock shop into one of the world’s few fully integrated watch manufactures. This anniversary collection reflects that history through six different interpretations of mechanical, solar and digital watchmaking.

The collection includes the Prospex Alpinist, Prospex Speedtimer, Presage Cocktail Time GMT, Astron GPS Solar, Seiko 5 Sports SKX and Seiko Selection Rotocall.

The Meaning Of Edo Purple

Edo purple takes its inspiration from a traditional colour associated with the former name of Tokyo. Historically connected with elegance, refinement and urban culture, the shade gives the collection a visual identity that feels both distinctly Japanese and contemporary.

Across the six models, Edo purple appears in different forms. It is used on the Alpinist and Presage dials, the bezel and dial of the Speedtimer, the details of the Astron, the sunray dial of the Seiko 5 Sports and the aluminium bezel of the Rotocall.

Gold-coloured details provide a second visual theme, adding warmth and highlighting the anniversary character of the watches.

Prospex Alpinist HBC006J1

A new Alpinist creation joins the Prospex collection, reflecting the heritage of the first Alpinist watch, introduced in 1959 as Seiko’s entry into the emerging category of watches designed for sports.

The original Seiko Laurel Alpinist featured the distinctive “Alpinist” logotype, a detail reinterpreted on the new model beneath the Seiko logo at 12 o’clock. This placement gives the dial a clear vintage connection while preserving the modern character of the Prospex collection.

The dial layout is defined by wedge-shaped indexes and Arabic numerals, ensuring excellent legibility. These elements recall the design language of the original Alpinist while giving the new model a more contemporary and refined execution.

The Edo purple dial is paired with gold-coloured details, creating a warm contrast inspired by the anniversary theme. A matching purple stitch on the leather strap enhances the distinctive character of the watch, extending the colour theme from the dial to the wrist.

The 39.5mm stainless-steel case houses the characteristic internal rotating compass bezel, operated by the crown positioned at 4 o’clock. Powered by the automatic Caliber 6R55, the watch offers approximately 72 hours of power reserve and 200 meters of water resistance.

Limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide, the Prospex Alpinist HBC006J1 is priced at EUR 980 in selected European markets.

Technical Specifications – Prospex Alpinist HBC006J1

Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005P1

The Prospex Speedtimer brings Seiko’s sporting and motorsport heritage into the Edo purple collection. Its purple-toned design is combined with a two-tone aluminium tachymeter bezel inspired by historic Speedtimer models from the 1960s and 1970s.

Powered by the solar Caliber V192, the watch offers chronograph functionality with 1/5-second measurement and a 60-minute counter. The case measures approximately 41.4mm in diameter and 13mm in thickness.

The model is limited to 5,000 pieces and is scheduled for release in October 2026. Price: 790 Euros

Technical Specifications – Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005P1

Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006J1

The Presage Cocktail Time GMT features one of the most expressive dials in the collection. Its textured purple surface is inspired by Edo Murasaki, an original cocktail created by Hisashi Kishi, owner of STAR BAR and the first bartender to receive Japan’s prestigious “Contemporary Master Craftsman” award.

The radial dial texture captures the character of a cocktail under light, while the gold-coloured details add warmth and contrast. The automatic Caliber 4R34 provides a GMT function through a dedicated 24-hour hand.

With a 40.5mm stainless-steel case, box-shaped Hardlex crystal and five-link bracelet, the watch combines Japanese cocktail inspiration with practical travel functionality. It is limited to 6,000 pieces and priced at EUR 620 in selected European markets.

Technical Specifications – Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006J1

Astron GPS Solar HAB011J1

Seiko took electronic watchmaking to a new level in 2012 with the Astron GPS Solar. Connected to the Global Positioning System, the watch can adjust to every time zone with the simple push of a button while generating all the energy it needs from light alone.

The new Astron creation captures the changing hues of the sky at dusk through a purple dial with a vertical gradation. A horizontal pattern featuring lines of varying widths creates a rich sense of depth and visual dynamism, giving the dial an appearance that changes with the light.

Ceramic centre links enhance the refined appearance of the bracelet, adding contrast and a more luxurious finish to the technologically advanced design

The Astron GPS Solar is the most technologically advanced model in the collection. Its Edo purple design is applied to a GPS Solar watch powered by Caliber 5X83.

The movement receives time and time-zone information from GPS satellites, allowing the watch to adjust to the correct local time. It also offers a dual-time display, chronograph functionality and a perpetual calendar.

The watch uses a titanium case with a ceramic and titanium bezel. Measuring approximately 43.3mm in diameter, the Astron is limited to 2,000 pieces, making it the rarest model in the series. The European retail price: €3,000

Technical Specifications – Astron GPS Solar HAB011J1

Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003J1

The Seiko 5 Sports model brings Edo purple to a more accessible and youthful platform. Based on the SKX series, the watch features a purple-toned sunray dial, gold-coloured details and a stainless-steel case with a unidirectional rotating bezel.

The automatic Caliber 4R36 provides approximately 41 hours of power reserve and includes day-date functionality. With its 42.5mm case, 100-meter water resistance and see-through screw caseback, the watch retains the practical character associated with Seiko 5 Sports.

The model is limited to 9,999 pieces and is priced at EUR 450 in selected European markets.

Technical Specifications – Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003J1

Seiko Selection Rotocall HFL001P1

The Seiko Selection Rotocall extends the anniversary collection beyond mechanical and GPS Solar watchmaking. The model revives the distinctive digital design of the original 1982 Rotocall, now reinterpreted with a black case and bracelet, purple aluminium bezel and gold-coloured accents.

Its distinctive design, along with its reported use among astronauts, contributed to its popularity overseas. The original model featured a rotary switch that allowed easy access to functions such as an alarm, timer and stopwatch.

Powered by quartz Caliber A824, the watch offers a 1/100-second chronograph, alarm, 100-minute timer, dual-time display and full automatic calendar. The calendar is programmed to operate until 31 December 2074.

The 37mm stainless-steel case is combined with Hardlex crystal and 100-meter water resistance. The Rotocall is limited to 4,000 pieces. €670

Technical Specifications – Seiko Selection Rotocall HFL001P1

Six Interpretations Of One Colour

The strength of the Seiko 145th Anniversary Edo Purple Collection lies in its variety. Instead of applying the same design to six watches, Seiko uses the colour to highlight the individual character of each collection.

The Alpinist connects Edo purple with outdoor exploration. The Speedtimer links it to motorsport. The Presage transforms it into a cocktail-inspired dial, while the Astron uses it within a high-tech GPS Solar design. The Seiko 5 Sports offers the most accessible mechanical interpretation, and the Rotocall connects the anniversary to Seiko’s digital heritage.

Together, the six models create a broad portrait of Seiko — from traditional Japanese aesthetics and mechanical watchmaking to solar technology and digital innovation.

Conclusion

The Seiko 145th Anniversary Edo Purple Collection is one of the brand’s most varied anniversary releases. With six limited editions across five different product families, it combines Japanese cultural heritage, contemporary colour design and Seiko’s broad technical expertise.

The collection ranges from the 2,000-piece Astron GPS Solar to the 9,999-piece Seiko 5 Sports. Each model offers a different interpretation of Edo purple, whether through the Alpinist’s compass bezel, the Speedtimer’s racing influence, the Presage’s cocktail-inspired dial, the Astron’s satellite technology or the Rotocall’s digital functions.

For more information, visit the official Seiko website.

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