Seiko’s 145th anniversary is being marked with a colour that reaches back into Tokyo’s history.
The new limited editions use Edo Purple, a traditional shade linked to the city’s former name and cultural identity, across several anniversary models including three mechanical watches from Prospex, Presage and Seiko 5 Sports.
It’s a fitting theme for a company founded by Kintaro Hattori in Ginza in 1881, and one that ties the watches directly to the city that shaped the brand.
At a glance
- Seiko is celebrating its 145th anniversary with limited-edition Edo Purple watches.
- The mechanical releases include a Prospex Alpinist, Presage Cocktail Time GMT and Seiko 5 Sports SKX.
- All three are scheduled for October 2026 through Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide.
Edo Purple gives the anniversary collection its identity
Edo Purple is more than a decorative dial choice here.
During the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868, the foundations of modern Tokyo’s culture were formed, and distinctive colours became part of the city’s visual language.
Seiko has taken that historical cue and applied it to six limited-edition anniversary watches in total, with the three mechanical models carrying the strongest enthusiast appeal.
The approach is simple but effective, since each watch keeps its familiar case architecture while letting the purple dial carry the commemorative message.
The Prospex Alpinist brings the colour to a field-watch classic
The Prospex Alpinist HBC006 is the most outdoors-oriented of the trio, taking the contemporary Alpinist format with its 39.5mm steel case, second crown at 4 o’clock and internal rotating compass bezel.
The purple dial is sunray brushed, with wedge-shaped markers, Arabic numerals and gold-coloured details on the Seiko logo and seconds hand.
It’s also the most technically robust of the three, with 200 metres of water resistance, a screw-down crown, sapphire crystal with magnifier and the automatic calibre 6R55 inside.
That movement gives it a practical 72-hour power reserve, making the Alpinist the natural pick for anyone who wants the anniversary colour in a capable everyday sports watch.
The HBC006 is worn on a black crocodile-pattern leather strap with purple stitching and a three-fold clasp, and production is limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide.
Presage Cocktail Time GMT takes the dressier route
The Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006 gives the theme a more polished personality.
Its 40.5mm steel case mixes brushed and polished surfaces, while the box-shaped Hardlex crystal leans into the familiar Cocktail Time character.
The glossy textured dial is inspired by an original cocktail named Edo Murasaki, created by Hisashi Kishi of Star Bar.
Under the deep translucent purple tone, the radial pattern gives the watch the kind of light play that has made Cocktail Time one of Seiko’s most recognisable modern dress lines.
Gold-coloured accents appear on the logo and GMT hand, while the calibre 4R34 adds an office-style GMT function with a 41-hour power reserve.
This version comes on a five-link steel bracelet with a folding clasp and is limited to 6,000 pieces.
The Seiko 5 Sports SKX keeps it accessible
The Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003 brings Edo Purple to the most casual and affordable model among the mechanical releases.
Its 42.5mm steel case, crown at 4 o’clock, rotating bezel with black Hardlex insert and 100 metres of water resistance keep the familiar Seiko 5 Sports formula intact.
The anniversary treatment arrives through a deep sunray-brushed purple dial with gold-coloured accents and vertically striated indexes.
It also uses the refreshed steel bracelet with folding clasp from the newer generation of Seiko 5 Sports SKX models.
Inside is the automatic calibre 4R36, a widely used Seiko movement with a 41-hour power reserve, and this edition is limited to 9,999 pieces.
Details & Specifications
| Collection | Seiko 145th anniversary Edo Purple limited editions |
|---|---|
| Prospex Alpinist HBC006 | 39.5mm x 12.7mm steel case, sunray-brushed light purple dial, internal compass bezel, calibre 6R55 automatic movement, 72-hour power reserve, 200m water resistance, black leather strap, limited to 7,000 pieces, EUR 980 |
| Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006 | 40.5mm x 12.8mm steel case, glossy textured translucent purple dial, calibre 4R34 automatic GMT movement, 41-hour power reserve, 50m water resistance, five-link steel bracelet, limited to 6,000 pieces, EUR 620 |
| Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003 | 42.5mm x 13.9mm steel case, sunray-brushed purple dial, rotating bezel with black Hardlex insert, calibre 4R36 automatic movement, 41-hour power reserve, 100m water resistance, three-link steel bracelet, limited to 9,999 pieces, EUR 450 |
| Availability | October 2026 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide |
As anniversary watches go, these feel well judged because Seiko hasn’t tried to make one commemorative model serve every collector.
The Alpinist, Cocktail Time GMT and 5 Sports SKX each bring Edo Purple into a different part of the brand’s world, giving the collection a clear historical thread without losing the practical variety that defines modern Seiko.
