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The 1913 Laurel, with an enamel dial and a solid 900 silver case, was Japan’s and Seiko’s first wristwatch. Now more than a century after its debut and during Seiko’s 145th anniversary in 2026, the company is reinterpreting this technical and design marvel with two Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” watches.
HCC005, with its handmade enamel dial and Arabic numerals, updates the Laurel’s design and functionality. The watch even highlights bright red for the number twelve only because it was trending in 1913. HCC006 sports an Urushi hand-lacquered dial in a yellow gold-toned steel case, a testament to Seiko’s rich craftsmanship.
Enamel dials are centuries-old artisanal techniques that make these handcrafted Seiko watches uniquely beautiful. Fired repeatedly at 800°C, each enamel surface carries its own unique detail and colour, and the finish resists fading over time. Under master enamel artisan Mitsuru Yokosawa, HCC005 watches incorporate remarkable depth, permanence, and resistance to fading. They have Breguet-style numerals and blued hands, closely echoing the 1913 Laurel.
HCC005 stays true to the Laurel in design; HCC006 does so in spirit. It keeps the typography and layout within a rich and lustrous urushi lacquer dial. Lacquer Master Isshu Tamura applies successive layers of lacquer and polishing to give the dial depth and longevity. Gold-coloured numerals, indices, and hands give the deep black dial a striking contrast.
The Presage Classic collection is Seiko’s way of celebrating traditional Japanese decorative arts; within it, the Craftsmanship line showcases the brilliance of artisanal techniques in enamel, porcelain, and urushi lacquer. The series carries heritage artisanship with contemporary technical prowess and functionality.
The supple-oiled leather strap and threefold deployment clasp are common to both HCC005 and HCC006 pieces. Their construction and durability are designed for the modern world, featuring 30m of water resistance, stainless steel cases, dual-curved sapphire crystal, and a screw-down exhibition caseback. Powered by Seiko’s modern manufacture calibre 6R5H, the automatic movement has a 72-hour power reserve.
Seiko, founded in 1881 in Tokyo by Kintaro Hattori, prides itself on imbibing the country’s aesthetic and culture. Guided by the philosophy of ‘always one step ahead of the rest,’ Hattori has immortalised several firsts for Japan: the first wristwatch, Laurel, and then, in 1964, the first chronograph wristwatch.
Seiko opened its 145th-anniversary year in January with a quartet of gold-accented limited editions spanning King Seiko, Prospex, Presage, and Astron. The gold-coloured accents pay homage to Hattor’s practice of engraving an intricate pattern in his early timepieces. All four are available on Seiko boutiques and select retailers from February 2026.
Limited-edition watches honouring Edo purple, a traditional Japanese colour part of Tokyo’s lineage, joined the anniversary collection.
Among the Prospex line’s new additions, first introduced in 1959 as Seiko’s entry into sports watches, is the Alpinist Mechanical. Built with a stainless-steel case, a leather strap, and a three-day power reserve.
For the Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph, the purple-accented dial draws on Seiko’s timing instruments of the 1960s and 1970s. Fitted with a stainless steel bracelet, solar calibre V192 powers the chronograph.
Sitting at the top of Seiko’s electronic watchmaking is the Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph, limited to 2000 pieces. Its titanium casing and bracelet house GPS-controlled time and time zone adjustment, dual time with AM/PM indication and a perpetual calendar, all powered by light alone.
The Presage Cocktail Time series has vibrant, glossy dials inspired by cocktails. This addition takes its rich purple dial from the “Edo Murasaki” cocktail created by Hisashi Kishi of STAR BAR. A radial pattern and GMT hand finish the stainless-steel case.
Seiko’s iconic sports watches can add one more to the list: Seiko 5 Sports SKX. A purple dial with a gold-accent aesthetic is backed by a 41-hour power reserve and a stainless casing.
The anniversary release closes with Seiko Selection, distinguished by its digital display and purple rotatory switch. Popular among astronauts, this model comes with a timer, alarm, and stopwatch.
This year also marks a decade-long partnership with Shohei Ohtani as the global ambassador of the Seiko brand. In July 2026, Ohtani was gifted a one-of-a-kind ‘Star Time’ wristwatch capable of displaying up to one million hours.
The Edo Purple limited-edition watches arrive in October 2026, while HCC005 and HCC006 drop in September 2026 across Seiko boutiques and selected retailers worldwide.
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