Seiko Celebrates 145 Years with New "Edo Purple" Limited Edition Watches
Seiko Marks 145 Years of Watchmaking with a Tokyo-Inspired Colour Palette
Seiko has unveiled a new series of limited-edition timepieces celebrating its 145th anniversary, drawing inspiration from the traditional "Edo purple" colour that originated in Tokyo during the Edo period (1603–1868). According to Monochrome Watches, the collection includes three mechanical models — the Alpinist HBC006, Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006, and Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003 — all featuring distinctive purple dials in honour of the brand's founding city.
Seiko was founded in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Tokyo's Ginza district for the sale and repair of timepieces. The Edo purple colour, which emerged during the Edo period, became closely associated with the cultural identity of the city that would later become Tokyo. According to Brice Goulard of Monochrome Watches, "Seiko introduces a new series of limited-edition timepieces (6 in total), all bearing a purple dial in honour of Edo/Tokyo."
Prospex Alpinist "Edo Purple" HBC006 — EUR 980
The Alpinist HBC006 is a modern interpretation of Seiko's first sports watch from 1959, designed for exploration. Housed in a 39.5mm steel case with 200m water resistance, it features a sunray-brushed light purple dial with the model's classic wedge-shaped indexes and Arabic numerals, accented by gold-coloured details on the Seiko logo and seconds hand.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 39.5mm × 12.7mm, steel, sapphire crystal, 200m WR |
| Movement | Calibre 6R55, automatic, 72h power reserve, 3Hz |
| Dial | Sunray-brushed purple with inner rotating compass bezel |
| Strap | Black leather, crocodile pattern, purple stitching |
| Limitation | 7,000 pieces worldwide |
Presage Cocktail Time GMT "Edo Purple" HCB006 — EUR 620
The second mechanical model is a Presage Cocktail Time GMT, inspired by an original cocktail called "Edo Murasaki" created by Hisashi Kishi of Star Bar. The 40.5mm steel case features a glossy, textured dial with a vibrant translucent purple colour and gold-coloured accents. The watch is powered by the calibre 4R34 office-style GMT movement, offering a 41-hour power reserve.
Seiko 5 Sports SKX "Edo Purple" HDB003 — EUR 450
Rounding out the collection is the Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003, based on the iconic SKX007 lineage. The 42.5mm steel case features a deep sunray-brushed purple dial with gold-coloured accents and vertically striated indexes. It is powered by the calibre 4R36 automatic movement with 41 hours of power reserve and 100m water resistance.
Availability and Pricing
All three watches will be available beginning October 2026 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide. The collection ranges from EUR 450 for the Seiko 5 Sports SKX to EUR 980 for the Alpinist.
For more on Seiko's heritage collections, see our guide to how to choose the right Seiko watch and our overview of dive watch fundamentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will the Seiko 145th Anniversary "Edo Purple" watches be available?
- According to Monochrome Watches, all three mechanical models will be available from October 2026 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide.
- What is "Edo purple" and why did Seiko choose it?
- Edo purple is a traditional Japanese colour that originated during the Edo period (1603–1868) in Tokyo. Seiko selected it to honour the city where founder Kintaro Hattori opened his first shop in 1881.
- Are there quartz models in the Edo Purple collection?
- According to Monochrome Watches, the full collection includes 6 models total, including 3 mechanical watches featured here and 3 additional quartz models.
Source: Monochrome Watches — Seiko Celebrates 145 Years with New "Edo Purple" Watches