Back in 1913, Seiko created Japan’s very first wristwatch, which was known as the Laurel, and which ultimately paved the way for the countless Seiko watches that exist today. Within recent years, the famous Japanese manufacturer has created a number of different limited-edition timepieces that reimagine the original Laurel from 1913, and as its latest new release of 2023, Seiko has announced an entire lineup of seven new watches that are all inspired by the brand’s very first wristwatch. The seven new models span the Presage, Prospex, Astron, and 5 Sports collections, and while all of them feature design elements that are informed by the original Seiko Laurel, each one offers its own distinct take on this same core concept.
Seiko Presage 110th Anniversary Watches
Among the five different collections that are part of this latest batch of Seiko 110th Anniversary watches, it is the Presage that features the most models, with three of the seven timepieces (SPB401, SPB413, and SSK015) being members of this refined and slightly dressy lineup.
Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series SPB401
Among the seven new 110th Anniversary watches, the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series SPB401 is the one that most closely adheres to the aesthetic of the original Laurel from 1913, and it features a stainless steel case with Seiko’s “Super Hard Coating” that measures 40.2mm in diameter by 12.8mm thick. A double curved sapphire crystal sits above the dial, a display caseback is fitted to the reverse side of the watch, and water resistance comes at a respectable 100 meters.
Powering the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series SPB401 is the brand’s Cal. 6R27 automatic movement, which runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 45 hours, and fitted to the lugs is a brown leather strap with a stainless steel deployant clasp. With that in mind, the real party piece of this particular model is its white enamel dial, which features crisp black printing and a bright red 12 o’clock marker, just like the original Laurel watch from 1913.
- Limited Edition: 1,500 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $1,250 USD
Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series SPB413
Also part of the greater Presage lineup but offering an overall appearance that is much more in line with what we typically associate with the brand, the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series SPB413 features a stainless steel case with the brand’s “Super Hard Coating” that measures 40.2mm in diameter by 13mm thick. Similar to its Craftsmanship Series sibling, the Seiko SPB413 also features a double curved sapphire crystal paired with a display-style caseback, and despite its fairly dressy overall appearance, water resistance comes in at the same respectable 100 meters.
Fitted to the lugs of the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series SPB413 is a slightly different brown leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp, and powering the watch is the Cal. 6R55, which runs at a rate of 21,600vph (3 Hz) with a power reserve of 72 hours. Instead of having the entire 12 o’clock marker be bright red, this small colorful highlight is limited to just the marking within the minute track, while the dial surface features a textured “asanoha” (hemp leaf) pattern that complements the angular lines of its case.
- Limited Edition: 2,000 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $1,050 USD
Seiko Presage Style60’s SSK015
The final Presage model among the new 110th Anniversary watches is the Seiko Presage Style60’s SSK015, which offers a significantly more sporty appearance and is priced significantly below the other two new Presage models. Measuring 40.8mm in diameter by 13mm thick, the stainless steel case does not feature the same “Super Hard Coating” as its siblings, and rather than featuring a sapphire crystal above its dial, it has a box-shaped Hardlex crystal paired with its screw-down display caseback.
The dial of the Seiko Presage Style60’s SSK015 is silver/gray in color, and keeping with the theme of this 110th Anniversary series, the inverted triangle at the top of the dial is finished bright red. Internally, the Cal. 4R34 automatic GMT movement is used to power the watch, which runs at a rate of 21,600vph (3 Hz) with a power reserve of 41 hours, and fitted to the lugs is a brown leather NATO-style strap that compliments the watch’s more casual overall aesthetic. With that in mind, despite its fairly sporty overall appearance, water resistance for the new Seiko SSK015 is actually less than its two Presage siblings and comes in at a fairly standard 50 meters.
- Limited Edition: 3,500 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $625 USD
Seiko Prospex 110th Anniversary Watches
Aside from the Presage series, the Prospex lineup is the only other collection that includes more than one model in this latest batch of 110th Anniversary watches, with both the SPB409 and SFJ009 featuring the Prospex “X” logo on their dials.
Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB409
The Seiko Alpinist series is one of the perennial fan favorites from the brand’s catalog, and the new Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB409 takes the core blueprint of the latest GMT version of the Alpinist and gives it an aesthetic that is inspired by the original Laurel from 1913. Measuring 39.5mm in diameter by 13.6mm thick, the stainless steel case features Seiko’s “Super Hard Coating” and it features a double curved sapphire crystal above the dial paired with a screw-down display caseback. As the Alpinist is part of the Prospex collection, it features a fairly generous depth rating, and just like previous Alpinist models, the new Seiko SPB409 offers 200 meters of water resistance.
Internally, the new Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB409 is powered by the brand’s Cal. 6R54 automatic GMT movement, which runs at a frequency of 21,600vph (3 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. The silver dial features the 110th Anniversary collection’s signature bright red accent for the “North” marker of its internal rotating compass bezel, and while the lugs are fitted with a three-link stainless steel bracelet, the Seiko Alpinist SPB409 also comes with an additional brown leather strap with a stainless steel deployant clasp.
- Limited Edition: 3,000 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $1,300 USD
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer 1/100 Second Solar Chronograph SFJ009
The other Laurel-inspired Prospex model that is part of the new collection of 110th Anniversary watches in the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer 1/100 Second Solar Chronograph SFJ009. Crafted from stainless steel and measuring 42mm in diameter by 12.9mm thick, the case features a curved sapphire crystal above the dial along with three pushers and a crown located around the side of the case. Similar to the Alpinist from this 110th Anniversary series, the Seiko Speedtimer SFJ009 also comes with both a three-link stainless steel bracelet and an additional leather strap that is completed by a stainless steel deployant buckle.
As one of only two quartz-powered models from this 110th Anniversary collection, the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer 1/100 Second Solar Chronograph SFJ009 features the Cal. 8A50 solar chronograph movement, which is capable of measuring times down to 1/100th of a second with its dedicated register located at 2 o’clock. In terms of its overall aesthetics, the Seiko Speedtimer SFJ009 represents the greatest departure from the original Laurel, with a brushed silver dial, black registers, and the 110th Anniversary series’ signature bright red highlights appearing on its chronograph hands.
- Limited Edition: 3,500 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $1,050 USD
Seiko Aston 110th Anniversary Watches
While the Presage and Prospex series each have multiple models that are part of this new 110th Anniversary lineup, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSJ019 is the only model from its respective collection.
Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSJ019
As the most expensive model from the 110th Anniversary collection, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSJ019 features an angular titanium case with the brand’s “Super Hard Coating” that measures 41.2mm in diameter by 12mm thick. The dial side of the watch is protected by a flat sapphire crystal, while a crown and set of pushers stick out from the 3 o’clock side of the case. Water resistance for the Seiko Astron SSJ019 comes in at 100 meters, and its angular integrated lugs are fitted with a brown leather strap that is completed by a deployant clasp with a push-button release.
Similar to its siblings from the new 110th Anniversary collection, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar SSJ019 features a white dial with faceted hour markers and the series’ signature red highlight appearing as the “60” marker within the minute track. Powering the Seiko SSJ019 is the brand’s Cal. 3X62 solar movement, which offers GPS-controlled timekeeping, a perpetual calendar, high-speed timezone adjustment, and the ability to indicate the status of its adjustment signal.
- Limited Edition: 800 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $1,900 USD
Seiko 5 Sports 110th Anniversary Watches
Similar to the Aston collection, there is only one Seiko 5 model that is part of the new 110th Anniversary lineup, and the Seiko 5 Sports SRPK41 is the most affordable offering from this latest series of limited-edition watches.
Seiko 5 Sports SRPK41
The Seiko 5 Sports SRPK41 is based on one of the field watch models from the current lineup, and it features a stainless steel case that measures 39.4mm in diameter by 13.1mm thick. A Hardlex crystal sits above the dial, while a display caseback is fitted to the reverse side of the case, and water resistance for the Seiko 5 SRPK41 comes in at the same 100 meters that is offered by the standard-production versions of this model.
Rather than featuring a single red accent at 12 o’clock, the cream-colored dial of the Seiko 5 Sports SRPK41 features the 110th Anniversary’s signature red highlights for its additional 24-hour scale that sits along the interior perimeter of the hour markers. Just like other Seiko 5 models, the new SRPK41 is powered by the brand’s Cal. 4R36 automatic movement, which runs at a frequency of 21,600vph (3 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 41 hours. Additionally, while the lugs of the Seiko SRPK4 are fitted with a five-link stainless steel bracelet, the watch also includes a brown leather strap with a stainless steel deployant clasp.
- Limited Edition: 6,000 pieces
- Official Retail Price: $425 USD
