Few watchmakers can claim a history quite like Seiko’s. Founded in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori, the Japanese watchmaker reaches its 145th anniversary in 2026, marking almost a century and a half of innovation, craftsmanship and a determination to remain one step ahead.
To celebrate the milestone, Seiko has introduced a series of commemorative limited editions drawing inspiration from its heritage while looking firmly towards the future.
Among the latest releases are four very different watches from Presage, Prospex and Seiko 5 Sports, all connected by one particularly striking detail: Edo purple.
For collectors, that makes this group especially interesting. Rather than simply applying the same dial colour across several watches, Seiko has interpreted the anniversary theme through four distinctive areas of its watchmaking: Cocktail Time refinement, Alpinist heritage, Speedtimer chronograph history and the unmistakable character of Seiko 5 Sports.
Why Edo Purple?
Colour plays an important part in Seiko’s 145th anniversary collection, and the purple used across these models carries considerably more meaning than a fashionable new dial shade.
Seiko describes Edo purple, or Edo-murasaki, as a colour rooted in the aesthetic culture of Edo-period Tokyo. The shade became associated with the city and was particularly popular in clothing during the Edo era. For the anniversary collection, Seiko uses it as a connection between the traditions of historic Edo and the creativity of modern-day Tokyo.
It is a fitting choice for a watchmaker celebrating 145 years.
Seiko’s story has always been closely connected to Tokyo, yet the company has continually reinterpreted its heritage rather than simply recreating it. These watches follow the same philosophy. Traditional Japanese colour provides the inspiration, while the watches themselves feel distinctly contemporary.
Gold-coloured details also appear throughout the anniversary collection, a motif Seiko associates with success, prosperity and optimism for the future.
The result is an unusual purple-and-gold combination that immediately distinguishes these limited editions from their regular-production counterparts.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time HCB006: Edo Purple After Dark
£520 | Limited to 6,000 pieces worldwide
For anyone who already appreciates the Presage Cocktail Time collection, the HCB006 is likely to be one of the most immediately appealing watches in the trio.
The Cocktail Time series has become known for dials inspired by the atmosphere and artistry of cocktail bars, and the anniversary edition continues that tradition in particularly appropriate fashion.
Its radial-patterned purple dial takes inspiration from the “Edo Murasaki” cocktail, created in collaboration with Hisashi Kishi, head bartender at STAR BAR in Tokyo’s Ginza district and a past winner of the International Bar Association World Championships.
That connection works beautifully with the Cocktail Time concept. Light plays across the textured purple dial, while gold colouring on the Seiko logo and GMT hand gives the watch a warmer, more celebratory character.
There is also more going on here mechanically than the classic three-hand Cocktail Time formula.
Inside is Seiko’s 4R34 automatic calibre, giving the HCB006 an independently displayed 24-hour hand for tracking a second time zone. The movement offers approximately 41 hours of power reserve and can also be wound manually.
At 40.5mm in diameter, it remains a versatile size, while the box-shaped Hardlex crystal and see-through case back retain familiar Presage character. The case back is marked “LIMITED EDITION”, confirming its place within the anniversary series.
For collectors, this may be the most elegant interpretation of the Edo purple concept. It combines a culturally inspired dial, Cocktail Time storytelling and the additional appeal of a mechanical GMT movement without moving into inaccessible pricing.
Shop the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time HCB006 watch
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005: Racing Heritage in Purple
£670 | Limited to 8,000 pieces worldwide
Where the Presage is sophisticated and atmospheric, the Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005 takes the anniversary theme in a far sportier direction.
This solar chronograph draws inspiration from Seiko’s Speedtimer designs of the 1960s and 1970s, incorporating a bi-colour aluminium bezel with a tachymeter inspired by a sought-after vintage Speedtimer from Seiko’s archives.
Against the familiar chronograph layout, the Edo purple dial gives the watch an unexpected character. It feels recognisably Speedtimer, but distinctly different from the monochrome and motorsport-inspired palettes often associated with the collection.
Power comes from Seiko’s V192 solar calibre. Once fully charged, it can operate for approximately six months and offers a chronograph capable of measuring up to 60 minutes in 1/5-second increments. The watch also incorporates a power reserve indicator, 24-hour hand and date display.
The 41.4mm stainless steel case is fitted with a curved sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on its inner surface, while 10-bar water resistance adds everyday practicality.
For collectors who enjoy the historical side of Seiko, this is perhaps the strongest link to the brand’s sporting watch heritage within the trio. It takes recognisable Speedtimer DNA and introduces a dial colour that immediately identifies it as something outside the standard collection.
The combination of vintage influence, solar functionality and limited-edition colour makes the HBJ005 particularly appealing for someone looking for a Seiko chronograph that does not simply repeat what has come before.
Shop the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005 watch
Seiko 5 Sports HDB003: The Most Accessible Anniversary Edition
£380 | Limited to 9,999 pieces worldwide
The Seiko 5 Sports HDB003 brings Edo purple to one of Seiko’s most recognisable contemporary sports-watch designs.
Based on the popular SKX series, it combines the familiar rounded case, rotating bezel and sporty wrist presence with an anniversary dial inspired by Edo-murasaki. Seiko specifically references the historical popularity of the colour in Edo-period clothing and its suitability for contemporary styling.
A gold-coloured Seiko 5 Sports logo contrasts with the purple dial and reinforces the wider anniversary theme. The watch is fitted to a three-row stainless steel bracelet, giving it a slightly more polished character while retaining the robust feel associated with the collection.
Inside is the tried-and-tested 4R36 automatic movement, offering manual winding, hacking seconds, day and date displays and approximately 41 hours of power reserve.
At 42.5mm in diameter, it is the largest of these three anniversary watches. A curved Hardlex crystal, unidirectional rotating bezel, LumiBrite hands and indexes and 10-bar water resistance complete the specification. The exhibition case back is also marked “LIMITED EDITION”.
At £380, it represents the most accessible way into this particular Seiko 145th Anniversary series, but that does not make it the least interesting.
For established Seiko collectors, 5 Sports occupies an important position in the brand’s modern catalogue. Combining the familiar SKX-style design with such an unusual historical colour makes this edition an intriguing addition to a collection, particularly for anyone who already owns more traditional black, blue or green Seiko sports watches.
Shop the Seiko 5 Sports HDB003 watch
Seiko Prospex Alpinist HBC006: A Historic Explorer Reimagined
£820 | Limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide
The Prospex Alpinist HBC006 introduces a particularly compelling dimension to the anniversary collection because it connects Edo purple with one of Seiko’s most important sports-watch lineages.
The modern Alpinist traces its spirit back to the Laurel Alpinist of 1959, recognised by Seiko as its first sports watch. Created with outdoor use in mind, the Alpinist has evolved over the decades into something rather distinctive: a capable adventure watch with enough elegance to move comfortably beyond the mountains.
That versatility is still very much present in the HBC006.
The rich Edo purple dial gives the familiar Alpinist aesthetic an unexpectedly luxurious character, providing an intriguing contrast to the model’s functional, outdoors-focused roots. It makes this anniversary edition feel noticeably different from the greens, blacks and blues that collectors may more readily associate with the collection.
At its heart is Seiko’s 6R55 automatic calibre, a significant step up in power reserve from the movements found in some of the other watches in this anniversary group. Fully wound, it provides approximately 72 hours of power reserve, or three days, while also offering manual winding and a stop-seconds function.
The proportions should also appeal to many Alpinist enthusiasts. Its stainless steel case measures 39.5mm across and 12.7mm thick, with a 46.4mm lug-to-lug measurement. A sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating provides added practicality, while the case itself receives Seiko’s super-hard coating.
As you would expect from an Alpinist, function remains an important part of the design. The watch features the collection’s characteristic rotating inner compass ring, alongside a screw-down crown and 20-bar water resistance. LumiBrite is applied to the hands and indexes for improved visibility in low light.
A leather strap gives the HBC006 a slightly more traditional character, while the see-through screw case back reveals the automatic movement and carries the all-important “LIMITED EDITION” marking.
For collectors, this could prove to be one of the most compelling watches in the anniversary group. The Alpinist already has a strong identity within Seiko collecting, and combining its 1959 heritage, 6R55 movement and 72-hour power reserve with such an unusual commemorative dial gives the HBC006 a character all its own.
Shop the Seiko Prospex Alpinist HBC006 watch
Which Seiko 145th Anniversary Watch Is For You?
Despite sharing the same anniversary inspiration, these three watches offer very different experiences.
Choose the Presage Cocktail Time HCB006 if you are drawn to mechanical watches, distinctive dial finishing and the more elegant side of Seiko. The GMT complication and story behind the Edo Murasaki cocktail make it particularly interesting for Presage collectors.
Opt for the Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005 if Seiko’s chronograph history appeals to you. Its vintage-inspired design, solar movement and unusual purple dial create arguably the sportiest interpretation of the anniversary theme.
Consider the Seiko 5 Sports HDB003 if you want the boldest everyday option or an accessible addition to an established Seiko collection. Its SKX-inspired profile and automatic movement give it classic 5 Sports appeal, but the Edo purple treatment makes it immediately different.
Go for the Prospex Alpinist HBC006 if you appreciate Seiko's adventure-watch heritage and want the strongest combination of mechanical specification and everyday versatility. Its 39.5mm proportions, 72-hour 6R55 movement, compass ring and 200-metre water resistance make it an especially complete package.
Of course, viewed together, the trio tells a bigger story.
They demonstrate how one idea can travel through very different areas of Seiko watchmaking without losing its identity. The Presage interprets Edo purple through cocktail culture and mechanical refinement. Prospex pairs it with chronograph heritage. Seiko 5 Sports gives the colour a relaxed, contemporary character.
That variety is precisely what makes Seiko collecting so interesting.
A Limited Edition Chapter in Seiko History
Anniversary editions have a particular appeal for collectors because they capture a specific point in a watchmaker’s history.
For Seiko, 145 years represents considerably more than longevity. Since 1881, the company has built its reputation by continually developing new approaches to watchmaking while maintaining a distinctly Japanese identity. Seiko says its anniversary pieces are intended not only to look back at that history, but also to represent the brand’s continued focus on innovation and the future.
The use of Edo purple makes these three watches especially effective expressions of that idea: a colour with roots in historic Tokyo reimagined across modern Seiko watches.
With the Presage HCB006 limited to 6,000 pieces, Alpinist HBC006 to 7,000 pieces, Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005 to 8,000 pieces and Seiko 5 Sports HDB003 to 9,999 pieces worldwide, each gives collectors a chance to own a distinctive part of Seiko’s 145th anniversary story. The Alpinist is officially confirmed as an October 2026 release by Seiko.
Whether your preference is Presage watches refinement, Alpinist watches heritage, Speedtimer chronograph watches history or the unmistakable appeal of Seiko 5 Sports watches, these are four limited editions worth keeping firmly on the radar.
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