Seiko Marks 145 Years With Striking New VANAC Timepiece

By Danial Martinus • 21 Jul 2026 in Tick Talk

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Seiko is celebrating its 145th birthday with the release of a new limited-edition King Seiko VANAC model, graced with accents that feature the Japanese watchmaker’s iconic “Seiko Blue” colour.

First introduced in 1961, King Seiko entered the market as an in-house competitor to the brand’s premier flagship series, Grand Seiko. It was slightly more accessible, making it a big hit with people who wanted a luxury watch but couldn’t pay Grand Seiko money.

Then in the 1970s, King Seiko introduced the VANAC, which presented the King Seiko lineup in a more unique, artsy style that featured pominent multi-faceted case designs. For 2026, Seiko has launched a new VANAC to commemorate 145 years as a watchmaker, limited to just 800 units.

A striking silver-white and blue dial

Featuring the original VANAC’s bold case design, the watch has prominent King Seiko branding at six o’clock, as well as the obligatory Seiko logo at 12. Embedded in the dial is a ring in Seiko Blue, with matching seconds, minutes, and hour hands to emphasise the iconic colour.

The main surface of the dial has a shimmering silver-white striped pattern that exudes a premium look with a bit of rugged flair. There’s also a nice date window at three o’clock encased in a silver-white frame.

You’re probably wondering what that strange shape at the 12 o’clock index is. At first glance you might mistake it for some sort of crown, but it’s actually the ‘V’ in VANAC. You can also find a similar ‘V’ motif on the second hand’s counterweight.

The watch has a stainless steel case for that substantial, hefty feel on the wrist. The design of the case itself is inspired by the endlessness of the Tokyo Metropolis, in the way each faceted side just flows smoothly to the edges of the watch.

Powering the watch is Seiko’s Caliber 8L45, packing a healthy power reserve of 72 hours. This means you can have it wound up on a Friday night before dinner, and it’ll still be ticking on Monday morning.

This new King Seiko VANAC is available as a limited edition (just 800 pieces) from July 2026 onwards at your nearest Seiko Boutique, as well as authorised distributors. All you need is a cool RM13,900.