Every anniversary collection runs the same risk: slap a special dial on an existing model, call it limited, and hope nobody looks too closely. Seiko’s 145th anniversary lineup doesn’t really have that problem. Instead of one hero piece, the brand has spread a single unifying idea, a specific shade of purple tied to Tokyo’s own history, across six genuinely different watches, from a field-ready Alpinist to a digital quartz revival from the early ’80s.
For collectors and first-time buyers in India watching this space, it’s worth understanding what’s actually being released before deciding which piece, if any, is worth chasing. If limited runs are your thing, you can also browse our limited edition watches.
The Idea Behind Edo Purple
The colour running through this entire collection is called Edo Murasaki, or Edo purple, a shade historically associated with Edo-period Tokyo and considered a mark of refinement in Japanese tradition. Rather than treating purple as a one-off cosmetic choice, Seiko has worked it into dials, bezel inserts, straps, and even a rotary switch across genuinely different watch families, which is part of what makes this anniversary edition feel more coherent than most.
The Six Watches in the Collection
1. Prospex Alpinist Mechanical (HBC006J1)
A mechanical field watch with a 72-hour power reserve and a rotating compass inner ring, finished with purple leather stitching. This is the most outdoor-oriented piece in the lineup, limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide.
2. Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph (HBJ005P1)
A solar-powered chronograph with a purple dial and matching tachymeter bezel, limited to 8,000 pieces.
3. Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph (HAB011J1)
The most technically loaded piece here, GPS-based time-zone adjustment across 38 world time zones, a titanium case, and ceramic bracelet elements. Only 2,000 pieces exist globally, which makes this the rarest watch in the collection.
4. Presage Cocktail Time “Edo Murasaki” (HCB006J1)
An automatic watch in a dress style, with a GMT function, inspired by a cocktail created by bartender Hisashi Kishi. Limited to 6,000 pieces, this is arguably the most directly tied to the Edo Murasaki concept.
5. Seiko 5 Sports SKX Series (HDB003K1)
A deep purple dial on Seiko’s popular automatic sports line, with vertically striated indexes. At 9,999 pieces, it’s the most accessible entry point into the anniversary collection.
6. Seiko Selection Digital (HFL001P1)
A quartz revival of the 1982 “Rotocall” design, featuring a purple rotary switch against an all-black case. Limited to 4,000 pieces, this is the collection’s most unusual piece, more digital-era nostalgia than traditional horology. If retro reissues appeal to you, read our guide to the Timex 1976 Rotary Phone Dial Reissue.
Quick tip: If you’re drawn to this collection specifically because of the Edo Murasaki story, the Presage Cocktail Time is the piece most directly built around that concept, rather than one that simply carries the colour as decoration. To see what else has just landed, check our new arrivals.
