There are colors that are not merely shades. They tell a story, convey a spirit, sum up an ambition. At Seiko, blue belongs to this category. To celebrate its 145th anniversary, the Japanese house unveils a new King Seiko VANAC in a limited edition, reference HKF004, which pairs a silver-white dial with bright, luminous blue accents. A watch that is at once sporty, architectural and refined, bringing the spirit of the 1970s into dialogue with the demands of contemporary mechanical watchmaking.
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A story born in Ginza
Seiko’s story begins in 1881, when Kintaro Hattori opened a shop named “K. Hattori” in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Guided by the idea of always being “one step ahead of the rest,” he would lay the foundations of a manufacture destined to leave a deep mark on the history of Japanese watchmaking. In 1913, Seiko created Japan’s first wristwatch, before experiencing in the 1960s a decisive decade marked by major innovations: Japan’s first chronograph wristwatch in 1964, Japan’s first diver’s watch in 1965, then the world’s first quartz watch in 1969. It was also during this period that the “Seiko Blue” gradually came to the fore, becoming one of the brand’s visual signatures.
King Seiko, for its part, appeared in 1961. From the very beginning, this collection embodied a certain idea of the high-end Japanese watch: precise, meticulous, balanced, yet never static. Relaunched in 2022, King Seiko today holds a singular place within the Seiko universe, between aesthetic heritage, mechanical exactingness and the desire to offer contemporary elegance without ostentation.
VANAC, the seventies spirit reinterpreted
The VANAC is a proposition apart in the history of King Seiko. Emerging in the 1970s, it stood out for its faceted shapes, bolder colors and a more expressive presence than the line’s classic models. Seiko itself recalls that the 1972 VANAC already combined elegance, vivid colors and innovative shapes, making it an icon of its era.
The new King Seiko VANAC HKF004 does not merely reproduce this inspiration. It transposes it into a more current, more taut, more sporty register. Its stainless steel case adopts an angular, almost architectural silhouette, yet the absence of a bezel preserves a certain fluidity. The watch does not seek to be discreet, but it remains elegant. It asserts its personality without tipping into excess.
Silver, blue, light
The dial is probably the most interesting point of equilibrium in this limited edition. Its silver-white base, traversed by a horizontal stripe pattern, offers an immediate sensation of freshness. Around the indexes, a bright blue ring echoes the bold design of the bezel on the historic VANAC models. The three hands also take up this glossy blue finish, creating a sharp contrast with the light dial. The LumiBrite applied to the indexes and hands enhances legibility while contributing to the visual energy of the whole.
This blue is not merely decorative. It gives the dial its rhythm, underscores the structure of the watch and recalls Seiko’s deepest identity. The result evokes less a static commemorative watch than a piece of character, designed to be worn every day.
Tokyo on the horizon
Seiko notes that the case design draws inspiration from the Tokyo skyline, the birthplace of King Seiko. This idea is found in the taut lines, the clean surfaces and the impression of depth conveyed by the dial. The index at 12 o’clock and the counterweight of the seconds hand adopt a “V”-shaped silhouette, a direct nod to the VANAC name. The integrated steel bracelet alternates polished and brushed finishes, in a very contemporary sport-chic spirit.
With its 41 mm diameter and 14.3 mm thickness, the watch claims a genuine presence on the wrist. The box-shaped sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective treatment further accentuates this contemporary dimension, while the screw-down crown, the transparent screw-down case back and the 10 bar water resistance confirm a calling as a robust, versatile mechanical watch.
The 8L45 caliber as the engine
At the heart of this King Seiko VANAC beats the 8L45 caliber, Seiko’s high-end mechanical automatic movement. It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, features 35 jewels and offers around 72 hours of power reserve. Its stated accuracy is +10 to -5 seconds per day. Beyond these technical figures, Seiko emphasizes its robustness, designed to meet the expectations of contemporary mechanical sports watches.
The transparent case back reveals the oscillating weight and the bridges decorated with a wave-like motif. The case back also bears a blue shield logo inspired by the King Seiko emblem of the 1960s. Each piece carries the “Limited Edition” inscription as well as an individual number, underscoring the exclusive nature of this series.
A King Seiko with character
With this VANAC 145th anniversary edition, Seiko manages to bring together several dimensions of its history. There is the memory of Kintaro Hattori and of Ginza. There is the technical audacity of the 1960s. There is the faceted, colorful style of the 1970s VANAC. And there is, above all, a very contemporary way of offering a mechanical sport-chic watch, expressive yet balanced enough never to grow tiresome.
The King Seiko VANAC HKF004 will be available from July 2026 in a limited edition of 800 pieces, in Seiko boutiques and at select authorized retailers. Its recommended retail price in Europe is announced at 3,400 euros.
Technical specifications
| Reference | HKF004 / HKF004J1 |
| Collection | King Seiko VANAC |
| Edition | Seiko 145th anniversary, limited to 800 pieces |
| Case | stainless steel |
| Diameter | 41 mm |
| Thickness | 14.3 mm |
| Crystal | box-shaped sapphire, internal anti-reflective treatment |
| Case back | transparent, screw-down |
| Crown | screw-down |
| Water resistance | 10 bar |
| Magnetic resistance | 4,800 A/m |
| Movement | Seiko 8L45 automatic caliber |
| Frequency | 28,800 vibrations per hour |
| Power reserve | approximately 72 hours |
| Jewels | 35 |
| Stated accuracy | +10 / -5 seconds per day |
| Bracelet | stainless steel |
| Recommended retail price | 3,400 euros |
| Availability | From July 2026 |
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Frequently asked questions
It is a limited edition of 800 pieces celebrating Seiko’s 145 years, reviving the bold 1970s VANAC design with a silver-and-blue dial and powered by the 8L45 automatic caliber.
The Seiko 8L45 automatic caliber, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with 35 jewels, a power reserve of around 72 hours and a stated accuracy of +10/-5 seconds per day.
The stainless steel case measures 41 mm in diameter and 14.3 mm thick, with a box-shaped sapphire crystal and 10 bar of water resistance.
It is limited to 800 pieces, under references HKF004 / HKF004J1.
It has a recommended retail price of 3,400 euros and is available from July 2026.
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