Some watches have a “panda” dial. And then there are those that decide to become a panda! With two new limited editions from its Power Design Project, Seiko takes the expression literally. A creation as unexpected as it is endearing, and a reminder that watchmaking can also have a sense of humour and a taste for whimsy.
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When the panda comes to life on the wrist
In the watch world, the “panda” chronograph is a true classic. The idea is simple: a light dial, usually white, paired with black sub-dials that recall the eyes of the famous bear. It has become an essential look, especially popular with fans of sporty chronographs.
But at Seiko, some designers clearly decided that the resemblance deserved to be taken much further! One of them is Kiyotaka Sakai, a designer at the Japanese manufacture, who dreamed up a watch that genuinely reproduces the animal’s features. The result? Two chronographs with expressive faces, little black ears and a gaze that is very hard to resist.
A bold idea, admittedly, but not one that came out of nowhere.
From creative lab to reality
Passion Horlogère readers already know the Seiko Power Design Project. Launched in 2001, the programme gives the Japanese brand’s designers the freedom to explore watch concepts free from the usual constraints.
In 2024, the Incredibly Specialized Watches exhibition presented seven creations designed for very specific uses or audiences. Among them was a watch intended, with a healthy dose of humour, for panda lovers.
The concept clearly won people over, since Seiko is now bringing it to market with two limited editions. It is a fine illustration of the project’s philosophy, which we already discussed in our article on the 2025 edition: turning watch design into a playground for experimentation, surprise and sometimes even poetry.
Two pandas, two personalities
The first version, reference HHK001, naturally adopts the animal’s signature black and white. The second, HHK002, dares a soft pink dial that evokes the birth of a baby panda.
But it is in the details that Seiko really lets its creativity loose. The chronograph sub-dials form two slightly drooping eyes, while the textured dial recalls the softness of the fur. The pushers, placed on the upper part of the case, take the shape of small rounded ears.
Even the tachymeter scale joins in the fun! Renamed “SASAMETER”, after sasa, a variety of Japanese bamboo, it measures speeds of up to 30 km/h, the theoretical top speed of a running panda.
And for those who love hidden details, the caseback reproduces the animal’s back, complete with a little tail in relief. Hard to take the concept any further!
A real watch behind the whimsy
Beneath its playful looks, this creation keeps all the features of a functional chronograph. Both models are powered by the Seiko 8T61 quartz calibre, housed in a stainless steel case measuring 43 mm in diameter and 14.6 mm thick. A Hardlex crystal protects the dial, and water resistance is rated at 3 bar.
The leather strap also plays with texture, with finishes that evoke the softness of fur. Priced at 590 euros, these watches will be available exclusively in Seiko boutiques from November 2026. The white HHK001 will be limited to 3,000 pieces, and the pink HHK002 to 2,000.
When watchmaking rediscovers its inner child
In an industry where new releases are often driven by performance, materials or reinterpretations of historic models, Seiko takes a different path here. These two chronographs are not trying to revolutionise mechanics or break records. They simply embrace the pleasure of surprising, amusing and making people smile.
And after all, why should a watch always take itself seriously? With these horological pandas, Seiko reminds us that a timepiece can also be an object of affection. A small dose of Japanese whimsy that feels good in a world that is sometimes far too conventional.
Specifications, Seiko Power Design Project Panda
| References | HHK001 (white), HHK002 (pink) |
|---|---|
| Movement | Seiko 8T61 quartz |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Diameter | 43 mm |
| Thickness | 14.6 mm |
| Crystal | Hardlex |
| Water resistance | 3 bar |
| Strap | Textured leather |
| Limited editions | 3,000 and 2,000 pieces |
| Availability | November 2026, Seiko boutiques |
| Retail price | €590 |
Frequently asked questions
A chronograph released in two limited editions from Seiko’s Power Design Project, whose dial reproduces the features of a panda: sub-dials shaped like eyes, pushers as ears and a caseback depicting the animal’s back.
The black and white HHK001, limited to 3,000 pieces, and the HHK002 with a pink dial evoking a baby panda, limited to 2,000 pieces.
Kiyotaka Sakai, a Seiko designer. The concept was presented in 2024 at the Incredibly Specialized Watches exhibition before becoming a commercial edition.
The Seiko 8T61 quartz calibre, in a stainless steel case measuring 43 mm in diameter and 14.6 mm thick, with a Hardlex crystal and water resistance of 3 bar.
590 euros, available exclusively in Seiko boutiques from November 2026.
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