Our favourite Seiko watches of 2024
Borna BošnjakIf you’ve travelled down the path of becoming a fully dyed in the wool watch enthusiast, chances are that your journey started with a Seiko. And this isn’t just a case of me projecting as I usually do – the brand has captured the market in a way no other was able to, and despite recent price hikes, still manages to offer compelling watches across a widely spanning price spectrum. Just like any other year, 2024 was a busy one for Seiko, with no shortage of all-new models, refreshed colourways, nor region-specific limited editions – with quite a few of those coming our way. With that being the case, and being limited to picking just a top five, I did want to shout out a particularly good vintage tribute in the shape of the Seiko 5 SRPL03 and SRPL05, both faithful nods to Seiko 5s from the 1960s and 1970s.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SSC947 “Pogue”
We’ll start of with a controversial one. I know I might cop a lot of flack for including this from the Seiko fanbase, so let me just start off by saying that I am very much one of you, so please don’t turn on your own. With that out of the way, I really do think the Speedtimer Pogue belongs on this list. Strip away the iconic colourway, and the Prospex Speedtimer is still an excellent watch that makes the best use of solar power despite having a full-colour dial, and I really hope most of us are past the “quartz bad” argument at this point. And with that golden dial and bi-colour bezel, it respectfully nods to a legend in my opinion. Price: US$700
Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB489
Whether it’s Grand or just Seiko, there’s seldom a better place to look for a new, nature-inspired dial. Seiko’s latest Australian limited edition, the Prospex Alpinist SPB489, takes the Australian outback’s hazy, red vastness and miniaturises it into a dial. Having such a bold red colour is a little unusual even today, but this Alpinist pulls it off easily. The 39.5mm case continues to be great just as it was when it was a SARB, now featuring a display caseback showing off the 3Hz, 70-hour 6R35. Price: A$1,250 (~US$835)
Seiko Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s “24MAS”
Seiko’s many collections and sub-brands are confusing at the best of times, and especially so when a refreshed model gets a refresh. That’s exactly what happened to the 20MAS this year, a popular collection referencing Seiko’s legendary 62MAS diver. This re-refresh is the Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch – or 24MAS, as we’ve dubbed it to make it easier to distinguish. The SPB451, SPB453, and SPB455 sport a smaller, 40mm case that’s also a hair slimmer, with water resistance jumping to 300 metres. The final upgrade is two additional hours of power reserve, courtesy of the 6R55 movement, for a total of 72. Price: starting from US$1,300
Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series SPB445 Arita Porcelain
Other than nature-inspired textures and colours, Seiko is also notable for its work with enamel, porcelain, and lacquer dials as part of its Presage Craftsmanship Series. The SPB445 Arita Porcelain is a particularly stunning member of this collection, contrasting deep blue markers and hands against a milky white porcelain backdrop. The way the dial surface flows between the central portion into the hour markers and the sub-dial is wonderful, as are the small touches like the crescent moon shape of the seconds’ hand counterbalance. Price: US$1,900
King Seiko KS1969 collection
I’ve saved the best for last – and that’s the new King Seiko KS1969 collection with its cushion case and multi-link bracelet. When we got the chance to check out a bunch of Seiko’s upcoming releases earlier this year in January, the KS1969 pieces immediately stood out. Their cases are elegant, slim, and reminiscent of the Grammar of Design that informed the original King, and continues to influence Grand Seiko today. Furthermore, the dials are just trick enough to make the KS1969s excellent daily wearers, and then there’s that bracelet, which is just fantastic. Price: US$3,100