Seiko Edo Purple 145th Anniversary Collection: Six Limited Editions Now on Sale
The Seiko Edo Purple 145th Anniversary collection is six limited-edition watches, each with a purple dial or purple accents and gold-coloured details, and it reaches Seiko Boutiques and select retailers worldwide in October 2026. Seiko announced it on August 6, 2026, and a Japan release of October 9 has been reported for the Seiko 5 Sports model. US list prices run from $450 for the 5 Sports SKX HDB003 to $2,900 for the Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph HAB011, with 36,999 pieces across the six references.
At a glance
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| References | Prospex Alpinist HBC006; Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006; Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003; Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph HBJ005; Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time HAB011; Seiko Selection Rotocall HFL001 |
| Case | Stainless steel (Alpinist, Presage, 5 Sports, Speedtimer, Rotocall); titanium with ceramic bezel (Astron). 37.0 to 43.3 mm across the set |
| Dial | Purple on every model, with gold-coloured accents; the Rotocall uses a purple rotary switch on an all-black case |
| Movement | 6R55 automatic; 4R34 automatic GMT; 4R36 automatic; V192 solar; 5X83 GPS solar; A824 quartz |
| Power reserve | 72 hours (6R55); 41 hours (4R34, 4R36); not stated by Seiko for the solar and quartz models |
| Water resistance | 5 bar (Presage); 10 bar (5 Sports, Speedtimer, Astron, Rotocall); 20 bar (Alpinist) |
| Strap | Leather (Alpinist); steel bracelets (Presage, 5 Sports, Speedtimer, Rotocall); titanium and ceramic bracelet (Astron) |
| Production | 36,999 pieces in total: 7,000 / 6,000 / 9,999 / 8,000 / 2,000 / 4,000, in the reference order above |
| US price | $900 / $625 / $450 / $775 / $2,900 / $585, in the same order |
| Availability | October 2026 at Seiko Boutiques and select retailers worldwide; Japan October 9 reported |
Why the Seiko Edo Purple 145th Anniversary uses Edo purple
Seiko dates its history to 1881, when Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Tokyo's Ginza district selling and repairing timepieces. The 145th anniversary is counted from that year. Tokyo was formerly called Edo, and the collection takes its colour from that name. According to Seiko, Edo purple is a traditional Japanese colour that emerged in the Edo period (1603 to 1868), when much of modern Tokyo's cultural foundations were laid.
It belongs to a longer line of purples valued in Japan, but it came to be prized as a reflection of Edo's distinctive character. Seiko says the purple tones here honour the traditions born in Edo and carried into modern Tokyo, and that the line follows its founding philosophy, "Always one step ahead of the rest."
The six models are not one design in six sizes. Each takes the purple into a different Seiko family, from a field watch tied to 1959 to a GPS solar flagship, and each case back carries a "LIMITED EDITION" marking. The gold-coloured logo, hands or indexes that appear across the set are what tie the six together visually.
The three mechanical models
The Prospex Alpinist HBC006 is a 39.5 mm steel watch, 12.7 mm thick, with the Cal. 6R55 automatic (3 Hz, 72-hour power reserve), a compass inner ring, a sapphire crystal with a magnifier and 200 m of water resistance. Monochrome describes the dial as a sunray light purple and notes that this generation of case dates to the SARB series of 1995. The strap is black croc-pattern leather with purple stitching, and the logo and seconds hand are gold-coloured. Seiko ties the model to the 1959 Laurel Alpinist, its entry into sports watches. It is limited to 7,000 pieces.
The Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006 is 40.5 mm by 12.8 mm with the Cal. 4R34 automatic GMT (41 hours, independent 24-hour hand) and 50 m water resistance. Its translucent purple dial with a radial pattern and gold-flake highlights is inspired by the "Edo Murasaki" cocktail created by Hisashi Kishi, owner of STAR BAR. Production is 6,000.
The Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003 is 42.5 mm by 13.9 mm with the Cal. 4R36 (41 hours), 100 m water resistance and a glossy black Hardlex bezel. Monochrome says it is based on the SKX007 and belongs to the new-generation SKX line launched in 2025. It is the largest run, at 9,999 pieces, and the cheapest, at $450. For the originals, see our Seiko 5 Sports history.
Solar, GPS and the Rotocall revival
The Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph HAB011 is the flagship: titanium with a two-part ceramic and titanium bezel, 43.3 mm by 13.4 mm, with a titanium and ceramic bracelet and a purple dial in a vertical gradient with horizontal lines that Seiko says evokes the dusk sky. The Cal. 5X83 sets time and time zone by GPS and offers a 1/20-second chronograph, world time across 38 time zones, a perpetual calendar correct to 2100 and automatic daylight saving adjustment. Seiko quotes accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds per month without GPS. Only 2,000 will be made.
The Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph HBJ005 is a 41.4 mm steel chronograph (13.0 mm thick) on a bracelet, with the solar Cal. V192, a 24-hour hand, a power-reserve indicator and a tachymeter scale on an aluminium bezel insert. It draws on the Speedtimer models of the 1960s and 1970s. The run is 8,000.
The Seiko Selection Rotocall HFL001 revives a digital watch that first appeared in 1982 and was recreated in 2025. It is a 37.0 mm by 10.6 mm black-coated steel watch with the A824 quartz module, a rotating bezel and a purple rotary switch that gives access to the alarm, timer and stopwatch. Seiko says the original was reportedly used by astronauts. Production is 4,000.
Pricing and availability in context
The US prices here come from Seiko's own August 6 press release, which lists them as MSRP and says they may change. Other outlets differ in small ways: HiConsumption lists the Speedtimer at $750 rather than $775, and Watches by SJX gives $595 for the Rotocall in one place and $585 in another. We use Seiko's figures. Monochrome lists euro prices for the three mechanical watches only: EUR 980 for the Alpinist, EUR 620 for the Presage and EUR 450 for the SKX.
In Japan, a retailer post from Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Numazu lists tax-inclusive prices of 130,900 yen for the Alpinist, 111,100 yen for the Speedtimer, 330,000 yen for the Astron, 63,800 yen for the 5 Sports and 83,600 yen for the Rotocall, with Japan allocations of 1,000, 1,000, 700, 999 and 400 pieces. Seiko's US release gives only "October 2026" as the availability date. The October 9 Japan date comes from the CasebackChron release calendar, which cites Notebookcheck and names only the HDB003.
The set spans a wide range. The SKX at $450 and the Presage at $625 sit at the accessible end, the Rotocall at $585 and the Speedtimer at $775 in the middle, and the Alpinist at $900 and the Astron at $2,900 at the top. The Astron's 2,000-piece run is the smallest, so it is the one most likely to sell out first. We covered another recent Seiko release in our Power Design Project panda chronograph report.
Edo Purple prices and production by reference
| Reference | Model | Calibre | US MSRP | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HBC006 | Prospex Alpinist Mechanical | 6R55 automatic | $900 | 7,000 |
| HCB006 | Presage Cocktail Time GMT | 4R34 automatic GMT | $625 | 6,000 |
| HDB003 | Seiko 5 Sports SKX | 4R36 automatic | $450 | 9,999 |
| HBJ005 | Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph | V192 solar | $775 | 8,000 |
| HAB011 | Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph | 5X83 GPS solar | $2,900 | 2,000 |
| HFL001 | Seiko Selection Rotocall | A824 quartz | $585 | 4,000 |
Background
Seiko's story runs from the 1881 Ginza shop through the quartz revolution to today's mechanical and solar lines. Start with our Seiko history, then read on the Alpinist, Presage, Astron and Seiko calibres for the families and movements in this collection.Sources
Seiko US press release of August 6, 2026 (primary source for references, specifications, MSRP and production runs); Monochrome (August 6, 2026); HiConsumption; Watches by SJX (August 15, 2026); Seiko's 145th anniversary page; a Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Numazu store post for Japanese prices; and the CasebackChron release calendar for the Japan date. Retrieved October 21, 2026. Prices are indicative; Seiko says specifications and prices may change, and local prices vary by market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Seiko Edo Purple 145th Anniversary collection?
Six limited-edition watches released for Seiko's 145th anniversary, each with purple dial elements and gold-coloured accents: the Prospex Alpinist HBC006, Presage Cocktail Time GMT HCB006, Seiko 5 Sports SKX HDB003, Prospex Speedtimer HBJ005, Astron HAB011 and Seiko Selection Rotocall HFL001.
What is Edo purple?
Seiko describes it as a traditional Japanese colour that emerged in the Edo period (1603 to 1868), when much of modern Tokyo's cultural foundations were laid. Tokyo was formerly called Edo.
When do the Seiko Edo Purple watches go on sale?
Seiko announced them on August 6, 2026 and says they are available in October 2026 at Seiko Boutiques and select retailers worldwide. A Japan release of October 9 is reported for the 5 Sports HDB003.
How much do the Seiko Edo Purple watches cost?
US MSRP is $450 for the 5 Sports SKX, $585 for the Rotocall, $625 for the Presage, $775 for the Speedtimer, $900 for the Alpinist and $2,900 for the Astron.
How many Seiko Edo Purple watches are being made?
36,999 in total: 7,000 Alpinist, 6,000 Presage, 9,999 5 Sports SKX, 8,000 Speedtimer, 2,000 Astron and 4,000 Rotocall.
What movement does the Seiko Edo Purple Alpinist use?
The HBC006 uses the Cal. 6R55 automatic, which beats at 3 Hz and has a 72-hour power reserve.
Which Edo Purple model is the most limited?
The Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time HAB011, limited to 2,000 pieces.
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