While it’s far from being as populous as the Prospex or Presage ranges, Seiko’s King Seiko line is now pretty substantial. With the addition of this latest trio there are now more than 20 references in the collection, a far cry from the single re-issue that started this landslide in 2020. The new releases are an expansion of the KSK 6L slimline series with fresh dials inspired by traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e designs.
Ukiyo-e is a form of woodblock print art, the most famous example of which is probably The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai. Each of the three watches has a unique print pattern across its dial. The first of them is the Garyu-Bai Red edition, which has a rich red colour and a five-petal flower motif. Second is Tenjin-Fuji Violet, a pale purple version with a vine pattern. Last is Kameido Blue, which has a tessellating hexagon pattern inspired by the shell of a tortoise.
All three versions have gentle fumé gradients with the colours starting light in the centre and getting darker around the periphery with a slight smoky effect. It helps to emphasise the Ukiyo-e patterns and also highlights the sharp facets of the baton hour markers and dauphine hands. All of which are held beneath a box sapphire glass that provides a retro slant to the design.
The case measures 38.6mm in diameter with a thickness of 10.7mm. That makes the watches pretty svelte and slender despite the relatively broad design of the facetted lugs. In terms of finishing, there’s the usual mix of brushed and polished surfaces, which is particularly noticeable around the thin bezel.
What enables the KSK 6L Ukiyo-e series to have such dimensions is the 6L35 movement housed inside. It’s a super slim calibre with a 3.7mm thickness, operating at 28,800vph with an accuracy of +15/-10 seconds per day and a 45-hour power reserve. It’s one of Seiko’s top-grade movements, which does contribute to a fairly high price for the watches compared to the rest of Seiko’s offerings.
Specifically, the three watches are all priced at £2,930. That’s very close to the £3,000 Kiku limited edition, which makes sense because that is also a 6L edition with a textured dial. Of the three KSK 6L Ukiyo-e watches, the Kameido Blue is my initial stand out favourite, although the more I look at the Tenjin-Fuji Violet, the more it grows on me – like the vines on its dial.
Price and Specs:
More details at Seiko Boutique.
Very far out of reach for the working class.