On a recent podcast I remarked that the year of the green dial had come and gone, and that perhaps we were on the verge of a new color dominating new releases in 2021. It seemed like a reasonable proposition at the time, but perhaps it was wishful thinking. I mean, who among us doesn’t want to turn the page, and move onto something completely and utterly different from 2020? Well, it only took a few weeks for my green dial theory to completely explode right in front of me, and it started with the trio of Seikos seen here, all limited editions made in celebration of the brand’s 140th anniversary. These are the first in a planned series of watches that Seiko will release in their 140th year to celebrate the big anniversary, and like many recent limited releases from the brand, these watches are inspired by the natural world.
The three watches in this mini collection are inspired by the island of Iriomote in Okinawa Prefecture. The island is a popular diving destination and is known for its coral reefs, abundant and varied marine life, and untouched mangrove forests. The verdant green dials of these watches is meant to represent the multifaceted nature of Iriomote’s complex ecosystem.