The Tokyo horizon serves as the inspiration for three new King Seiko VANAC Models – now all in Titanium.
Seiko are known for taking inspiration from nature in many of the models throughout their collections, from Seiko Prospex, Presage and all the way to Grand Seiko. King Seiko is no different. However, the brand has just dropped three new VANAC models, all of which this time take inspiration not from nature itself, but more from the man-made environment – the Tokyo horizon and cityscape at night.
The VANAC models were introduced in 1972, and the line represented a bold departure from the more traditional King Seiko dress watches. Designed primarily for the Japanese market, VANAC watches were intended to be Vibrant, Active, New, Advanced, Comfortable — the meaning behind the acronym that gives the collection its name.
Related Reading: Hands-on Review With The King Seiko VANAC
Lightweight And Sporty
Previously presented in steel, this collection has been released all in Titanium, making these extremely light and adding to the comfort on the wrist. With a diameter of 41 mm, and a thickness of 14.3 mm, these are designed to fit most wrists – hence the “C” in the acronym VANAC – Vibrant, Active, New, Advanced, Comfortable.
The brushed titanium gives off a different look when compared to the steel – the mixed brushed and polished surfaces with the slightly muted tones of the titanium mean these VANAC’s take on a more sporty vibe, and with the titanium construction of both the case and bracelet, these are also approximately 40% lighter than the steel counterparts.
With these releases, Seiko has evoked the Tokyo night, as seen from the front of a car, driving through the snaking highways that permeate throughout Tokyo – I’m getting Forza Horizon vibes here, writing this. Each of the dial colours has been picked to evoke a certain feeling – the purple that takes its colour from the horizon at dawn, the grey represents the modern beauty of the urban highway, and the black takes its colour from the hurtling speed of moving through Tokyo at night.
Each dial gives the watch a very different look, but allows the potential wearer to choose which watch will suit their tastes. The purple is more vibrant and will cut through on the wrist. The grey dial is subdued, giving the watch a very monochromatic look, and the black is timeless and classic.
Each dial has depth, thanks to the horizontal grooves of the centre dial, which is contrasted with the radial texturing on the outer section of the dial. The large hands and indices make these super easy to read, and the concave inner section of the dial gives a more three-dimensional effect.
The 8L45 Movement
Inside the King Seiko VANACs are the Seiko 8L45 movement – Seiko’s higher level of calibre used in their premium watch range.
The 8L series movements are often associated with Seiko’s more premium mechanical watches, such as King Seiko and some of Seiko’s dive watches. In the case of the 8L45, the movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and offers a solid 72-hour power reserve, meaning the watch can comfortably run for three days off the wrist before needing to be wound again.
The 8L45 is also more accurate compared to the standard movements, with a minimum accuracy of +10 to -5 seconds per day. I did state in my recent review of the King Seiko VANAC on the leather strap that my experience with Seiko is that the movements are normally more accurate than the stated specs.
The 8L45 is visible through the sapphire caseback, showing the movement off. While the movement has been decorated to an extent, it still feels a little industrial. Could Seiko have added some more machine finishing to the movement? Yes, but I’m not 100% sure it is necessary given the price point of the watch itself. It is also a very much a sports watch, so the finishing here is less needed than a more dressier piece, especially as these are in titanium as well.
Initial Thoughts
As I have just reviewed the King Seiko VANAC collection on leather, my initial thoughts are less preliminary and more from a place of experience, having worn different variants of these just recently. However, these were in steel and on the leather strap. These new VANAC’s are full titanium, so they will give a very different wearing experience. But what I can say is, the design of the watch really lends itself to sit snugly on the wrist, and in the time I spent with the steel models, I didn’t really have issues wearing these as a daily watch.
The sharp angles and faceted surfaces give the watch a strong presence, but thanks to the relatively compact lug-to-lug measurement and the slight curvature of the case, it remains comfortable and well-balanced on the wrist. The combination of the colours, texturing and the raised outer track gives the watch a nice sense of depth, and these help to reinforce the retro feel without looking overly flashy. Small details like the “V” counterbalance on the seconds hand are subtle touches that tie the watch back to the VANAC name.
Could I imagine myself wearing a King Seiko VANAC on my wrist, cruising the streets of Tokyo in a GTR, taking in the sights as the sun rises or falls? Possibly. They feel like the kind of watch you could do this with, especially the purple, thanks to its iridescent look. They wouldn’t look out of place strolling the streets of Harajuku or Ginza either, and if you can imagine a watch on your wrist thinking about certain situations and scenarios, then the brand has done its job!
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| References | Purple – HKF001, Grey – HKF002, Black – HKF003 |
| Dimensions | 41.0mm diameter x 14.3mm thickness x 45.1mm lug-to-lug |
| Case Material | Titanium case, brushed and polished |
| Case Back | Screwed case back with sapphire crystal |
| Dial | Purple, Grey or Black, LumiBrite, & three-dimensional outer ring |
| Crystal | Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the Inside |
| Movement | Seiko Calibre 8L45 automatic with manual winding; beating at 28,800 vph (4Hz) & pivoting on 35 jewels |
| Power Reserve | Approx. 72-hour power reserve |
| Water Resistance | 10 bar (100 metres) |
| Bracelet | Titanium bracelet with three-fold clasp with push-button release |