In watchmaking, chronograph dials featuring a white background contrasted with black subdials are widely known by the nickname “panda.”
Over the years, a variety of panda dials have appeared across the watch industry, including from Seiko. Sensing the potential to take the concept a step further, in-house designer Kiyotaka Sakai decided to interpret the nickname more literally and create a watch that fully embraces the panda identity.
Inspired by this idea, new designs were conceived as specialized watches for panda enthusiasts worldwide, and they are now being introduced in the Seiko power design project collection.
By refining the dial’s contrast, balance, and visual harmony – and injecting a whole lot of panda attitude – the watches embody a playful tribute to one of nature’s most beloved creatures. power design project 2024 “Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition” The exhibition of “A watch exclusively for panda lovers”
Over its history, Seiko has introduced a wide range of specialized timepieces, including stopwatches for timing sports, diver’s watches, and railway watches. In 2024, drawing on this heritage, Seiko held the “Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition” as part of its power design project.
For this exhibition, Seiko’s seven participating designers each approached the challenge from a unique perspective, resulting in seven highly specialized watches, including one created exclusively for panda lovers.
The watch for panda lovers proved particularly popular, and Seiko has now made it available as a commercial timepiece for panda lovers and watch enthusiasts around the world. First presented in 2001, the power design project is an initiative that encourages Seiko’s inhouse designers to explore the essence of watches in a manner different from their day-today work.
By embracing playfulness and surprise, the designers seek to generate new and imaginative ideas in the field of watch design. At its core, the project is an extension of the pioneering spirit that imbues Seiko’s rich archive – a legacy shaped by continuous innovation in both design and technology.
