October 9, 2026

A Playful Concept Becomes Reality
Launched in 2001, the Seiko Power Design Project gives the Japanese watchmaker’s designers the freedom to explore their more lighthearted ideas. One standout from the brand’s 2024 Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition was a chronograph built for panda enthusiasts, which took the collector term “panda dial” quite literally. Most Power Design Project pieces remain one-off concepts, but Seiko has confirmed that this charming design will reach customers in 2026 as the Power Design Project Collection 2. It will be offered in two limited-edition references: the HHK001 and HHK002.

Design and Case Details
Each watch uses a stainless steel case measuring 43mm across and 14.6mm thick, shaped to mirror the outline of a panda’s head. The chronograph pushers are styled as ears and protrude from the case near 12 o’clock. A Hardlex crystal shields the panda-face dial, and the theme continues on the solid caseback, which displays a black stripe and a tiny tail. The HHK001 stays faithful to the 2024 prototype with a textured white dial and matching white leather strap. The HHK002 draws inspiration from newborn pandas and replaces white with soft pink. Production is capped at 3,000 pieces for the HHK001 and 2,000 for the HHK002.

Movement and Clever Touches
Both versions are powered by Seiko’s Caliber 8T61 quartz movement, which delivers a 60-minute chronograph and roughly three years of battery life. Because bamboo accounts for about 99% of a panda’s diet, the traditional tachymeter scale has been renamed the “Sasameter,” a nod to sasa, the Japanese word for bamboo. Bamboo leaf-shaped hands and applied hour markers complete the look.

Changes From the Original Prototype
Several refinements separate the production models from the concept. The 2024 piece had the word “Pandagraph” printed as the panda’s mouth, while the new watches use a simple mouth beneath the printed nose. The sub-dial markings inside the panda’s eyes were also tone-on-tone on the prototype. The HHK001 and HHK002 instead use white markings for better legibility.

Pricing and Availability
Both models measure 44.1mm lug-to-lug with a 20mm lug width. They are splash resistant and come on cow leather straps with stainless steel buckles. Each is priced at $540 USD, and further details are available on Seiko’s official website.

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