Having been founded in 1881, Seiko made tremendous progress in the field of watches over the years. With an extraordinary history and various models, Seiko is still loved by many watch lovers to this day.

At the end of 2020, Seiko announced something very special, the introduction of the King Seiko KSK SJE08. By the end of 2020, this revived the fabulous internal rivalry with Grand Seiko.

The introduction of the 2020 KSKSJE08 left us wondering if Seiko would do more with the King Seiko collection than just this one-off limited edition. Fortunately, they didn't! So with a resounding "Long live the King," we formally welcome back the King Seiko collection with an introduction of five new references that are non-limited, more compact and accessible. Each model with a unique dial that reminds us of the original 1960s model.

Like several other brands, Seiko has often called for a series of watches under a different brand and to appeal to a new audience or present a substantially different style. By now we are all familiar with the Seiko, the Grand Seiko and probably, to a lesser extent, the King Seiko. The return of this name to the permanent collection is a testament to the importance of King Seiko to the Seiko Corporation. Without this name, the brand would not be where it is today.

Both Grand Seiko and King Seiko are high-class sub-brands within Seiko. Many years back, this led to an internal rivalry between the Daini Seikosha and Suwa Seikosha factories. This competition leads to growth, evolution and ultimately change within Seiko's departments. The watches created by both factories manage to outdo each other time and time again.

The late 2020 King Seiko KSK SJE083 limited edition is directly linked to the 1965 King Seiko 44-9990, only in a more modern version. Although the case shape and overall look are very much the signature 1960s style, Seiko has taken a few liberties with the SJE083. Liberties that have now been more or less corrected with the current King Seiko collection.

The new series consists of five references, all with a 37-mm case that is extremely close to the original King Seiko 44-9990. The sharp and angular case, with a height of 12.1 mm, brushed and polished finishes, is very close to the original. The lugs, are taken directly from the 1965 model. The box-shaped sapphire crystal gives the typical style of the 1960s. Both the crown and case back are finished with the new King Seiko emblem, design inspired by that of the 1965 King Seiko. The steel strap pays homage to the design of the original King Seiko series. The beveled surfaces reflect light in a dynamic and ever-changing way.

All in all, Seiko has once again managed to bring back the King Seiko and amaze watch lovers with its character and evolution.