⏱ 5-7 min read
📅 Updated Oct 2026
🔍 1 Watch Reviewed
Watch collectors have called black-and-white chronograph dials “pandas” for years. Seiko has now taken the nickname literally. The Seiko HHK001, part of Power Design Project Collection 2, turns the panda dial into an actual panda face, complete with eyes, ears and a bamboo-inspired scale.
This guide covers the HHK001’s design, specifications, price, release date and who it suits best.
Seiko made very few changes between that concept and the finished watch. That is rare for a concept piece, and it is a big reason the design drew so much attention online. The HHK001 is released alongside the pink HHK002, and the two are identical apart from color.
In 2025, the project became a standalone collection sold to the public. Collection 1 reimagined the 1984 “Tissé,” a tiny, bead-like watch that helped popularize the loose-fit trend in Japan. Collection 2 goes in a different direction: playful, character-driven and unapologetically fun.
The stainless steel case measures 43.0mm in diameter, 14.6mm thick and 44.1mm lug-to-lug. The inset lugs help it wear smaller than the diameter suggests. It sits on a white cow-leather strap with darker contrast details, with a 20mm lug width and a stainless steel pin buckle.
📅 Updated Oct 2026
🔍 1 Watch Reviewed
This guide covers the HHK001’s design, specifications, price, release date and who it suits best.
What Is the Seiko HHK001?
The Seiko HHK001 is a limited-edition quartz chronograph in a black-and-white colorway. It is the production version of the “Pandagraph,” a concept by Seiko designer Kiyotaka Sakai, first shown in 2024 at Seiko’s Incredibly Specialized Watches exhibition.Seiko made very few changes between that concept and the finished watch. That is rare for a concept piece, and it is a big reason the design drew so much attention online. The HHK001 is released alongside the pink HHK002, and the two are identical apart from color.
Background: The Seiko Power Design Project
The Power Design Project began as an internal Seiko initiative that ran from 2001 to 2009. It gave in-house designers freedom to explore unconventional ideas beyond commercial constraints. Seiko revived it in 2022 under the theme “Rebirth.”In 2025, the project became a standalone collection sold to the public. Collection 1 reimagined the 1984 “Tissé,” a tiny, bead-like watch that helped popularize the loose-fit trend in Japan. Collection 2 goes in a different direction: playful, character-driven and unapologetically fun.
Seiko HHK001 Design: A Panda in Watch Form
The panda theme runs through nearly every detail of the watch.
Panda-face dial: The chronograph subdials work as panda eyes, so the dial reads as a face rather than just a color scheme.
Ear-shaped pushers: The chronograph pushers double as panda ears, the cleverest touch on the watch.
Bamboo-leaf hands: The hands take their shape from bamboo leaves.
“Sasameter” scale: A playful twist on the tachymeter, named for sasa, the Japanese word for bamboo grass.
Themed packaging: The presentation box features a green interior, evoking a panda rolling in grass.
Case back engraving: The case back is marked “Limited Edition.”
The stainless steel case measures 43.0mm in diameter, 14.6mm thick and 44.1mm lug-to-lug. The inset lugs help it wear smaller than the diameter suggests. It sits on a white cow-leather strap with darker contrast details, with a 20mm lug width and a stainless steel pin buckle.
Seiko HHK001 Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reference | HHK001 |
| Collection | Seiko Power Design Project, Collection 2 |
| Designer | Kiyotaka Sakai |
| Case diameter | 43.0mm |
| Thickness | 14.6mm |
| Lug-to-lug | 44.1mm |
| Lug width | 20mm |
| Crystal | Hardlex |
| Strap | Cow leather |
| Movement | Seiko Caliber 8T61 quartz |
| Accuracy | ±15 seconds per month (±1 second per day) |
| Battery life | Approx. 3 years |
| Chronograph | Up to 60 minutes in 1/5-second increments |
| Extra functions | Small seconds hand, tachymeter (“Sasameter”) scale |
| Water resistance | Splash resistant |
| Magnetic resistance | 4,800 A/m |
| Limited to | 3,000 pieces |
Inside the Watch: Caliber 8T61 Quartz
The HHK001 runs on Seiko’s 8T61 quartz chronograph movement. Quartz brings practical advantages here: accuracy of ±15 seconds per month, roughly three years of battery life, and a chronograph that measures up to 60 minutes in 1/5-second steps. There is no winding, no setting drift and no fuss.
For a design-led novelty, that reliability matters. You can wear the HHK001 occasionally, leave it in a drawer, and it will still be close to correct time when you pick it up.
Water Resistance: What Buyers Should Know
Seiko rates the HHK001 as splash resistant, not with a depth figure. That covers rain and hand-washing, but this is not a watch for swimming, showering or water sports. If you want a Seiko with a depth rating, the Prospex and 5 Sports ranges are better choices.
Seiko HHK001 Price and Release Date
US price: USD 540
Europe and UK: around €590 and £510, according to launch coverage
Release: November 2026
Production: limited to 3,000 pieces (HHK002: 2,000 pieces)
Retailer pricing varies by region and by the dealer’s pre-order terms, so check Seiko’s official site or an authorized dealer for the exact price where you live.
HHK001 vs HHK002: Which Panda Should You Choose?
The two watches share the same case, movement, specifications and design. The differences are:
HHK001: classic white-and-black, the traditional “panda” look, with a larger run of 3,000 pieces.
HHK002: pink-and-black, inspired by a newborn panda, with a smaller run of 2,000 pieces.
If you want a watch that still looks like a legitimate panda chronograph from a distance, the HHK001 is the safer pick. The HHK002 is bolder and rarer.
Is the Seiko HHK001 Worth Buying?
Reasons to buy:
+ A genuinely original design from Seiko’s own design team
+ Fair pricing at $540 for a limited-edition chronograph
+ Reliable quartz movement with low maintenance
+ Strong collectibility as a Power Design Project release
+ Wears comfortably thanks to the inset lugs
Reasons to hesitate:
- Splash resistance only
- Hardlex crystal rather than sapphire
- The novelty design won’t suit every wardrobe
- 43mm is large on smaller wrists, despite the compact lug-to-lug
Seiko’s quirkiest watches have often held their appeal among collectors, and a limited run tied to the Power Design Project gives the HHK001 an edge. Just buy it because you love the panda, not as an investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Seiko HHK001?
A limited-edition quartz chronograph with a literal panda-face design, released as part of Seiko Power Design Project Collection 2.
How much does the Seiko HHK001 cost?
The US price is USD 540.
When is the Seiko HHK001 released?
Seiko lists a November 2026 release.
How many Seiko HHK001 watches will be made?
3,000 pieces worldwide.
What movement does the HHK001 use?
Seiko’s Caliber 8T61 quartz chronograph, accurate to ±15 seconds per month.
Is the Seiko HHK001 waterproof?
No. It is splash resistant only.
Who designed the Pandagraph?
Kiyotaka Sakai, a designer at Seiko.
Final Verdict
The Seiko HHK001 is a charming, well-priced reminder that watches can be fun. It pairs a dependable quartz chronograph with a design that makes people smile, and its limited production and Power Design Project pedigree give it extra appeal. If you collect Seiko or simply love a clever concept made real, it is an easy recommendation.
[photo credits: www.seikowatches.com]
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