Seiko Release King Seiko KSK Kiku 6L SJE095 Limited Edition with Chrysanthemum Dial

Back in June Seiko launched a the first 6L model of the King Seiko, designed to be slimmer versions of the watch and also the first in the collection to house movements from Seiko’s 6L range. Now, Seiko are expanding on the 6L subcollection with its first limited edition, the King Seiko KSK Kiku 6L SJE095 Limited Edition with chrysanthemum dial. (I must resist the urge to immediately quote the entire Gumby Flower Arranging skit from Monty Python.)

Structurally, the watch is identical to those 6L models from June. That means it has a 38.6mm diameter case with a thickness of 10.7mm featuring a combination of brushed and polished finishing across its bezel, sides and characteristically chunky lugs. It’s a really nice case, although here the focus is more on the new dial that the case protects with a sapphire crystal.

So, let’s talk flowers. The dial consists of a geometric pattern made up entirely of straight lines that almost miraculously come together to create a repeating pattern of radial circles that evoke images of the titular flower. I say titular because Kiku in Japanese translates to chrysanthemum. The detail and precision is amazing.

Isolate a single flower, let’s say the one directly to the left of the central handstack, and follow each of the lines it’s comprised of as they radiate outward. Each of the lines perfectly intersects the middle of another flower somewhere on the dial. You begin to see that each flower is connected to every other flower through a network of straight lines. I could lose a lot of time tracing the different ways they all connect to each other across the King Seiko Kiku SJE095’s dial.

I don’t think it will surprise anyone with even a cursory interest in the brand to learn that the pattern stems from a traditional Japanese design dating back to the Edo period. Specifically, it’s called “Kiku tsunagi mon” and typically it’s used in a style of glassware called “Edo Kiriko”. I know there are some people who find Seiko and Grand Seiko’s Japanese high concepts and the history of their designs uninteresting (how many microseasons can they find to create watches for) but considering that watch collecting is such a detail focussed hobby, I really like little facts like this that add context to a watch.

Rounding out the King Seiko Kiku SJE095 is the fact it houses the Seiko 6L35 automatic movement with 45-hour power reserve. A solid movement that allows for the slimmer dimensions of the case, it’s protected on the back by a steel caseback with a King Seiko engraving.

Ultimately whether you like the King Seiko Kiku SJE095 will come down to your thoughts on the dial. I can understand the opinion that it might be a bit too frenetic and busy, but I also really like the precision and its interconnected nature. It’s available at a price of £3,000 and is limited to just 600 pieces. It’s pricey for Seiko but the King Seiko has always been at the top end of the range since it was relaunched, and this limited edition is only £100 more than its non-limited 6L siblings.