King Seiko’s VANAC integrated bracelet collection is a tribute to the modern urban landscape of Tokyo. Previously they launched the “Tokyo Horizon” and “Tokyo Highway” series, with dials inspired by views of the city at various times of day from dawn to dusk. The new King Seiko VANAC “Cosmic Tokyo” takes that concept to its natural conclusion with a model that’s based on Tokyo in the dead of night.
It features the collection’s signature dial layout with a segmented 60-minute scale interspersed with wedge-shaped hour markers. The press imagery also shows VANAC’s horizontal markings clearly across the rest of the display but because on the Cosmic the dial is full black, those markings are almost imperceptible under certain lighting.
What are easy to see though are the silver sparkles scattered across the whole display. Those sparkles can be interpreted in two ways: either they represent the stars seen in the night sky above Tokyo or they’re the streetlights of Tokyo as seen from orbit. Both capture the imagination and live up to the name “Cosmic Tokyo”. It takes what would otherwise be a plain dial and gives it a splash of magic and intrigue.
For the case, it measures 41mm x 14.3mm in stainless steel, which gives it bold sports watch proportions in keeping with the integrated bracelet design. It also means that it has more in common with the “Tokyo Horizon” series which was also steel rather than the “Tokyo Highway” in titanium.
Inside, it houses the 8L45 automatic with 72-hour power reserve. It’s one of the higher spec calibres that Seiko produces so it makes sense for King Seiko as it sits between Seiko and Grand Seiko in terms of pricing and prestige, which is results in the £2,900 price tag.
The main thing I like about the King Seiko VANAC Cosmic is the fact it’s the most thematically coherent of the VANAC launches. You hear Cosmic, you see the sparkly dial, it makes sense. It doesn’t need explaining like some of the other models.
Price and Specs:
More details at King Seiko.
