You might be well aware that Grand Seiko (now operating independently) originally began as a luxury sub-brand by parent company Seiko back in 1960. Well, to give GS some interior competition, the Japanese watchmaker decided to launch King Seiko a year later. While experiencing moderate success in the ’60s, King Seiko was discontinued in 1975.
Fast forward to 2022, when Seiko decided to revive the brand as a mid-tier offering, using some of the same movements as the cheaper Seiko brand timepieces but with more luxurious construction and aesthetics. Earlier this year, King Seiko revived the first model not part of its flagship KSK line. It was the angular Vanac from 1972, sporting a royal purple dial and vintage charm. Now that model is back with two new dial colors — and this time, they’re a lot less loud.
Toned-Down for Daily Wear
The new SLA093 and SLA095 swap the extroverted purple and blue options for something more subdued: dark brown and forest green. Both dials draw their inspiration from the dense forests surrounding Tokyo, like the Meiji Jingu Forest, bringing a natural warmth that the initial launch lacked. The brown option (SLA093) pairs with a matching brown leather strap, while the green dial (SLA095) gets a black leather option — both using sustainable leather from a tannery certified by the Leather Working Group.
This marks the first time in the Vanac’s history — original or reissued — that the watch comes on a leather strap instead of the signature integrated bracelet. The switch works surprisingly well, softening the watch’s aggressive angular lines while maintaining that unmistakable ’70s character. The teak-deck pattern dial, gold accents, and raised luminous indexes remain unchanged, but the earth tones feel more versatile for everyday wear.
Same Core, Different Vibe
Under the hood, there’s no change. The watches still run the Seiko Caliber 8L45, a movement derived from Grand Seiko’s 9S55 architecture. It’s a 4Hz automatic with a 72-hour power reserve and accuracy rated at +10 to -5 seconds per day — solid specs for the price point. The 41mm case maintains its angular, faceted design with mixed finishes.
The leather straps feature an innovative keeperless folding clasp that tucks the strap tail against your wrist, eliminating the floppy excess you’d normally deal with. It’s a small detail, but one designed to elevate the wearing experience. Quick-release spring bars make swapping straps easy, though the uncommon 17mm lug width will limit your aftermarket options.
Spec Sheet
Model Name: King Seiko Vanac SLA093 (brown) / SLA095 (green)
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Size: 41mm
Case Thickness: 14.3mm
Lug-to-Lug: 45.1mm
Movement: Seiko Caliber 8L45 automatic
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap: Sustainable leather (brown or black) with folding clasp
Limited Edition?: No
Release Date: January 1, 2026
Pricing & Availability
The King Seiko Vanac SLA093 and SLA095 will be available starting January 1, priced at €3,300 each (~$3,200).
Recap
King Seiko Vanac Leather Strap Brown & Green
King Seiko’s angular 1972 Vanac reissue gets two new earth-toned dial options — dark brown and forest green — that trade the original launch’s bold purple for something you can actually wear every day. They’re also the first Vanacs to ditch the integrated bracelet for leather straps, which softens the aggressive ’70s aesthetic.
