It’s more than 10 months until Christmas but that doesn’t mean we can’t get a little bit of holiday spirit in February. At its second-annual Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition, Seiko designer Takuya Matsumoto has created a concept watch built for the Man in Red himself, Santa Claus.
Speaking Practically and Hypothetically
Admittedly, a Santa Watch is something we might expect to see from the likes of Casio or Swatch or some other brand known for more playful models but Seiko has wielded its power to not only create a fun concept but do it well.
What kind of watch would Santa wear on the big night? Most likely it would be a GMT worldtimer of some sort, and perhaps with a good deal of lume. It should also probably run with some sort of electronic caliber since the high altitude, let alone altitude changes, would drastically affect most mechanical movements.
Considering this is just a concept, Seiko hasn’t unveiled all information, including which kind of movement this watch would have, but we do know that it is some version of a GMT.
Bad Daytime Legibility, But For a Reason
The dial is actually difficult to read during daylight, contrasting white hands and numerals against a cream backdrop — save for the red reindeer second hand. However, this is a timepiece meant for nighttime travels (in a sleigh, of course) with hour markers only going from 19 (i.e., 7pm) to 6, with 24 (i.e., midnight) at the top. Fully coated with Lumibrite, the dial glows green at night, silhouetting everything on top.
The outer ring of the dial, on the other hand, features a full 24-hour scale, corresponding to the GMT hand tipped with a skeletonized star. Set via the crown at the 6 o’clock position, Santa could use this to track the time back at the North Pole or perhaps his final destination of the night. The dial also features the words, “For the happiness of all children,” shaped like a smile and serving as a reminder to Santa of why he does this arduous journey each year.
I will say, however, this extra glow on the wrist would have made Santa more susceptible to being spotted in a dark living room whilst trying to sneak around putting presents in stockings. But Seiko thought of this too, giving the case a hinged lid that closes over the case to cover the glow.
The case itself is gold, in color at least, and “designed with soft, rounded curves, expressing the gentle presence of Santa Claus throughout the entire watch.” Complementing the case is a brown leather bund-style strap that moves along the back to protect his skin against intense cold (night sky) or heat (fireplaces).
Spec Sheet
Case Size: Unspecified
Case Material: Gold
Movement: Unspecified
Water Resistance: Unspecified
Movement: Unspecified
Band: Brown leather bund strap
Availability: None, it’s currently a concept watch
Pricing & Availability
The Santa Watch is still just a concept and there’s no word if it will ever be made. Of course, there is a chance Seiko makes this as a one-off commission for Santa Claus himself — and if so, we may find out. Head over to the brand’s website to learn more.
Recap
Seiko Santa Watch
Seiko made a concept watch purpose-built to aid Santa Claus tell time on his annual Christmas journey.
