Watch collectors have called black-and-white dials “panda dials” for decades, but Seiko just decided to take that nickname totally literally. Meet the new Power Design Project Seiko Panda chronograph watch—a super fun release that transforms an iconic watch style into an actual panda face, complete with ears and a tiny tail on the back!
Designer Kiyotaka Sakai first pitched this quirky concept at a 2024 Seiko exhibition, and it was so popular they brought it to life. The chronograph subdials act as drooping eyes, the top pushers look like fluffy ears, and the hands are shaped like little bamboo leaves. They even renamed the tachymeter scale the “SASAMETER” (after the Japanese word for bamboo) and joked you could use it to track a panda sprinting at 30 km/h!
Beyond the adorable design, it’s still a seriously functional chronograph watch. Powered by Seiko’s reliable quartz Caliber 8T61, it features a 43mm steel case, hidden lugs, and a soft suede-accented leather strap.
You can grab the classic black-and-white Seiko Panda watch (limited to 3,000 pieces) or a pink-and-gray version inspired by newborn baby pandas (limited to 2,000 pieces). Dropping for $540, it’s proof that high-quality watchmaking can still have a sense of humor!
