Seiko just revealed three Prospex limited edition watches to mark the 40^th anniversary of the iconic Japanese anime series Gundam, which is all about a war waged in the 22nd century by giant manned robots known as “Mobile Suits”. The commemorative series marks the first broadcast of Mobile Suit Gundam, and is made up of three watches, the Spring Drive GMT SBDB033J as well as a pair of 1000m “Tuna” dive watches, the SLA029J1 and SLA031J1.

The three watches commemorate far more than a mere cartoon. In the decades since Mobile Suit Gundam aired for the first time on April 7, 1979, Gundam has become one of the most successful anime franchises in history, spawning dozens of spinoffs in television, film, toys and games. In some ways the Japanese equivalent of Star Wars, Gundam is a space opera that has become a pop culture phenomenon. In fact, despite being four decades old, Gundam generated some US$611m of revenue in 2018 for its owner Bandai Namco.

The flagship watch of the series – the Prospex LX Spring Drive GMT Gundam Limited Edition SBDB033J – is dedicated to the instantly recognisable titular character of the series. The tricolour red, blue and yellow livery is modelled on the RX-78-2 Gundam robot manned by the hero Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam, who is a pilot for the Earth Federation.

Rated to 100m, the watch has a titanium case that measures 44.8mm in diameter, with a white and blue ceramic bezel insert. The twelve o’clock marker on the bezel was designed to resemble the robot suit’s head sensor unit.

The watch also features the Earth Federation Force mark on the crown and case back, along with the “RX-78-2” engraved on the left case band. Limited to 300 pieces, the Gundam limited edition is powered by the Spring Drive GMT cal. 5R66 that has a 72-hour power reserve.

The twin “Tuna” editions, each limited to 1000 pieces, are inspired by the one-eyed Zaku Mobile Suits used by the villains of the series, the Principality of Zeon.

The Prospex Marinemaster Professional Zaku II Limited Edition SLA029J1 is a 1000m diver inspired by the military green colour of its namesake robot, and features a red counterweight on the seconds hand reminiscent of the Zaku II cyclops visor. The dial also features a chapter ring around the hour markers that is modelled on the “power pipe” of the Zaku II.

The case is titanium, with a matte green ceramic shroud engraved with the Zaku II Mobile Suit number that measures 52.4mm in diameter and 17.2mm high. It’s powered by the automatic 8L35 movement that has a 50 hour power reserve.

The final watch in the series is the Prospex Marinemaster Professional Char’s Zaku II SLA031J1, inspired by the Mobile Suit of Char Aznable, the principal antagonist and the Gundam equivalent of Darth Vader.

The watch features the same crimson colour scheme, with a black ceramic outer shroud. Besides the colour, the Char Aznable model is otherwise identical to the military green Zaku II edition.

Price and Availability

The Mobile Suit Gundam 40^thAnniversary Gundam Limited Edition (SBDB033J) is limited to 300 pieces, priced at 630,000 Japanese yen excluding taxes. It will be available starting August 2019.

The Mobile Suit Gundam 40^thAnniversary Mass Production Type Zaku II Limited Edition (SLA029J1, or SBDX027 in Japan) and Char’s Zaku II Limited Edition (SLA031J1, or SBDX029 in Japan) are limited editions of 1000 pieces each, priced at 400,000 Japanese yen before taxes. Both will be available from April 2019.

A. Lange & Söhne just opened its first boutique in Thailand, located in the capital city of Bangkok. Society personalities and watch collectors (as well as the whole collection of Lange’s 2019 launches) gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony, which took place a week ago. The opening continues the slow but steady expansion of the brand in the region, seven years after its first Southeast Asian boutique opened in Singapore.

Located in the enormous Siam Paragon, one of the largest malls in Thailand, the new Lange store is quite literally “free-standing”, the first such boutique for the German watchmaker. Opened in partnership with retailers Sincere Watch and Pendulum, the 50-square metre boutique is essentially a glass box that sits on the main floor of the shopping mall, with 360-degree visibility all around. And it is in good company, positioned along an alley that contains boutiques belonging to Louis Vuitton and Chanel, as well as watchmakers like Patek Philippe and Rolex.

Churairatana Bhirombhakdi

Sun Assakul

Ou Paholyodhin

Yumi Kiangsiri, Poruthai Narongdej, Kathleeya Grachangnetara, and Panu Sombatyanuchit

Capturing the new Zeitwerk Date

A highlight of the boutique is the Experience Library, a collection of objects and texts that explain the brand and its craftsmanship. From posters with that detail Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s very own measuring tools to renderings of the Lange’s in-house balance springs, the Experience Library is meant to bring the visitor into the brand’s past and present. 

Significant ornaments from Lange’s history, such as a piece of the Berlin Wall and a miniature Eiffel Tower, signifying the founder’s travels around Europe before he established the company, add to the nostalgia. On another wall, a collection of small human figures represent the brand’s first class of trainees from 1846, bring them to life in to three-dimensional miniature. 

The Bangkok boutique is also notable for being dressed in the brand’s new look that relies on dark grey, stone and steel. A shade darker than the colour used for the earlier generation of boutiques, the grey livery of the boutique is accented by touches of silvery-gold metal – which was specially developed for the boutique interiors – intended to echo the German silver used in Lange movements. The look was inspired by the region around Lange’s home town of Glashütte, an area once so rich in metals like iron and silver as well as minerals it was named the the Ore Mountains.

Lange is gradually updating its stores around the world to reflect the new look, and the boutique in Bangkok is only the fourth in the world in this style, after Dresden, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

Alexis de Laporte of Lange, Yuki Srikarnchana of Pendulum, Kingston Chu of Sincere Watch, Chadatip Chutrakul of mall owner Siam Piwat, and Dr. Chatchawin Charoen-Rajapark of Pendulum

Alexis de Laporte, international sales director of A. Lange & Söhne

Anne Schaal, managing director of A. Lange & Söhne Southeast Asia and Australia, with Alexis de Laporte

The A. Lange & Söhne boutique is open daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm.

Siam Paragon
Unit M51 M/F
991 Rama 1 Road
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Thailand