Seiko celebrates 75 years of the Peanuts with a King Seiko Vanac Peanuts 75th Anniversary SDKV011, with everyone’s favourite Beagle on a newspaper-inspired dial. Limited to only 150 pieces for Japan only, foreigners will need to get creative if they want one.

Initial Thoughts

Peanuts is huge in Japan – or more accurately, Snoopy is. Grandberry Park in Tokyo plays host to a three-story tall Snoopy museum that receives several times as many yearly visitors as the Charles M. Schulz Museum in California. It should be no surprise then that the new Vanac is for the Japanese market only, which is unfortunate as it is an appealing watch for a relatively reasonable price.

While a bit late to the integrated bracelet sports watch craze since it was only launched earlier this year, the Vanac is competitive in its segment thanks to standout case finishing and a highly competent movement. The new edition retains all the appeal of the standard model; the two-tone dial with gilt accents and Peanuts characters is subtle and a little retro in keeping with the design’s origins.

A Snoopified King Seiko

King Seiko is a Seiko sub-brand positioned just below the better-known Grand Seiko. The marque emerged from a multi-decade hibernation in 2021. Seiko launched original King Seiko Vanac line during the early 1970s, with sharp angular cases, colourful iridescent dials and faceted crystals – but the latter is missing on the modern Vanac. That absence stings as a faceted crystal would be an ideal match for the angular case, but is more a missed opportunity than a fatal flaw.

The dial features “Joe Cool” on the dial, one of Snoopy’s many alter-egos, wearing a crown and accompanied by his best friend Woodstock. This black and white colour scheme is unique to this model, meant to match Snoopy, with gold accents to match his crown – and Woodstock. The texture is also unique, meant to resemble stacked newspapers. Snoopy’s crown is from an April 1990 comic arc, in which Snoopy gives Woodstock a cardboard crown, proclaiming him “King of the Jungle”.

Image – Charles M. Schulz Museum

The diademed dog returns on the case back remarking, “it just fits” a reference to the April 21, 1990 strip, in which Woodstock tires of his royal responsibilities, and gives up his crown and thrown (a park-bench) to Snoopy. Another nod, the limited edition number is in a comic-like text face.

And finally, the watch arrives in a Peanuts branded box, along with a King Seiko watch roll.

Edgy Case and Bracelet

The 41 mm Vanac case is essentially a stretched hexagon – like an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept but without a bezel. Instead the box section sapphire hunkers down into the mid case, like some – but not all – Vanacs of the past. At 14.3 mm tall, the watch is rather thick, though much of that height is in the crystal. It is reassuringly water resistant to 100 m, with a screw down crown for added peace of mind.

The faceted flanks are finished with flat-mirror polish, applied using the side of a spinning tin plate, while the facets at six and 12 o’clock are brush to match the bracelet. The integrated bracelet continues the case’s angular design. Unusually, Seiko equipped the Vanac bracelet with a butterfly clasp and toolless quick-release system – the latter will be more useful once Vanac comparable straps arrive.

Seiko’s (Pen)ultimate Movement

Despite its modest price tag, Seiko equips the Vanac with its best movement outside of the Grand Seiko stable. The cal. 8L45 is based on the Grand Seiko cal. 9S65, and with that comes a 72 hour power reserve and a reverser wheel bidirectional winding system.

It uses the same assortment found in the 9S65 as well, which is why the balance spring coils counterclockwise – the opposite direction to the 8L35. As a result, Seiko rates the 8L34 to -5/+10 seconds per day, better even than mechanical Credors. Like other 8L and 9S movements, it proprietary regulator that is more upscale than than the Etachron system found on the 6R and 5R families.

Key facts and price

Seiko King Seiko Vanac Peanuts 75th Anniversary 8L45-00D0
Ref. SDKV011

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 14.3 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m 

Movement: Cal. 8L45
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Winding: Self-winding
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet

Limited edition: Limited to 150 pieces
Availability: From Novemeber 2025 at Seiko salons in Japan only
Price: JPY495,000 (~US$3,200)

For more information, visit seikowatches.com.