One of Seiko’s recent bestsellers was last year’s King Seiko Vanac, a watch inspired by a 1970s model but distinct on its own. Originally available only in steel, the line-up now grows to include the King Seiko Vanac in titanium.

While retaining the stylistic and mechanical features of the steel original, the new Vanac in titanium is noticeably lighter in weight, an especially appealing upgrade given the largish case and integrated bracelet.

Initial thoughts

I liked the original Vanac of 2025, though I thought a marginally smaller case would have suited the retro style better. And I thought it would have been ideal in titanium.

So the new model in titanium is arguably the ideal Vanac. It’s the same size, but different in tactile feel due to the lightness. Given the size, the lightweight alloy arguably works better than steel.

Despite the Vanac being a mid-range watch, Seiko’s excellent case treatment across prices and alloys means the multiple planes of the facetted case are finished well, as good as, but probably better than, most titanium watches in this price segment.

The titanium models are a little less funky in terms of dial colours, though the standout metallic purple dial does make its way into the titanium case. The dial does, however, get a subtle upgrade with a novel motif that combines horizontal and radial fluting for an intriguing visual effect.

The movement stays the same. This gets the brand’s top-of-the-line mid-range movement, the cal. 8L45, an automatic running at 4 Hz with a three-day power reserve. It’s a Grand Seiko-adjacent calibre that is solid contender in this segment.

Overall the titanium Vanac is an excellent offering in its price category with its sharply finished case, three-day movement, and distinctive styling. It costs less than comparable Grand Seiko models, but the Vanac’s specs come close enough to Grand Seiko to make it a value proposition.

1970s chic

The original Vanac was an entire collection of watches with funky cases and dials that were typically 1970s in style. Today’s Vanac channels the spirit of the original, but is not a remake, which is a good thing. Some of the original Vanac models are excessively 1970s; today’s Vanac takes the best of the era while smoothing out the rough edges to make it ready for 21st century tastes.

Amongst the key aesthetic elements of today’s Vanac is the facetted case with contrasting polished and brushed surfaces, matched with an integrated bracelet, along with blocky hands and hour markers.

The new Vanac in titanium retains the design of its steel counterpart, but with a case and bracelet in titanium. Though the material is different, the finishing of the case and bracelet are identical, a crucial point since the multi-planar surfaces of the Vanac case is a key part of its appeal.

Notably, the Vanac case is rated to 100 m of water resistance, higher than usual for a watch of this type. While not useful in a practical sense, the depth rating is a nice thing to have.

At a distance, the dial of the titanium model might seem identical but it is a little more interesting than that found in the steel version. While the dial of the steel model relied on simple horizontal fluting, the titanium version employs an intriguing combination of horizontal and radial patterning that creates an optical illusion of sorts.

The dial colours, however, are more conservative. Last year’s steel model including the option of a metallic brown that was very 1970s. Now just three dial colours available: monochromatic grey or black, and metallic purple. That said, the purple dial has hands and indices that match the case, rather than the contrasting gilt finish found on the steel version.

The movement remains unchanged from the steel model. It’s the cal. 8L45, one of Seiko’s newer calibres and definitely the flagship of its mid-range offerings.

Equipped with a 4 Hz balance and three-day power reserve, the cal. 8L45 is rated to -5/+10 seconds a day, which in the typical Seiko fashion is a conservative range that plays it safe. This range-topping calibre should run within a tighter range in most everyday situations.

Key facts and price

Seiko King Seiko Vanac Titanium
Ref. HKF001, HKF002, HKF003

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 14.3 mm
Material: Titanium
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: Titanium bracelet

Limited edition: No
Availability: From July 2026 at Seiko boutiques and retailers
Price: US$3,850, or JPY473,000 before taxes

For more information, visit seikowatches.com.