Vanak’s name cannot ring the bell for anyone other than the most hardcore king Seiko enthusiasts, but that didn’t stop Seiko from reissuing the watch in new outfits. Today we are looking at the introduction of Purple/Gold King Seiko Vanak SLA087 and White/Gold SLA083. As you can see from the photos, I tried out these two new models. Seiko has released blue, brown/gold (limited edition of 700 pieces), and Light Blue dials. If you love the 1970s design and the lovely finishes seriously, read on!
King Seiko Vanak
King Seiko Vanak’s line dates back to the 1970s – more precisely between 1972 and 1974. Interestingly, no one seems to know where the name came from or what it means. Seiko often catches Flak because of the idiosyncraticity of its name, and this is no exception.
Image: Vintageseiko.nl
The Vanac model was produced by both Daini Seikosha and Suwa Seikosha factories. They came in different versions but shared some important traits. First of all, they all featured crystals faceted on a fundamentally angular 36-38mm case. The watch came with a King’s equally radical solid link bracelet of the highest quality Seiko could offer.
Some versions feature gold bezels, all come with colorful dials and fat. These king Seiko Vanak models sat just below the Grand Seiko in the catalogue and carried prices to fit their height.
The new king Seiko Vanak
So for today’s release. The new King Seiko Vanak model has given clear respect to its ancestors since the early 1970s. Angled cases return as well as matching integrated bracelets. The dial can also be said to be “time.”
However, there is one dazzling omission, which is a bit painful. The sapphire crystal has a clean box shape with concave edges, but pales in comparison to the original facet. You can imagine how complicated and expensive it was to include this, but it’s still a shame to see Seiko skip the most distinctive features.
The dial echoes the original style slightly, but not applied, providing a horizontal cheek deck pattern and printed index. Above is a ring that reminds you of a roulette wheel, and its sides are neatly polished. Especially the details of gold exudes the 1970s. The framed date window is available at 3am. Seiko also added a very large “V” to the balance of seconds. It gives the phone a very prominent look. However, when V stands upside down, his legs are visible in his straight jeans.
Seiko Vanak Specifications
Seiko chose to modernize the proportion of the new king Seiko Vanak. All of these models share a diameter of 41mm, length of 45mm and thickness of 14.4mm, giving Vanac a rather assertive stance in the final measurement.
Inside, we check out the Seiko Caliber 8L35, a standard high-end watch in the lineup, such as the Marinade Master. This version runs at a pace of 28,800 VPH and offers three days (or 72 hours) of autonomy. Essentially, the 8L35 is an unadorned version of Grand Seico’s 9S55 movement. With the new King Seiko Vanak, you should run within +10/-5 seconds per day.
The integrated bracelet features a complex combination of polished and brushed surfaces. Its clasp is a double resident (butterfly) variety and does not have any kind of fine-tuning mechanism. However, short links still need to enable the perfect fit. Don’t eat too much salt or move through the climate.
First impression
I am a huge fan of King Seiko and his modern repetition. But today’s release is disappointing to me. I have rather seen the revival of slightly modernized dials and distinctive faceted crystals. Rado can make them for watches that are almost 1,000 euros less than these kings Seikos. It seems lazy to omit them… because there are no better words.
At the same time, the dial is different from many of the originals, but still looks a little outdated. The Big V is a stylistic inconsistency, and the Vanac back catalogue offers a much better dial texture. Finally, the boosted size also appears to be out of trend. For example, I don’t know why Seiko didn’t stick to the 38mm size. However, these watches feel relatively compact and exist as small 41mm. However, the “Seiko Automatic 3 Days” text is a bit less refined and looks oversized.
As always, like Modern King Seiko, the watch offers a great surface finish, and at this price it’s as close as possible to Grand Seiko cases. Please don’t get me wrong. There is still a big gap between the two, but these are very competitive within the segment when it comes to finishing. All versions will retail at 3,400 euros. Frankly, I chose another model from the Seiko King Line for that money. Still, the appearance is certainly distinctive and bold, and always worthy of praise.
What do you think about the new King Seiko Vanak model? Let us know in the comments below!
