This is thinking outside of the box watch design and all part of Seiko’s Power Design Project for watches that it dubs as « Watches that 99% of people don’t need. » The Panda watch first came out in 2024, a watch that has been exclusively designed for panda lovers. Meanwhile a pair of pandas —Ping Ping and Fu Shuang — arrived at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia last September 27th, provoking a new episode of justified pandamania. The timepiece was designed by one of Seiko’s in-house designers, Kiyotaka Sakai who commented, « “What is the essence of a panda to a panda lover? I found myself captivated by the curious charm of the black-and-white animal. And I was driven by the desire to create a true panda watch that could capture the lovable, teddy-bear-like appearance of an actual panda. » 

The design is thoroughly imbued with panda elements. Since pandas have ears, the watch also has “panda ears.”  The sub-dials are made to look like drooping eyes, an essential visual element of the panda. The tachymeter, which represents the measuring function of the watch, has also been renamed “sasameter (bamboo meter)” to further accentuate the association with pandas, bamboo being their favourite food. The limited edition Panda models will be available in November exclusively in Seiko boutiques around the world. And the Atlanta pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang – who are currently in routine quarantine — will be visible in the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, slated to open on November 6th, 2026. 

Seiko launched its Power Design Project in 2001 as an experimental project to invite in-house designers to explore fun and surprising uses for watches, to create out of the box and which has resulted in opening up new perspectives in watch design. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette    https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/