Anime lovers rejoice! On the 29th of August Seiko announced the release of new limited edition timepieces inspired by iconic anime series. Design elements and the colour palettes of Seiko’s Naruto and Boruto limited edition watches are influenced by central characters in both shows by the same name. Amongst the models available will be timepieces for Naruto, Sasuke, Lee, Gaara and Boruto. Colourful and functional, the watches appeal to both younger and more mature fans of the show. The base for the limited editions is the Seiko 5 Sports watch.
The watches are inspired by the Japanese animation shows, or anime, Naruto and Boruto. Naruto began as a manga, a Japanese graphic novel, and was first published in 1997 and then turned into an animated series in 2002. It follows the life and adventures of Naruto Uzumaki as he strives to become a ninja and achieve his dream of being his villages’ leader or the Hokage. The second series follows Naruto’s son, Boruto.
Base Functions Of The Models
As it is based on the Seiko 5 Sport, Seiko’s Naruto and Boruto limited edition watches feature similar dimensions and functions as the base model. The watch’s case is made of stainless steel and measures 42.5 mm in diameter and 13.4 mm in thickness. It features a see-through case back in order to showcase the watch’s intricate mechanism. The individual serial number is engraved onto the case back as well. Each dial is encased by a Hardlex crystal. It’s ridged bezel is unidirectional. The watch secures with a nylon strap. The hands and indices on the watch feature Lumibrite luminescence. The crown of the watch is placed at the 4 o’clock position.
The watch’s movement is automatic with calibre 4R36 and a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and 24 jewels. Its power-reserve lasts up to 41 hours. The watch is water-resistant up to 10 bars or 100 meters and has a magnetic resistance up to 4,800 A/m. Alongside hours, minutes and seconds, functions on the watch include a day and a date aperture at the 3 o’clock position.
Limited Edition Designs
The watch inspired by the titular character features an orange nylon strap with a black stripe down the middle which mimics Naruto’s clothes. The case is PVD plated a yellow gold colour. Naruto’s forehead protector inspires the markings on the bezel. Engraved into the 12 o’clock position is the symbol of the Hidden Leaf Village. 9 of the 12 indices are coloured orange, hinting at the unlocking of the young ninja’s Nine-Tail chakra mode later in the series. The orange to brown gradient spiral dial is inspired by Naruto’s Rasengan.
The next model in the limited collection features a navy and white nylon strap inspired by the clothing of Sasuke. Sasuke is Naruto’s rival and best friend since childhood. On this model, the case is kept silver however the ridged side of the bezel is subtly coated with blue PVD. The Hidden Leaf Village emblem on the bezel features a mark or a scratch to represent the same one left on Sasuke’s protector by Naruto. A light blue circular lightning pattern features on the sunray blue dial to represent Sasuke’s Jutsu “Chidori”. The crown is engraved with the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan sign. The indices on the watch are pointed and coloured a steel grey.
This watch’s case is plated with a hard black coating. It’s inspired by one of Naruto’s Academy classmate Rock Lee. The strap is green and orange to symbolize the character’s iconic jumpsuit and orange leg warmers. The watch’s bezel is green and worn with markings indicating the “Eight Inner Gates”. As lee only manages to open the gates up until gate 5, only the first 5 marks are white while the last 3 are dark grey. The bezel also features white detailing mimicking the bandages on Rock Lee’s arms. The sunray dial is vibrant emerald green. The case back features the kanji for “Guts” which is taken from Lee’s ankle weights.
Gaara
This model’s case features brown colour plating. The case and the gradient dial are both inspired by sand which Gaara has the ability to control. Initially presented as an antagonist, Gaara goes through immense character development through the series. To symbolize the One-Tailed sealed inside of him, the 1 o’clock index is replaced with the kanji for Love. The pattern on the dial ring is designed to mimic the symbols on the gourd which Gaara carries, as well as on the case back. The watch is secured by a grey and red nylon strap.
Shikamaru Nara
Inspired by Shikamaru Nara, the colour palette of the model reflects the character’s design. The case of the watch features black hard coating. A black mesh ring on the outer edge of the sunray grey dial, alongside the grey and green strap, mimic Shikamaru’s clothing. The sunray grey dial features thin black lines connecting the hour-markers to evoke the character’s favoured Shadow Possession Jutsu. The luminescent indices are created to look like the game pieces from his favourite game Shogi.
Boruto
Boruto is Naruto’s son and the leading character of the series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. The watch inspired by him closely resembles the watch inspired by his father. Like with the Naruto model the Hidden Leaf village symbol features at the 12 o’clock position on the bezel. The spiral dial, evoking the Rasengan Boruto inherited from Naruto, is in a warm black shade with grey details. The hour-markers on the watch are spherical and the 12 o’clock index features bolt-like detailing as seen in the anime’s logo. A black nylon strap with a pink central stripe finishes off the design of the watch.
Sarada is Sakura, another important character from Naruto, and Sasuke’s child. As Boruto inherits the Rasengan from his father, Sarada inherits the “Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu” from her father. The model draws influences for the red gradient dial from the Jutsu. The watch’s dual-tone red and black bezel is designed to highlight the characteristics Sarada inherited from both her parents. To showcase she is still a ninja in training and hasn’t developed her Sharingan, a single Tomoe mark replaces the 5 o’clock index. A dual-tone red strap completes the design.
Seiko’s Naruto and Boruto limited edition watches will become available later in December. Each model is limited to 6,500 pieces.
Which of Seiko’s Naruto and Boruto limited edition watches is your favourite? Why? Let us know below in the comments.
