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| These are the seven watch designs revealed at the Seiko Power Design Project exhibition earlier this year in March. |
The free exhibition at Japan House London runs from 27 August to 15 September, showcasing seven radical watch concepts that challenge conventional timekeeping—but Seiko's history suggests some may eventually reach your wrist.
When Seiko unveiled seven Power Design Project concepts in Tokyo back in March, watch enthusiasts around the world took notice. Now, those same boundary-pushing designs are travelling to London, landing at Japan House on Kensington High Street from 27 August to 15 September. And perhaps best of all, entry is completely free.
But here's the question on everyone's lips: will any of these concepts ever become actual production watches?
Seiko officially states that none of these designs are intended for production. However, that claim carries significantly less weight than it might at face value—because Seiko has contradicted itself before.
The Proof Is in the Archive
In December 2025, Seiko released Collection 1, the first stand-alone product to emerge from the revived Power Design Project. Specifically, it originated from the 2022 "Rebirth" theme—roughly three years after that concept was first shown to the public. At launch, the watches were priced between ¥50,600 and ¥56,100, with production capped at 500 pieces per finish. Notably, designer Yuya Suganuma had joined the company only the year before the concept was created.
The Seiko SSEH021 from the Power Design Project Collection 1.
This isn't an isolated incident. Seiko's own design archive demonstrates that prototypes from the 2001 to 2009 era were publicly exhibited, and several were eventually commercialised. Notable examples include the striking Shadow from 2003, which told time using shadows cast by standing metal numerals, and the Marunouchi from 2008.
For those wanting to explore Seiko's rich design heritage, the company maintains a comprehensive digital archive that chronicles decades of innovation and craftsmanship. Seiko's Design Museum offers a fascinating deep dive into how concepts evolve into creations—and how often those "unintended" designs eventually find their way to market.
Which Concepts Could Become Reality?
Examining the seven current concepts through the lens of commercial viability reveals a clear spectrum of possibility.
The Likely Candidates
Takuya Matsumoto's "Dial texture" concept features intricate embossing to a hundredth of a millimetre, depicting seasonal Japanese motifs. This design modifies only the dial itself—and Seiko already produces enamel, urushi, and Arita porcelain dials for its Presage collection. The production infrastructure already exists. This is a watch that could realistically reach production with minimal new investment.
Yuki Omori's "Hands" concept is built around Ten-chan, the beloved cat mascot. Seiko already markets numerous character and anime collaborations, so this would be familiar territory for the company's marketing and production teams. Character watches sell, and Seiko knows it.
The Challenging Concepts
Other designs would require entirely new hardware. Kento Ito's bezel-as-gear winding mechanism, for instance, would need specialised equipment that a simple dial modification does not. These concepts are significantly less likely to become candidates for production—at least in the short term.
Exhibition Details
The Power Design Project exhibition will be hosted at Japan House London, located at 101-111 Kensington High Street. This marks the third consecutive year the venue has hosted the travelling exhibition, following its debut at Tokyo's Light Box Studio in Aoyama this past March.
For watch enthusiasts, design aficionados, and anyone curious about the future of Japanese horology, this free exhibition represents a rare opportunity to see conceptual watchmaking up close. The question isn't just whether these designs are beautiful—but whether they'll eventually find their way from concept to collection.
And if history is any guide, at least a few of them probably will.
The Seiko Power Design Project runs from 27 August to 15 September at Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street. Admission is free.