Seiko compact solar watches now available outside Japan, Digi Mart USA News: Seiko’s four compact rectangular solar watches can now be ordered from outside Japan through Japan Heartful Store, an exporter that ships directly from Japan. The store lists the HFJ001P, HFJ002P, HFJ003P and HFJ004P, which were first covered in October.
The main drawback is price. Seiko’s Japanese site files all four watches under nano・universe Special Edition models, made under the fashion retailer’s supervision and sold only at specific stores, with no online channel listed by Seiko.
That leaves buyers outside Japan largely dependent on exporters, and the watches are also available on Chrono24, where the markup is reported to be even higher.
Seiko’s own prices start at 35,200 yen (about $220) for the two leather models, with the steel HFJ001P at 38,500 yen ($241) and the gold-tone HFJ002P at 41,800 yen ($262). Japan Heartful Store asks 52,900 yen ($331) for the HFJ001P and 57,500 yen ($360) for the HFJ002P, around 37 percent more in both cases.
The store also prices the black HFJ004P at 48,400 yen ($303) and the pink-gold HFJ003P at 43,000 yen ($269), although Seiko prices the two leather models the same.
The store offers free shipping on orders over $250, which all four watches clear, and US buyers pay duties and taxes at checkout. Each case measures 27.4 x 18 x 5.9 mm, smaller in every direction than a Cartier Tank Must small model.
The watches use the solar V115 caliber, drive two hands, run about a year on a full charge and are rated at plus or minus 15 seconds a month. They have a Hardlex crystal and water resistance suited to daily life only.
