Why Everyone is Chasing This Pink Seiko
From the leaked Tudor catalog that's breaking the internet to the haunting story of a watch frozen in an atomic blast—plus the $400 Seiko that’s now worth double.
Welcome back.
This week, we’re peeling back the curtain on a massive leak from Tudor that has the entire community holding its breath. Then, we move from the hype of the future to a somber, frozen moment in the past—a watch that physically survived the unthinkable. We wrap it up with a “cartoon” watch that just did the impossible: selling out in seconds and doubling in value overnight.
Let’s get into it.
1. THE NEWS
The “Stolen” Tudor Catalog: Is the Submariner Finally Returning?
It’s the first week of 2026, and the watch world is already in a fever pitch. A massive leak from a US distributor—widely circulated on social media over the New Year—didn’t just reveal price hikes; it potentially revealed the “Holy Grail” of Tudor releases.
The Leak Heard ‘Round the World While the headline news from the leaked 2026 price lists was a 5% to 8% price hike across the catalog (blame the gold prices and new tariffs), the real story was a blurred “Reference Placeholder” that appeared in the technical sheets. The specs? A 39mm case with crown guards and a METAS-certified movement.
For the uninitiated: Crown guards are the one thing that separates a “Black Bay” from a “Submariner.” Since Tudor retired the Prince OysterDate in the 90s, they’ve strictly avoided crown guards on their vintage-inspired divers. If this leak is real, Tudor is finally bringing back the Tudor Submariner.
Why Now? Tudor has spent the last five years proving it isn’t just “Rolex for people who can’t get a Rolex.” They’ve won over the purists with the Pelagos 39 and the Black Bay 54. But with Rolex moving the Submariner further up-market and into “luxury jewelry” territory, there is a gaping hole for a 39mm, no-nonsense, heritage diver with crown guards.
The Verdict If the leak holds true for Watches & Wonders later this year, we are looking at the most significant release in Tudor’s modern history. Rolex creates waitlists; Tudor creates icons people can actually buy. The question is: if you can get a METAS-certified Tudor Submariner for $4,500, why would you ever wait three years for the Rolex version?
2. THE HISTORY STORY
Frozen at 8:15: The Watch That Witnessed Hiroshima
Horology is often about precision, beauty, and status. But sometimes, a watch serves as the ultimate, haunting witness to a moment when time itself seemed to stop.
On the morning of August 6, 1945, at exactly 8:15 AM, the “Little Boy” atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima. In the years following the blast, among the rubble and tragedy, several timepieces were recovered. One in particular—a simple, unassuming wristwatch—became an international symbol of the nuclear age.
The Artifact This watch wasn’t made of precious metals, and it didn’t have a prestigious name on the dial. But the heat and pressure of the blast did something a manufacture could never replicate: it fused the hands of the watch permanently into the dial at 8:15 AM.
The Controversy History isn’t just in the past; it’s in the market. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, one of these recovered watches surfaced at auction. It sold for over $31,000, sparking a massive debate in the community. Is it a “historic treasure” that belongs in a museum to remind us of the cost of war, or is it “profiteering off tragedy”?
The Lesson We often obsess over “patina” on a vintage Rolex or a scratch on a bezel. The Hiroshima watch reminds us that the most valuable thing a watch can do is tell a story. It isn’t about the movement inside; it’s about the life of the person who wore it and the moment history stood still.
We spend thousands on the watches, but often zero on the education. This year, don’t get caught out by another Rolex price hike or a “leaked” catalog you didn’t see coming.
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3. WATCH OF THE WEEK
The Seiko 5 “Pink Panther”: The New King of Hype
If you thought “cartoon watches” were just for kids or Swatch fans, Seiko just proved you wrong. To celebrate the upcoming 2026 Pink Panther film, Seiko dropped the Limited Edition SRPM07 (based on the legendary SKX 38mm case).
It sold out in seconds.
Why the Frenzy? This isn’t just a pink dial. Seiko went “all-in” on the details:
The Dial: A vibrant “Panther Pink” with subtle paw prints embossed between 6 and 11 o’clock.
The Bezel: Features a custom font inspired by the original 1964 “The Pink Phink” animation.
The Caseback: A pink-tinted exhibition window where the Pink Panther’s eyes look out from behind the movement.
The “Secret”: It comes with a secondary nylon strap that says “WET PAINT” on the tip—a direct nod to the classic cartoon prank.
The Market Move Retail was roughly £390 ($450). Within 48 hours of the January 1st launch, they were appearing on Chrono24 for double that.
It’s the “PRX Effect” all over again. Seiko realized that collectors are tired of “serious” luxury. They want something that makes them smile, but with a reliable 4R36 movement and a case that can actually survive a swim. It’s playful, it’s pink, and it’s currently the hardest watch to find under $1,000.