Seiko Unveils 4 New Presage Models Paying Homage to Traditional Japanese Handcraft

The newly launched timepieces are part of the Presage Craftsmanship collection, celebrating the 110th anniversary of Seiko’s watchmaking

March 14, 2023

NEWS

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aaron@gmt-india.in

Known for its pocket-friendly timepieces, Japanese watchmaker Seiko has unveiled its new Presage collection. With the addition of four new models, these timepieces join the Presage Craftsmanship Series to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Seiko watchmaking. While the newly launched Prospex from Seiko features a sports GMT complication, the Presage has always been admired as a more sophisticated dress watch. As part of the 110th anniversary celebrations, the timepiece maker has unveiled the latest Seiko Presage models.

***Popular for making artisanal dials affordable, Seiko’s Presage Craftsmanship series has been facelifted for the 110th anniversary of the brand’s first watch.***

While the newly launched Prospex from Seiko features a sports GMT complication, the Presage has always been admired as a more sophisticated dress watch. As part of the 110th anniversary celebrations, the timepiece maker has unveiled the latest Seiko Presage models.

Paying tribute to traditional Japanese handcraft, the four new Presage Craftsmanship Series watches are crafted with enamel (Ref. SPB393), Urushi lacquer (Ref. SPB395), Arita porcelain (Ref. SPB397) and Shippo enamel (Ref. SPB399).

‍ENAMEL SPB393 & URUSHI SPB395

***Unlike past Presage models that used either Roman numerals or baton indices, the new dials feature both in an alternating sequence.***

The first two models deploy similar watchmaking techniques. Ref. SPB393 is a classic white enamel timepiece created by well-known enamel craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa. The watch has a red ‘12’ Roman hour marker with blue hour, minute and second hands, inspired by the original Laurel watch, Japan’s first wristwatch, introduced by Seiko in 1913. This model comes with a black date semicircle from 7 o’clock to 5 o’clock, a semicircle power reserve indicator from 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock and a date-of-the-week indicator from 2 o’clock to 3 o’clock. This model is finished on a black leather strap.

***As a result of the triple complication, the dial has a pleasing vertical symmetry with each displayed on a fan-shaped scale.***

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Next is Ref. SPB395. The dial of this latest Seiko Presage model has been crafted using the Urushi lacquer technique. This reference is presented on a copper brown dial. The watch comes with a golden 12 o’ clock hour marker and golden seconds hands along with 11 white hour markers and white hour, minute hands. The latest Seiko watch model also comes with a white date semicircle from 7 o’clock to 5 o’clock, a semicircle power reserve indicator from 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock and a date-of-the-week indicator from 2 o’clock to 3 o’clock. This reference is finished on a brown leather strap.

***Created with sap from the lacquer tree, urushi is applied to a variety of everyday objects such as bowls and chopsticks, and even samurai armour, for both decoration and protection.***

Each of these references is limited to 1,500 pieces and comes in a 40.2mm stainless steel case with brushed and polished surfaces and a sapphire crystal top. Power comes from the automatic calibre 6R24 movement with a 45-hour power reserve. Both models come with see-through casebacks and their straps have three-fold clasps.

ARITA SPB397 & SHIPPO SPB399

***The collection include some of Seiko's more premium movements, making for an enticing taste of luxury watchmaking at an attainable price.***

From an aesthetic perspective, the latest Seiko Presage models — Arita porcelain (Ref. SPB397) and Shippo enamel (Ref. SPB399) — have been created using different techniques. The new ivory dial of Ref. SPB397 can transport its wearer to the Izumiyama Ceramic Stone Field in Arita, a small town in Japan's Saga Prefecture, steeped in more than 400 years of history. This quarry has always been synonymous with high-quality Japanese porcelain. The Arita porcelain dial has a golden Roman 12 o’clock marker with a golden second hand. The watch comes with black Roman numerals, black hour, minute hands, a black power reserve indicator in a semicircle layout from 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock and a black date subdial at 6 o’clock. This model is finished on a dark brown leather strap.

. The dial’s intense blue calls to mind a vast ocean and is fitting to the origins of the art of Owari Shippo which was sparked by a blue plate that came to Japan from the Netherlands hundreds of years ago by sea.

Ref. SPB399 is a complex timepiece with a more detailed dial. The latest Seiko watch model uses a Shippo enamel technique that has a guilloché pattern with a deep blue surface. The dial has a golden Roman 12 o’clock marker with a golden second hand. The watch comes with white Roman numerals, white hour, minute hands, a white power reserve indicator in a semicircle layout from 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock and a white date subdial at 6 o’clock. This model is finished on a blue leather strap.

Master craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi and his team make the dials in a multi-stage process that requires tremendous skill and patience, and several firings in a scorching kiln, to lock in rich color, texture, and depth for years to come.

Both references come in 40.6mm stainless steel cases with brushed and polished surfaces, and are limited to 1,500 pieces each. Powering the watches is the in-house automatic calibre 6R27 movement with a 45-hour power reserve. Common to both watches are the three-fold folding clasp and an enlarged crown at 3 o’clock.