Ever since its launch in 2016, Seiko Presage has showcased timepieces that meld traditional Japanese decorative crafts displaying deep, hard-earned know-how with Seiko’s own long-established mastery of mechanical watchmaking. In doing so, the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series puts a spotlight on artisans whose finesse in traditional Japanese crafts finds new life on the miniature canvas that is a Seiko watch dial.
A new dial layout to highlight artistry
Traditional craft dials in enamel, urushi lacquer, Shippo enamel, and Arita porcelain are at the heart of the Presage Craftsmanship Series. Today, with three creations featuring a newly refined dial layout, enamel and urushi lacquer harmonize perfectly with the overall watch designs. In the first creation, a pristine white enamel dial is brought to life by the hands of master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team. The new dial incorporates grey metal bar indexes designed to stand out on the exquisitely crafted enamel, a material whose lauded depth and immutability can also be found on Seiko’s very first wristwatch from 1913, the Laurel.
Urushi lacquer in black and green
The second creation has a deep black urushi lacquer dial created by hand by lacquer master Isshu Tamura and his team, who practice a centuries-old art – one older than watchmaking itself – to craft urushi that gains in strength as the years pass. As with the enamel dial, this creation has a newly designed dial layout that enhances the beauty and appearance of this traditional craft. The metal bar indexes in white contrast perfectly with the urushi lacquer, enhancing legibility. The urushi lacquer dial is also available in green, adding another color to the renewed Craftsmanship Series with new dials.
All three of the new Presage creations feature a recently updated case design with refined angles and an elegant sense of proportion conceived to highlight the craft in each dial. Together with the dual-curved sapphire crystals, the watches have a slimmer appearance on the wrist than previous creations in the series. Both the enamel dial watch and the black urushi lacquer dial watch come on handsome five-link stainless steel bracelets with super-hard coating, while the green urushi lacquer dial watch comes on a casually elegant brown leather strap with a three-fold clasp and push-button release.
The Leather Working Group (LWG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsibly made, sustainable leather production. Since 2005, LWG has designed standards to certify all actors in the supply chain.
Three days of power reserve
Powered by one of Seiko’s latest in-house movements, Caliber 6R55, each watch has a power reserve extending to a full 72 hours, allowing wearers to remove their watch on Friday afternoon and return to it Monday morning without having to reset the time. This marks the first time that this three-day movement has appeared in the Presage Craftsmanship Series.
The green urushi lacquer dial watch will be available only at the Seiko Boutiques, and the enamel dial and black urushi lacquer dial watches will be available at the Seiko Boutiques and select retail stores worldwide, all starting from October 2023.
Presage Craftsmanship Series Technical Specifications
Caliber 6R55
Vibrations: 21,600 vibrations per hour (6 beats per second)
Power reserve: 72 hours (3 days)
Number of jewels: 24
Specifications
Stainless steel case with super-hard coating
Enamel dial (SPB403)
Urushi lacquer dial (SPB405, SPB407)
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
See-through screw case back with sapphire crystal
Diameter: 40.2mm, Thickness: 12.1mm (SPB403)
Diameter: 40.2mm, Thickness: 11.6mm (SPB405, SPB407)
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Stainless steel bracelet with super-hard coating (SPB403, SPB405)
Leather strap with three-fold clasp with push button release (SPB407)
(Leather material sourced from LWG-certified tanneries)
Recommended retail prices in Europe: €1,500 (SPB403), €1,750 (SPB405), €1,800 (SPB407)
For further information:
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/presage/spb403j1
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/presage/spb405j1
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/presage/spb407j1
For more information on the craft dials:
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/special/tokinowaza/yokosawa (Enamel dial)
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/special/tokinowaza/tamura (Urushi lacquer dial)
