Four special limited-edition timepieces join the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Seiko wristwatches. In keeping with the theme of the Presage Craftsmanship Series, each utilises a dial made through a traditional Japanese technique.
The limited-edition watches feature a new case shape with refined angles and an elegant sense of proportion. The structure of this case is designed to emphasise the craft dials within while offering a slimmer look on the wrist. Each dial features a new design with alternating roman numerals and indexes, lending an updated look to the familiar series of dress watches. And thanks to dual-curved sapphire crystals, the dials appear even closer and more legible, bringing a truly striking appearance to the craftsmanship on display.
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Enamel
The pristine white enamel dial created by master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team features a red roman numeral at 12 o’clock, evoking the original Laurel wristwatch of 1913.
Beneath the dial is Calibre 6R24, with displays for the date, the day of the week, and the power reserve. Presented on a black leather strap, this watch makes a classic impression. Thanks to the time-honoured enamel dial-making, its striking white appearance will endure for years to come.
SPB393
Enamel Craftsman
Mitsuru Yokosawa
For almost half a century, Mitsuru Yokosawa has been expanding the boundaries of enamel, mastering time-honoured techniques and gradually creating new ones. As his experience broadened, the layers of enamel he was able to apply became thinner and thinner. He is now able to apply a flawless enamel coat just 0.1 mm thin. Such precision requires not only exceptional visual acuity, but also the seemingly magical ability to make minute adjustments to the enamel composition based on fluctuations in humidity and weather conditions.
Urushi Lacquer
Urushi lacquer is a centuries-old decorative art that is practically synonymous with Japanese craft. Typically found on fine objects such as soup bowls or furniture, Urushi comes to life on this dial through an innovative method employed to achieve a flat surface. The coppery brown hue is inspired by the streetscape of Ishikawa Prefecture’s city of Kanazawa, an evocatively named city that means “marsh of gold.”
There, Urushi master Isshu Tamura and his team employ techniques to make some of the most distinctive Urushi lacquer in all of Japan. Like the white enamel dial watch, the Urushi lacquer creation is also powered by Calibre 6R24. It is presented on a dark brown leather strap.
SPB395
Lacquer Artist
Isshu Tamura
Born in 1957, Isshu Tamura trained in the traditional Kaga Maki-e gold lacquer technique of Kanazawa. After honing his skills in the technique, Mr. Tamura set out to produce unparalleled original works of art. He has executed his technique in Kaga Maki-e not only in lacquerware, but also in the creation of luxury fountain pens and wristwatches which have received worldwide acclaim for their elaborate detail and fine beauty.
Arita Porcelain
This dial’s new ivory colour transports the wearer to the Izumiyama Ceramic Stone Field in Arita, a small town in Saga Prefecture that is, after more than 400 years of history, inseparable from Japanese porcelain. 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 colour, texture, and depth for years to come.
The movement in this watch is Seiko’s high-performance Calibre 6R27, with a sub-dial at 6 o’clock for the date and a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. The watch is presented on a dark brown leather strap.
SPB397
Arita Porcelain Craftsman
Hiroyuki Hashiguchi
The new Presage porcelain dials are made by an experienced manufacturer in Arita that has been making porcelain since 1830. Hiroyuki Hashiguchi is the master craftsman and he and his colleagues have been developing the dials with the Presage team over the past few years.
Shippo Enamel
What sets Shippo enamel apart is the way it is polished after firing. The process is made more complex by the fact that each watch dial is a mere one millimeter thick. Master craftsman Wataru Totani and his team repeat a multi-step process of glazing the surface of the dial by hand, firing the dial, and polishing its surface to bring out the distinctive wave pattern. Though slender, this dial has a readily visible depth, like the oceans that inspired its design.
The watch is powered by Calibre 6R27, whose date and power reserve displays add yet another layer of visual intrigue. It is presented in a dark blue leather strap.
SPB399
Shippo Enamel Dial Glazer
Wataru Totani
Hand-painting layer after layer of glaze onto the dial, Totani-san won't be satisfied until the enamel is perfectly even, the surface perfectly smooth, and the beauty of the pattern beneath fully revealed. For environmental reasons the glaze contains no lead, which is traditionally used to prevent bubbling. Totani-san must therefore use a microscope to evaluate the surface, and if a bubble is discovered, he will painstakingly remove it and return the surface to its ideal smoothness. When the dial is complete, he feels joy in its perfection. "Sharing this joy is my greatest satisfaction as a craftsman," he explains. "That is the beauty of Shippo Enamel."
Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary
Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Limited Editions
