The new Presage collection draws its inspiration from Seiko’s heritage in mechanical watchmaking, which stretches all the way back to 1913 and the celebrated Laurel which was Seiko’s, and Japan’s, first ever wrist watch. This heritage is brought to life today in two very special Limited Edition automatic chronographs whose design echoes that of the 1913 Laurel and whose dials are made in the finest traditions of Japanese artistry, one in enamel and the other with lacquer. Both use the 8R48 caliber, which has vertical clutch and column wheel systems, and incorporates Seiko’s unique three-pointed hammer to ensure the perfect synchronization of the hands’ fly-back. Both are offered in editions of 1,000 in celebration of Seiko’s 60 years of automatic watch making and will be available in September.
The finishing of any enamel can easily be affected by weather and humidity, and it is very difficult to control the precise thickness of the enamel as it is laid down on each dial. To meet these challenges requires the very highest levels of skill, and Seiko is honored to have Mr. Yokozawa – a skilled craftsman – in charge of the finish of every enamel dial for Presage. Only the most exclusive, traditional Japanese craftsmanship will do for this special Presage Limited Edition.
Craftsmanship of a very different nature but of the same high quality gives the lacquer dial its deep black luster. The dials are made in the studio of master craftsman Isshu Tamura in Kanazawa, using the centuries old art of Urushi which allows the creation of lacquer whose black color is almost magically deep and which gets harder and stronger as the years pass. The dials are painted and polished by hand several times.
Presage is a collection of broad appeal. It comprises 60 models and uses the full range of Seiko’s mechanical calibers, from the accessible 4R, through 6R to the exclusive 8R. Highlights include the 6R27 multi-hand power reserve model and a series using an entirely new version of the 4R57 caliber. This new caliber is Seiko’s first ever with a center power reserve indicator, and is available in a series of five designs, including a limited edition. Every Presage watch has 10 bar water resistance and a sapphire crystal.
