A Tribute to 110 Years of Seiko Watchmaking The Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Limited Editions
Seiko’s legacy as a watchmaker spans more than a century, dating to 1913 with the introduction of Japan’s first wristwatch, the iconic Laurel. In celebration of its 110-year history of making wristwatches, Seiko is now honoring the generations of skilled craftsmen who paved the way for its success by adding four limited-edition models to the Presage Craftmanship Series. Each of the four new limited-edition timepieces is a work of art, meticulously constructed with Seiko’s Caliber 6R24 and 6R27 self-winding movements and featuring stunning dials created by four master craftsmen using traditional Japanese techniques.
Enamel Honoring the traditions of our forerunners
SPB393 $1,450
Japan’s watchmaking industry took a monumental leap forward with its first wristwatch in 1913, the Seiko Laurel, which featured an exquisite and durable enamel dial in a warm white color with a soft luster. Enameling is a process of applying a glaze with minimal impurities to an iron-based material and then firing it at high temperature. Seiko continues to hold this traditional technique in high esteem for its unparalleled beauty. Creating an enamel watch dial requires a high level of skill. Master enamel craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa has an eye for judging the amount of glaze applied to a dial’s surface. It is added in increments of 0.01mm to maintain a very precise standard of thickness. By combining techniques inherited from his predecessors, he expertly adjusts the ratios of substances in the glaze — carefully monitoring temperature and humidity — before baking the enamel dials and hand-finishing them with painstaking care. Inspired by the original Laurel, this special model features a striking red Roman numeral “XII” at 12 o’clock, infusing the essence of Seiko’s origins into the heart of its design.
Urushi Lacquer Craftsmanship practiced in perpetuity
Urushi lacquer is a centuries-old decorative art that has typically adorned tableware and furniture. Urushi lacquer is the result of a rigorous, multi-step process that involves applying lacquer liquid made from the sap of the lacquer tree, drying it, and then polishing it repeatedly. Japanese lacquerware, known as “japan” in Europe at the time, was even collected by Queen Marie Antoinette of France in the 18th century. Seiko selected the Kanazawa-style urushi lacquer technique to create a distinctive, coppery brown dial for this watch. The unique hue is inspired by the streetscape of Ishikawa Prefecture’s city of Kanazawa, which features many examples of traditional architecture. The dial’s production is supervised by master urushi lacquer artist Isshu Tamura, who oversees expert craftsmen who painstakingly coat and polish the dial dozens of times to achieve the characteristic sheen and depth of color. Wearing this watch and knowing how it was produced is to feel the presence of Japanese craftsmanship wherever you go.
SPB395 $1,850
Powered by FlippingBook