March 2024 is off to a powerful begin for Seiko, with double-header bulletins of latest additions to each the Prospex and the Presage sequence. The Presage line, which debuted in 2016, combines two components that Seiko is well-known for: an emphasis on high quality engineering and aesthetics rooted in Japanese heritage. This line gives Seiko followers a change from the chunky and sporty fashions within the model’s massive dive and power watch repertoire. The Presage assortment tends to be stripped again, refined, and customarily conservative in its design language. These 5 new watches are a part of the brand new Seiko Presage Basic Sequence, which takes inspiration from the colours and textures of conventional Japanese crafts and the supplies that set them aside. The road options two completely different dial layouts and features: Three of the fashions are customary three-hand configurations with date home windows at 3 o’clock, whereas the opposite two have an open-heart structure with an overlapping 24-hour subdial on the 6 o’clock place.
The spectacular dials are actually the place this new sequence shines. Seiko’s particular inspiration for these watches was Japanese textiles, particularly silk, and its varied historic and cultural roots. The three-hand references had been impressed by the traits of Japanese silk cloth, whereas the open-heart choices (which aren’t as textured) have a radial dial patterning consultant of uncooked silk yarn. Two of the references (SPB463 and SPB469) are a cream coloration generally known as shiro-iro, the colour of unbleached pure cloth. SPB465, one of many three-hand configurations, is sensaicha, a brownish-green well-liked within the Edo interval, which spanned the seventeenth, 18th, and a part of the nineteenth century. Persimmon impressed the third dial coloration on the SPB467, and the ultimate reference, SPB471, is sumi-iro — a really darkish grey representing the clothes worn by Japanese monks.
The 40.2mm case is barely curved, which speaks additional to the depth of Seiko’s silk inspiration for this sequence. Each the three-hand and open-heart configurations have a top of 13mm, which is pretty thick, particularly for these three-handers. Nonetheless, the curved form of the case will possible mitigate a few of that bulk when the watch is on the wrist. Every mannequin options leaf-style hour and minute fingers and stick indices. All fingers and indices are barely curved to match the form of the case, as is the sapphire crystal. It’s necessary to notice that lume is absent from these watches, although, for the fashion, it is a design resolution that feels proper.
The exhibition casebacks will spotlight the lately launched Seiko 6R actions that characteristic an influence reserve of 72 hours. The three-hand references (SPB463, SPB465, and SPB467) are powered by the Caliber 6R55 whereas the open-heart fashion makes use of the 6R5J. The water resistance is 100 meters, which is customary (even a bit unimpressive) for Seiko however far superior to lots of its costume watch friends at related worth factors.
Every of those 5 watches is accompanied by a multi-row bracelet that’s newly developed by Seiko. Taking inspiration from Nineteen Seventies design cues, the hyperlinks are ergonomically formed and curved just like the case. Seiko says the precedence right here with this new design was to scale back contact factors on the wrist for a extra snug match. Every hyperlink is brief, which can permit the wearer to extra simply discover a match that works for them.
Some of the spectacular options of this sequence is its price ticket, which is on par with many different Presage references. Although the three-hand choices will possible be priced round double a watch from the Cocktail Time line, the much-improved specs and ending make that determine appear affordable. The advisable retail worth in america for these watches is $950 USD for the three-hand configuration (SPB463/465/467), and $1,125 USD for the open-heart structure (SPB469/471). Seiko claims these fashions ought to be obtainable in June 2024. Extra info might be discovered on the model’s web site.
