The year 1913 remains a significant one for the Seiko Presage watch. Not only did the year mark the first mechanical watch developed by Seiko but also underscored a starting point for Seiko’s unfaltering perseverance and unwavering pioneering spirit. The company has achieved great things in its time, including the first automatic watch in 1956 and the Diashock watch released in 1958, boasting remarkable shock resistant technology. A year later, Seiko released the Magic Lever Spring winding mechanism and from 1964 the company began creating its own balance springs from its proprietary alloy, Spron. The 1960s also saw Seiko create some stunning automatic chronograph watches with vertical clutches and column wheel mechanisms.
All of these victories come together in a celebratory model called the Seiko Presage watch which draws on the company’s special attachment to the year 1913 and everything that followed. There are over 60 models that belong to the popular Seiko Presage watch collection, each timepiece powered by a mechanical movement taken from Seiko’s exquisite range of Japanese calibres like the 8R and the 4R. The Presage watch collection is also home to Seiko’s first ever centre power reserve indicator. The manufacturer equips the models from the Seiko Presage watch collection with cases integrated with 200 meter water resistance. The wristwatches are also topped with anti glare and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass for granting a clear view into the dial during the day or at night.
The enamel dial of a Seiko Presage watch is one of its most distinctive features, achieved by the skilled hand of a Seiko craftsman. This deep texture adds character to the design, with shades that are achieved under the supervision of Mitsuru Yokozawa. The shade of the dial must compliment the rest of the design, ensuring its finish lasts for decades to come. From the Seiko Presage watch collection or the Presage Cocktail iterations, which, as their namesake suggests, take inspiration from classic cocktails - the colours, textures and shapes of a Seiko Presage watch are all beautifully balanced. The hands on the dial of a Seiko Presage Cocktail watch are meticulously shaped into the stem of a glass and placed against dramatic colour schemes for an eye catching finish. Other models include the Enamel Dial series, equipped with chronograph features that add a touch of sportiness to the wrist.
Paying tribute to contemporary Japanese artistry is the Seiko Presage watches belonging to the Porco Rosso series. These limited edition timepieces are inspired by animated films developed by popular Japanese animation film company, Studio Gibli. Three handed dress watches are also available from the Presage collection, represented by traditional Roman numeral hour markers for a timeless look. These beautifully crafted designs go by the name of the Zen Garden watches, which echo raked gravel and wave like patterns via their textured dials, taking inspiration from Japanese gardens.
For years Seiko Presage watches were unavailable worldwide and only made accessible to Japanese watch fans. Since 2016, these desirable timepieces have been released to collectors in all four corners of the globe, appealing to the masses with their universally loved designs. Driven by inhouse made calibres, these mechanical masterpieces, whether they be stainless steel designs, stop second models or manual winding wristwatches, continue to promise reliability, affordability and longevity on the wrist.
