Japanese watchmaker Seiko has introduced two new additions to its Presage Classic Series ‘Craftsmanship’ collection which honour the legacy of Japan’s first-ever wristwatch, the 1913 Laurel.
The two new models blend traditional Japanese artistry with modern mechanical watchmaking and pay tribute to Seiko’s pioneering watchmaking heritage, reinterpreting the iconic design through two traditional Japanese crafts Enamel and Urushi lacquer to celebrate the origins of Japanese wristwatches.
The Enamel Laurel Dial has a lustrous white enamel dial beneath a dual-curve sapphire crystal and features vintage-inspired Arabic numerals, a subdial at 6 o’clock and an eye-catching red 12 o’clock marker just like on the original Laurel, all housed in a 39.6mm stainless steel case with a super-hard coating.
The Urushi Lacquer Laurel Dial on the other hand, has a deep black dial crafted using the centuries-old Japanese lacquer technique and is also housed in a 39.6mm refined gold-toned stainless steel case with vintage-inspired detailing.
Both watches are splash resistant, not water resistant, and have a see-through screw case back and come fitted with a sustainably sourced LWG-certified stitched black leather strap with a three-fold clasp and push button release to give that authentic vintage feel to the new models.
They are powered by Seiko’s in-house 6R5H automatic calibre movement, giving an accuracy of +25/-15 seconds per day and a power reserve of around 72 hours. They also feature a 24-hour hand and stop seconds hand function.
The Presage Classic Series ‘Craftmanship’ Enamel Laurel dial is priced at £1,250 while the Presage Classic Series ‘Craftmanship’ Urushi Lacquer Laurel dial is £1,400. Both watches can be pre-ordered from Seikoboutique.co.uk with deliveries starting in September.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based travel and motoring journalist and editor, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of Seiko
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