Introducing The Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Arita Porcelain Dial

Seiko first introduced the Presage collection in 2016, intending it to represent the more elegant and traditional side of the brand. Over the years, it has become a significant part of Seiko’s portfolio. This year, the company added a new edition, the Arita Porcelain, to the Presage Craftsmanship Series, featuring a distinct display.

The Presage Craftsmanship Series showcases Seiko’s commitment to continuous improvement, for this the company collaborate with Master craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi and his team in Arita, a town renowned for porcelain artistry, have been developing dials for the Presage collection for years. This latest addition to the series represents a series of subtle changes that result in a significant visual enhancement. It features a porcelain dial, which is a type of ceramic used in many traditional industries in Japanese culture.

With an updated design and a smaller size than previous versions, the case measures 40.6mm in diameter, 12.5mm in thickness, and 49.1mm lug-to-lug. Both the case and bracelet feature a super-hard coating to help prevent scratches. This dress watch also offers 100 meters of water resistance, all protected by a sapphire crystal.

The dial adopts a more modern look with simple black bar indices, replacing the previous Roman numerals. It also features a 24-hour subdial with Breguet numerals at the 6 o’clock position, adding more visual presence. The curved dial surface adds another layer of visual interest, providing a shadowing effect that breaks up the bright white finish.

The blue hands, including the crescent moon balance on the second hand, closely resemble those in previous releases and feature a slight bend at the tips of the minute and second hands.

Crafted by Master craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi and his team in Arita, the dials are produced by molding the clay-based material to the exact shape of the dial’s surface, ensuring consistency in size, depth, and recesses. After drying, the dials are baked at 1300°C, hand-glazed, and baked again. The second firing bonds the glaze to the dial, bringing out a subtle blue tint. Finally, holes for the hands, and a third baking smooths the surfaces.

Visible through a display caseback, the movement is the Seiko 6R5H, an automatic movement with an accuracy of +25/-15 seconds per day and a robust power reserve of approximately 72 hours. This movement features a dual time function and a hacking second. It beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour, or 3 Hz.

The Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Arita Porcelain Dial comes with a 5-link steel bracelet with a folding clasp. Released as part of the permanent collection, it is priced at USD 1,900, equivalent to 6,980 AED.

For more information please visit Seiko’s official website.