Introducing: The Seiko Presage SPB437 Limited Edition Inspired By Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind
To be completely honest with you, when Nacho sent me the press materials for this new Seiko release, I had never heard of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Actually, I’m not very familiar with any of Studio Ghibli’s creations. I figured it would be an insult to write anything about it without knowing what I was talking about, so I decided to watch the movie as it was available on Netflix. That experience didn’t turn me into a fan of the genre. However, I do get that this kind of cinema is quite powerful and could draw you in completely. That’s why, for its Japanese Craftsmanship series, Seiko decided to create the Presage SPB437, a limited-edition watch inspired by this classic 1980s animated movie.
Nausicaä on her glider — Image: Melkweg
The movie tells the story of Princess Nausicaä, who lives in the Valley of the Wind. She gets involved in a conflict between two kingdoms. With her gift of gaining the trust of giant mutant insects, for example, the Ohm species, she’s able to settle the conflict. Additionally, she teaches people that it’s better to live together in harmony with the giant insects instead of trying to exterminate them.
Seiko and Studio Ghibli
This is not the first time that Seiko has turned a Studio Ghibli movie into a watch. In 2020, for example, there was a Porco Rosso-inspired limited edition with a white enamel dial and a bright red leather strap. Then, in 2021, Castle in the Sky inspired a limited edition with a cream enamel dial. This new limited edition also comes with an enamel dial, but the main color in the design is blue. This is the color of Nausicaä’s outfit and that of the Ohm’s eyes…when in a tranquil state, that is. All right, let’s take a closer look at the Seiko Presage SPB437.
The Seiko Presage SPB3537 Studio Ghibli Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
The case of this Studio Ghibli limited edition looks fairly similar to that of the 2021 Castle in the Sky SPB215. It’s also 40.5mm wide and measures 12.4mm thick. To resemble the tools used in the movie, the case has a textured or sandblasted finish. It also features a super-hard coating to ensure that it won’t scratch easily. Together, the texture and coating almost make the case look like it’s titanium, although it’s not. The large, flaring crown at 3 o’clock is set with a blue crystal that looks almost exactly like a calm Ohm’s eyes.
Its color perfectly matches the blue enamel dial. The printed minute track and elongated hour markers are white, just like the Seiko logo and text at 12 o’clock. In addition, the printed emblem at 6 o’clock is white and red, just like on Nausicaä’s final outfit in the movie. While the leaf-style hour and minute hands both have a white coating, the seconds hand adds a nice golden touch. This golden-accent theme continues on the reverse, where we find a gold-plated display case back and a gold-tone winding rotor. The sapphire crystal above the movement displays printed blue decorations inspired by the movie.
Seiko’s 6R51 caliber with a three-day power reserve
Through that exhibition case back, you can take a look at Seiko’s 6R51 automatic movement. That’s the time-only version of the 6R55. It runs at a 21,600vph frequency and holds a power reserve of about 72 hours. This allows you to put the watch down before the weekend and pick it up right after without having to wind or set it. The movement features 24 jewels and is advertised to run between +25 and -15 seconds per day. It’s also good to know that the watch is water resistant to 10 bar. That makes it perfect for daily wear and even suitable for swimming if you choose. If you do swim with it, it would be smart to swap the leather strap for a more water-appropriate one. Thankfully, the drilled lug holes should help make that an easy task.
Available in March
I have to admit, I enjoyed watching Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. With its beautiful animation and imaginative story, it can completely suck the viewer into a new world. Furthermore, although the movie came out 40 years ago, its message of respecting the environment is still very relevant with today’s focus on sustainability and climate change. However, as I already said, it’s still not my favorite genre, and I would certainly not buy a limited-edition watch because of it. But Japanese pop art certainly has plenty of followers, and I’m sure some of them would love to get a Nausicaä-inspired watch.
If you’re one of them, it’s good to know that the watch will be available in March. Its production is limited to 1,500 pieces, which will be sold at Seiko boutiques and selected retailers all around the world. It comes on a brown leather strap, which features an Ohm imprinted on it. This comes complete with a steel folding clasp, with everything included in a special blue presentation box. The whole package can be yours for €1,750. For more information, please check out Seiko’s official website.
Are you a fan of Studio Ghibli and its movies? And what do you think of the Seiko Presage SPB437 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind? Let me know in the comments below. Oh, and if you have any recommendations for other Ghibli movies to watch, let me know.
