Introducing: Two Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Star Bar Limited Editions And A Lacquer-Dialed GMT
You can find inspiration in tradition and at the bottom of your glass. Seiko found it in both places. The SPB447 is a watch in the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series that presents itself with a glossy urushi (lacquer) dial and a GMT function displaying two time zones. Seiko also presents two new Presage Cocktail Time models inspired by the scenery of Tokyo at night and with a dial interpreting the Night-time Tokyo, an original cocktail created by Star Bar owner Hisashi Kishi.
It’s important to do things in the right order, so before we take a sip of the two new Presage Cocktail Time models, let’s first inspect the fine craftmanship that made the SPB447 from the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series possible. The watch is from a collection that highlights the traditional skills of Japan by showcasing their beauty in mechanical wristwatches. The SPB447 combines a functional GMT complication and a complex dial with a depth that keeps you coming back for another look.
Introducing the lacquer-dialed Seiko Presage SPB447
The technique had been around since ancient times before Seiko had the grandiose idea to use urushi (漆) for watch dials. Most commonly, this lacquer was a coating for bowls, plates, and other utensils. Not only does urushi have captivating qualities, but it is also a highly durable natural material. Seiko creates the lacquer dials in the Craftsmanship Series using an innovative manufacturing method that combines metal and lacquer with traditional techniques. The result is a very smooth surface that reflects light most delicately.
Isshu Tamura at work
In a watch, the lacquer needs to be thick enough to have a beautiful luster yet also thin enough to not interfere with the movement of the hands. Only skill can make this happen. So Seiko turned to lacquer artist Isshu Tamura, an expert in the traditional Kaga maki-e gold lacquer technique from Kanazawa, a town 500 kilometers northwest of Tokyo.
The dial of the SPB447 has multiple layers of lacquer that have been polished dozens of times. This polishing produces a unique glossy depth. The subdued gold color of the GMT hand underlines the delicate shimmer of the luxurious lacquer dial, and so does the gold-toned 24-hour scale on the outer edge of the hour markers. The white three-dimensional stick indexes, hour and minute hands, plus the mirror-finished seconds hand guarantee maximum contrast with the black dial.
Specs and sustainable leather
The hard-coated steel case of the SPB447 has a 40.5mm diameter and comes on a leather strap produced by a tannery certified by the Leather Working Group. LWG is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable leather production. Beating inside the watch is the automatic 6R54 movement. This 3Hz caliber has a power reserve of 72 hours, and it’s a so-called office/caller GMT. Other details you should know about are the use of Lumibrite on the hands and indexes and the presence of a dual-curved sapphire glass with an antireflective coating on the inside. Furthermore, the watch has a screw-in, see-through case back, and the strap includes a folding clasp with a push-button release. The SPB447 from the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series has a price of €1,850.
Two servings of the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Star Bar Limited Editions
If you’re a die-hard Seiko fan, visiting Tokyo and Seiko House in Ginza is a must. After visiting the flagship store with the characteristic clock tower, you may need a drink. Perhaps a nice cocktail to help you process the overwhelming amount of watches you just saw? The good thing is it’s only a seven-minute walk from Seiko House to Star Bar, situated at 1-5-13 Ginza. This bar serves the Night-time Tokyo, an original cocktail created by owner Hisashi Kishi. He’s the first bartender to receive Japan’s prestigious Contemporary Master Craftsman award. Chances are you saw two watches at Seiko House inspired by the drink. FYI, you make a Night-time Tokyo by mixing two parts rum, one part triple sec, five parts orange juice, a dash of lemon-lime soda, and two dashes of orange bitters.
The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Star Bar Limited Editions feature a midnight-inspired dial. That translates to a delicate pattern and a slightly lighter gray gradation. And for contrast, gold-colored hands and indexes mimic lights in the Tokyo night. Seiko will produce 9,000 pieces of the 40.5mm SRPK93, each costing €560. This watch uses the automatic caliber 4R35. The 30.5mm SRE015 comes in a limited run of 6,000 pieces and costs €660. Inside its steel case beats the automatic 2R05 caliber. If you look closely, you will notice the multisided cuts inside the box-shaped glass around and above the dial. Whether they mimic ice cubes in a tumbler or diamonds is up for debate. Both Presage Cocktail Time Star Bar Limited Editions are water resistant to 50 meters and have a Hardlex crystal.
Coming soon
The Seiko Presage Craftmanship Series SPB447 and Cocktail Time Star Bar LE SRPK93 and SRE015 will be available worldwide as of October 1st, 2024. Now tell me, is it time to master the art of urushi, or are you more interested in something inspired by the artful creations of a master bartender?
