Porco Rosso Presage Limited Editions From Seiko

Porco Rosso is one of my favorite films from Studio Ghibli. If you don’t know what I’m talking about after reading the article, please go on Netflix and watch the movie. You will not regret it, I promise.

When I received the news about these unique timepieces by Seiko, I was more than excited. Especially that they come from the brand’s Presage line, which I have genuinely loved since their first creations came out in 2016. Many of you probably remember the Shippo enamel watches with those mesmerizing deep blue dials. Or the new Arita porcelain dial Presage models. With these previous timepieces, Seiko saluted the Japanese artisans who created these beautiful masterpieces using time-honored techniques that have been handed down over centuries.

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, its co-founder and creative mind behind it, represent another type of artistry. Their animated movies (such as Porco Rosso, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, or Pom Poko) are other-worldly, with distinctive visuals and masterful storytelling.

Porco Rosso

One of such movies, and an all-time favorite of mine, is Porco Rosso. Miyazaki served as writer and director on the project that came out under Studio Ghibli’s aegis in 1992. The story revolves around a World War I veteran fighter pilot, Marco, who, due to some sorcery, has to live his life as a pig. Hence the name, Porco Rosso — Italian for Red Pig. He flies in a red plane, fighting air pirates, protecting the airspace over the Adriatic Sea. With its rich animation, the story embraces the romance of early aviation. The two Presage models bring this early 20th-century romanticism, the beauty of enamel, and Seiko’s advanced technology together in these beautiful timepieces. The white dial Presage Studio Ghibli Porco Rosso Collaboration Limited Edition (SNR047) comes with a Seiko Spring Drive caliber. The black version (SRQ033), however, is fitted with an automatic Seiko movement.

The paint

Both models draw inspiration from Porco Rosso’s red airplane, a Savoia S-21. The most obvious place to look for these hints is on the dial. Its certain elements, such as the bright, bold hands and numerals, as well as the markers, imitate the instrument panel of the Savoia S-21. The tail emblem —an R and a crest — from Porco Rosso’s plane, are located prominently on both timepieces. On the Spring Drive model, it is above 6 o’clock while on the chronograph, you can find it at the 3 o’clock sub-dial.

The chronograph version features the Italian tricolor in the 3 o’clock sub-dial — an exceptionally vivid element of an otherwise reserved dial. You can find the three colors on the white Presage model. Here, look for the white dial, red seconds hand, and green power reserve indicator hand.

The engine

What is a plane without a powerful engine? The white Presage has the Spring Drive caliber 5R56 with an accuracy of +/- 1 second per day and 72 hours of power reserve. You can check this on the power reserve indicator at the 8 o’clock position. Furthermore, the 5R56 caliber has a date feature. This is at 3 o’clock. The black Presage, as you already know, is a chronograph. Inside is Seiko’s most advanced chronograph caliber, the 8R48. The technical features are impressive: vertical clutch, column wheel, Seiko’s unique three-pointed hammer, and heart-shaped cam. This ensures perfect and instant synchronization of the hands when we reset the chronograph. Seiko offers both Presage Porco Rosso models with a sapphire crystal display case back so the lucky owners can admire the movements. The display window also features the Porco Rosso symbol as well as a quote from him in Italian.

The hanger

As both the black and the white Seiko Presage Porco Rosso watches are limited editions to 500 (white) and 600 (black) pieces, they come in individual packaging. The large presentation box not only houses the Presage timepiece but a second strap and a leather cloth to keep your Seiko clean. The two straps are Porco Rosso red or black leather. Yet another nod to the main character’s nationality are the side stitches on both straps. They are green, white, and red. Finally, every box carries a message from Hayao Miyazaki, the film’s writer and director. Please visit Seiko’s website by clicking here.