Fingers-On Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain Dial Restricted Version SPB267J1

For some years now, Seiko has been demonstrating its savoir-faire in different areas than the traditional sports activities watches – which may be discovered within the Prospex assortment. With its Presage vary, the Japanese manufacture went on a mission to discover conventional creative crafts of its nation of origin, releasing watches with enamel, Urushi lacquer, guilloché with translucent enamel and eventually so-called Arita porcelain dials. At this time, Seiko is increasing its “Status Line” sub-collection, destined to distinguish these watches from extra accessible Cocktail fashions, with the addition of a brand new Arita watch with a lightweight blue dial and a metal bracelet. Right here’s the Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain Blue Dial SPB267J1. 

Background

Arita porcelain is an historical Japanese craft, named after a small city situated on the Japanese island of Kyushu. In direction of the top of the sixteenth century, porcelain clay was discovered within the neighborhood reworking the realm right into a hub for Japanese porcelain. Early wares used underglaze blue ornament, however by the mid-Seventeenth century, Arita was on the forefront as Japan developed overglaze “enamelled” ornament in a spread of shiny colors. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the porcelain merchandise made in Arita turned prized throughout Japan for the prime quality of their artistry. By the nineteenth century, it was being exported all around the globe, dispatched by sea from Arita’s port of Imari. Though porcelain can be made elsewhere, porcelain made in Arita is uniquely Japanese, and so it appears becoming that Seiko has chosen to make use of this materials for the dials of its new Presage watches.

The watch we’re taking a look at at the moment is an evolution of different restricted version fashions launched already with Arita porcelain dial, equivalent to the SPB171J1 with its milky-white dial and blued accents, or the SPB093J1 that was the primary of its sort for Seiko. On this occasion, the brand new SPB267J1 mannequin is principally the identical watch, with a unique dial and the addition of an informal/sporty contact due to a bracelet changing the standard leather-based strap.

The entire thought with this new Presage Arita Porcelain was to current this historical method beneath a brand new color, which is right here a fascinating, uneven mild blue background that displays the handbook work concerned within the creation of the dials. It right here recreates the faint lapis lazuli colors created by a standard dyeing method referred to as ruri zome, which is historically utilized to giant tripod dishes from Kyushu embellished with heron designs. The dial requires expertise and method, as a glaze distinctive to Arita porcelain is utilized on their floor, giving not solely this milky, mild blue color but additionally a shiny floor in addition to a dye impact with the periphery of the recessed areas displaying a lighter color. This offers the Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain SPB267J1 richness and uniqueness, in addition to a powerful feeling of manually-crafted object.

For this version, the model nonetheless depends on its complicated show composed of central hours, minutes and seconds, with further problems discovered at 6 o’clock – the pointer date – and 9 o’clock – the facility reserve indicator. To match with the sunshine blue background of the dial, all the weather – palms, markers, tracks, logos and Roman numerals – are executed in darkish blue. The result’s each elegant and contemporary, with a sure boldness – or not less than, some originality with a color that feels totally different from the group of darkish blue dials.

For the remainder, no surprises with this Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain SPB267J1. The metal case is similar as earlier editions, with its snug 40.6mm diameter however a reasonably hefty thickness of 14.1mm – which is clearly an excessive amount of for such a dressy, elegant watch. However, the watch is water resistant to 100m and incorporates a dual-curved sapphire crystal on prime, in addition to a see-through caseback. The form and the ending are nice, with a mixture of curves and sides, highlighted by brushed and polished parts.

Contained in the case is the in-house calibre 6R27, a traditional of the model that powers (on this type of its traditional 3-hand model) a lot of the Presage Status Line watches. Operating at a 4Hz frequency, this computerized motion shops 45 hours of energy reserve when absolutely wound and the view by the caseback reveals a neat ornament with stripes and brushed surfaces.

One other new ingredient of this Mild Blue Arita Porcelain SPB267J1 is the presence of a stainless-steel bracelet, changing the extra formal leather-based strap used on earlier editions. Given the extra vibrant dial, this selection makes this blue restricted version extra informal, much less strict than earlier than and thus extra versatile. Plus, nothing prevents you to change to a pleasant darkish blue leather-based strap to get a unique look.

Availability & Value

The Seiko Presage Status Line
 Arita Porcelain Dial Restricted Version SPB267J1 is a restricted version of two,000 individually numbered items, which can be out there as of January 2022. It is going to be priced at EUR 1,950. For extra particulars, please go to seikowatches.com.