Jewellery & Watch News
2021 has been a huge year for Seiko as they’ve revelled in a year-long celebration of their 140th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the Japanese watch manufacturer has released a wealth of limited edition designs from a new Sharp Edged GMT, the King Seiko Limited Edition and a Seiko Astron GPS Solar Yozakura watch. Next up in their anniversary collection is a duo of watches inspired by Ginza, the Tokyo district of which Seiko’s founder, Kintaro Hattori, opened his first shop.
At just 21 years old in 1881, Kintaro Hattori opened up a store in the middle of Ginza, Tokyo selling and repairing watches and clocks. 140 years later and the Seiko brand remains in the very same district close to the original Seiko clock which for 120 years has provided reliable timekeeping for Ginza’s residents. In honour of their history and their long-association with Ginza, Seiko has launched two limited edition models which feature unique dial designs inspired by the district’s traditional cobblestone streets. The first comes from their iconic Prospex collection and the second from their dressy Presage line.
The Seiko Prospex Alpinist Ginza 140th Anniversary watch is a limited edition of 3,500 pieces and is based on their modern re-interpretation of the 1959 Alpinist watch launched earlier this year. Its overall aesthetic follows suit to the original line but stands out for its gorgeous sunray blue dial which evokes the patterns of the cobblestone streets of Ginza. At every angle, the textures of the display reflect light beautifully and match perfectly with the sharpness of the hour markers and hands. The seconds hand is kept sleek and coloured in a pastel blue shade which pays homage to Ginza’s history with Komparu, a traditional Japanese colour named after Komparu Street, where Ginza’s nightlife was once centred.
The dial of the Seiko Prospex Alpinist Ginza 140th Anniversary Limited Edition is encircled by a smooth fixed bezel engineered from stainless steel to match the 38mm case. The case is equipped with anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and a screw in crown water resistant to 200 metres. Through the exhibition case back detailed with its limited edition status, you can admire the automatic winding Calibre 6R35 movement which promises an impressive power reserve of 70 hours and a an accuracy of -15/+25 seconds per day. The watch is completed by a stainless steel bracelet and classic folding buckle.
The second instalment in the 140th Anniversary Limited Edition series is a piece from their Presage collection evoking the new dial aesthetics of their stunning Style60’s design inspired by the 1964 Seiko Crown Chronograph. The dial retains the same cobblestone pattern in a gorgeous rich blue but showcases a unique opening at 9 o’clock which reveals the automatic winding movement working from inside. Above the open-heart element, an additional 24 hour subsidiary dial provides a second time zone function. The dial also features sword shaped hands for the hours and minutes in Lumibrite, faceted indexes and a sleek pastel blue seconds hand just like the Presage edition.
For the case of the Seiko Presage Style 60s Ginza 140th Anniversary Limited Edition, the diameter comes in a little larger at 40.75mm but remains engineered from stainless steel. A smooth black bezel is printed with a 60 minute scale and box-shaped Hardlex crystal glass protects the dial. The movement on display through the dial and sapphire crystal case back is the Calibre 4R39 automatic winding movement with a 41 hour power reserve and a stunning yellow gold oscillating rotor. To complete the limited edition of 4,000 pieces, a three-row link stainless steel bracelet is added alongside a three-fold clasp with push button release.
If you’d like to shop the Seiko 140th Anniversary Ginza Limited Edition watches, head over to the W Hamond website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01957 603330 or send us a message at info@whamond.com.
