Jewellery & Watch News
Joining sub-series like the Cocktail Time, Sharped Edged and 60’s Style of the Seiko Presage watch collection, the Japanese watch manufacturer has more recently introduced what they call their “Craftsmanship Series”. The collection celebrates Japan’s traditional metiers d’art including materials and techniques like Arita porcelain, enamel and Urushi lacquer. Now also part of the range is the new Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain SPB293J1 watch which features a crisp white Arita porcelain dial.
Just as its name suggests, the real centrepiece of the new Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain SPB293J1 watch is the dial. Arita porcelain is famed for being Japan’s first ever porcelain with a history of over 400 years. Its name comes from the small town in which the clay was first discovered, and it is still there, in Arita, that all of Seiko’s Arita porcelain dials are handmade. Hiroyuki Hashiguchi is the master craftsman behind the material and he and his colleagues have been developing the dials for the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship series over the past few years.
The process of creating Arita porcelain is no easy feat, despite the fact that it is highly durable and four times harder than usual porcelain. Each dial undergoes a casting process using high-precision moulds before being fired at temperatures of 1,300 degrees. The dials are then glazed and fired multiple times, entirely by hand. For the Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain SPB293J1 watch, the dial is only 1mm thick and curves downwards from the indexes to the centre to create a sense of depth. The surface is then polished with a glaze for a soft lustre and set with beautifully contrasting blue hands and Roman numerals for easy legibility.
Suspended above the dial of the Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain watch is dual curved sapphire crystal glass treated with an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface for additional readability. Encircling that is a classic 40.5mm stainless steel case featuring all the traits of a Seiko Presage dress watch including a smooth, unadorned bezel, knurled crown and curvaceous lugs which extend out into a matching five-row link stainless steel bracelet. The case of the Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain SPB293J1 watch also promises a 100 metre water resistance and measures to 12.35mm in height.
Powering the Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain watch is one of Seiko’s well-known time-only calibres, the 6R31 automatic winding movement. Alongside an accuracy of -15 to +25 seconds a day, we’re treated to a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, 24 jewels and a power reserve of 80 hours. You can admire the Japanese-made movement through the exhibition case back including its striped oscillating rotor.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Presage ‘Hakuji’ Arita Porcelain SPB293J1 watch and shop the model for yourself, head over to the W Hamond website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01947 603330 or send us a message at info@whamond.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 40.5mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Dual curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Non-screw locked
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre 6R31
- Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Jewels: 24
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Dial: Arita Porcelain in white with blue hands and Roman numerals
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
- Buckle: Folding
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £1,500
