Seiko Presage: Enamel, Urushi, and Bonsai for the Classic Series

Seiko is expanding the Presage Classic Series with three models that reinterpret traditional Japanese craftsmanship from different perspectives. Two standard Craftsmanship models draw inspiration from the 1913 Laurel design, featuring enamel and urushi lacquer. A limited edition of 2,000 pieces, created in collaboration with TRADMAN’S BONSAI, brings the colors and textures of a Japanese black pine to the dial.

^{Cover photo: Seiko Presage TRADMAN’S BONSAI Limited Edition HCC009J1. Photo: Seiko}

Two dials, two Japanese craftsmanship techniques

The new models, HCC005J1 and HCC006J1, share a newly developed 39.6-millimeter case but differ significantly in their material finish and color scheme. Their Arabic numeral layout pays homage to the Laurel from 1913, Seiko’s first wristwatch.

For the HCC005J1, enamel master Mitsuru Yokosawa crafts a white dial whose calm surface provides a clear contrast to the black Arabic numerals. The hard-coated stainless steel case and the dark leather strap keep the design deliberately understated. The HCC006J1, on the other hand, features a deep black urushi lacquer dial by Isshu Tamura. Gold accents on the case and contrasting stitching on the leather strap lend this model a warmer character.

Enamel and urushi are created through a series of manual steps. Minor variations in surface texture and depth are therefore part of the dials’ unique character. Seiko combines these artisanal techniques with the rounded design language of the current Classic Series.

Caliber 6R5H with 24-hour display

Both watches are powered by the 6R5H automatic movement. It offers more than 72 hours of power reserve, a seconds stop function, and a 24-hour display. The movement remains visible through the screw-down crystal case back. Double-domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dials; the watches are water-resistant to three bar.

• References: HCC005J1 and HCC006J1
• Case: hard-coated stainless steel; HCC006J1 also features a gold plating
• Diameter: 39.6 millimeters
• Glass: double-domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal
• Movement: Automatic Caliber 6R5H
• Power reserve: more than 72 hours
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, 24-hour display
• Water resistance: 3 bar

TRADMAN’S BONSAI: Black Pine in the Moonlight

The third new release, the Presage Classic Series TRADMAN’S BONSAI Limited Edition HCC009J1, was created in collaboration with a Japanese collective that blends the art of bonsai with contemporary culture, fashion, and design. The design features a Japanese black pine tree in the moonlight.

The domed dial features a deep Matsuba-iro, a traditional pine-needle green. Its textured surface is reminiscent of the bark of old pine trees. A gold-plated stainless steel case, gold-colored hands and hour markers, and a matching metal bracelet create warm contrasts. The watch comes with an additional leather strap featuring an embossed Sanko-matsu motif that echoes the shape of pine needles.

This model also features an automatic movement with a power reserve of more than 72 hours. The 6R51 does not feature a date display and focuses on hours, minutes, and seconds. The watch measures 38 millimeters in diameter, is water-resistant to 10 bar, and bears its individual number on the case back.

• Reference: HCC009J1
• Limited edition: 2,000 copies worldwide
• Case: Stainless steel with gold plating
• Diameter: 38 millimeters
• Movement: Automatic Caliber 6R51
• Power reserve: more than 72 hours
• Water resistance: 10 bar
• Bracelets: Stainless steel with gold plating and an additional leather strap

Tradition as a Creative Medium

The three new models showcase different ways in which Seiko incorporates historical and cultural references into contemporary watches. Enamel and urushi draw directly on traditional craftsmanship, while the Bonsai Edition reinterprets an ancient art form through color, texture, and collaboration. What they all have in common is that the dial is not merely a decorative surface, but becomes the very vessel that carries the story.