SPB497" from Presage: Unglazed beauty from a master craftsman

SPB497" from Presage: Unglazed beauty from a master craftsman

The new "SPB497" model from the "Classic Series" is a tribute to Japanese craftsmanship. It features a dial made of unglazed Arita porcelain.

As is typical of Seiko's Presage line, the production is a true masterpiece, executed by Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, a master of Arita ceramics. Together with his student Toshiyaki Kawaguchi and a team of regional artisans, this resulted in an exceptional dial produced in limited numbers.

Each piece is created in a precisely coordinated process: liquid porcelain is poured into delicate plaster molds and fired at 1,300 °C – a craft that requires experience and sensitivity.

Originated centuries ago in Arita, reinterpreted today

The unglazed Arita porcelain is white and velvety matte, exuding a vibrant depth. It's being used for the first time in a Presage dial. Without a protective glaze, the porcelain reveals its pure form, creating the understated design.

The matte surface, with its fine texture, subtle grooves, and a gentle play of light and shadow, gives the dial its character. A modern take on the Hishi pattern adds structure to the warm white nuance of the porcelain surface. Gold-colored hands and indices add elegant accents beneath the double-domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

The automatic caliber 6R51 with bidirectional winding (magic lever), which can also be wound manually, ensures precision. It offers a 72-hour power reserve. The internal movement is protected by a 40.6-gauge stainless steel case with a screw-down crystal back, water-resistant to 10 bar.

The “SPB497,” limited to 1,200 pieces, is worn on a black leather strap from responsible tanneries.

(RRP 1,950 €)