A Closer Look to Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Watches

The history of Seiko can be traced back to a long time ago. It began in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opened a shop for watch selling and reparation. Thirty-two years later in 1913, the company managed to make the first Japanese wristwatch, the Laurel. 

These days, Seiko is one of the leading brands in the watchmaking industry. In 2023, the company will celebrate its 110th watchmaking anniversary. For this special occasion, Seiko presented a series of commemorative watches designed to be a long-life companion. 

In this article, we’re going to talk about the special release of Seiko’s anniversary watches. As a kickstart, the company introduced a new face of Presage and Prospex produced in limited edition to keep it special. The watches are also inspired by the 1913 Laurel as a flamboyant depiction of the first journey.

Seiko Watchmaking 110th Anniversary Limited Editions

Anniversary is indeed an important milestone to remember and the same also goes for Seiko anniversary watches. Commemorating 110 years of watchmaking, Seiko released two limited edition watches, Seiko Presage Limited Edition SARW065/SPB359 and Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition.

Let’s get into the detail in the next section.

Presage Laurel Re-Edition – Ltd Ed 2500pcs Ref. SARW065

The first watch comes under the Presage collection that pays homage to Laurel, Seiko’s first wristwatch, which is Presage Laurel Re-Edition. As the foundation of Seiko’s watchmaking, Laurel created a significant history for the whole journey. Huge development was made ever since its release, be it in manufacturing technology and micro-fabrication. 

On this anniversary, the homage edition stays faithful to the original design and brings back the flamboyant of the past. It is even reflected in every detail of the watch from the round case and large onion crown. It’s none other than to keep the nostalgic feel of the special timepiece. 

Moving on the dial, the watch also cues the same vibe with a pristine enamel dial and blue hands with a retro style. If you really take a closer look, you can notice that the detail goes even to the design of number four which is made distinctively but similar to the original version. 

As for the movement, you can expect a more reliable performance compared to the 1913 Laurel. The homage edition is driven by Seiko Caliber 6R27. It is equipped with a power reserve indicator displayed at the 9 o’clock position and a sub-dial for the date at 6 o’clock. 

With that movement, the watch has 45 hours of power reserve and good performance on magnetic resistance. That said, the watch boasts a precision of +25/-15 seconds a day. For aesthetic purposes, the movement is discretely concealed behind a closed and screwed case back.

After all, the watch still comes under a dressy timepiece that seems to verge on the minimalist end of the design spectrum. Regardless, it has a classic appearance that looks good for daily wear. Above all, the watch is only available in 2500 pieces. So, make sure that you get this Presage Laurel re-edition for your collection as soon as possible.

Price: $1,680.00 USD

Read also: Homage Watches: an Art of Classic Vintage or a Lazy Ripoff?

Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition

The Seiko anniversary watches on this 110th commemoration, the company released Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition. One of Prospex’s sport watch lineup, it is similar to the re-Laurer edition. This Prospex collection is also a homage edition that pays tribute to the reference 6105-8000 which is an automatic mechanical diver’s watch from 1968.

Taking a simple glimpse, the watch exhibits a slim case yet robust construction for diving equipment. The case is where Seiko was inspired by the past edition. An elegant timepiece but durable enough to accompany your sports activities.

Moving on to the dial, the pattern is where the first impression goes to. It features the power of the polar glaciers that shape the seascapes and landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctic. The silvery-white color also further elevates the charm and the concept that the watch tries to bring. 

However, despite drawing inspiration from the past edition, you can always expect modern technology in Seiko’s timepieces. The Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition is driven by the modern and high-performing 6R35 automatic caliber with 70 hours of power reserve. Along with that, the watch runs at a 21,600 bph beat rate with a magnetic resistance of up to 4,800 A/m.

Designed as a reliable tool watch, it also comes with a list of functionalities to support the wearer. It ranges from a unidirectional rotating bezel to 200 meters of water resistance as well as a pointed baton handset and rectangular applied indices for better legibility.

Completing the robust and sporty look, the watch is paired with a comfortable five-row steel bracelet secured with clasps and extenders for diving. Additionally, the wearer can also opt for a fabric strap. The polyester material was made entirely from recycled plastic bottles formed using a traditional braiding technique from Japan called Seichu.

Final Verdict

Both Seiko anniversaries watches for this 110th commemoration flaunt a compelling design and performance on their own. Not to mention that each carries an important value in the vintage collection. With the use of advanced technology for a homage edition, Seiko kind of brought the company’s first edition to the modern era. 

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