Presage “Style60’s” Power Reserve Black Ref. SARY211

Seiko has grown into a well-respected brand whose watches have been enjoyed by many since its founding in 1881. The brand is an undisputed king of watchmaking from its first mechanical watch in 1913 to the 2014 prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) for its hi-beat calibre. In recent years, Seiko has worked hard to streamline its offerings. The Prospex and Presage lines have become more defined and stand on their own capably. Today’s new release is part of the latter. Let us take a closer look.

Seiko Presage “Style60’s” Power Reserve Black Ref. SARY211

First launched in 2016, the Seiko Presage range is an all-mechanical series to showcase the refined and elegant side of Seiko - no matter the price point. Seiko’s prowess as a watchmaker can be observed and admired from the entry-level Presage Cocktail Time to higher-end enamel and porcelain dial Presages. The new Presage Ref. SARY211 is part of the Style60’s Presage lineup first introduced in 2021. 

The Style60’s is a new series that captures the vintage feel of a Seiko milestone watch combined with the traditional watchmaking skills for which the Presage collection is renowned. The Style60’s design draws inspiration from the Crown Chronograph introduced in 1964. The Crown Chronograph was Japan’s first wristwatch equipped with a stopwatch function. The watch had several revolutionary functions and marked the beginning of Seiko’s chronograph wristwatch manufacturing. The modern-day Style60’s releases combine the vintage design of the 1964 creation with contemporary elements to create a series with a retro feel perfect for modern times. 

Multi Textured Dial with Seiko's Caliber 4R57

Made of 316L stainless steel, the watch is predominately high-polished, with the exception of the top of the lugs that are finely satin-brushed. With a 40.8mm diameter, the watch has a height of 14.3mm and a lug-to-lug of just 47mm. This set of dimensions helps the Seiko Presage Style60’s Power Reserve to wear nicely on the wrist and suit almost all wrist sizes. 

The timepiece features a rich black dial with applied baton indices and dauphine hands. The watch may look like a simple three-hander at first, but a closer inspection reveals an ingeniously placed power reserve indicator across the 1 to 4 indices. The contrasting subdial at 6 tells you the date, a style of date display that we have grown accustomed to for the Presage lineup. Like all the other Style60’s Presages in the lineup, a fixed 60-minute bezel is present, a callback to the 1964 Crown Chronograph that featured a similar bezel. 

Beautiful stainless steel case with lugs

Covering the dial is a piece of Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal. While not as scratch-resistant as sapphire, Hardlex is definitely tougher than the typical mineral crystal and would have added scratch resistance over mineral crystal too. The Style60’s Presages all have Lumibrite on the hands and indices, and this new SARY211 is no exception. The Lumibrite glows brightly in the dark, allowing for maximum readability. A signed push-pull crown and screw-down caseback give the Seiko Presage “Style60’s” Power Reserve a healthy 50m of water resistance - more than enough for a dress watch. 

Flipping the watch over will reveal an exhibition caseback proudly displaying the 4R57 movement. The 4R57 is an in-house movement from the 4R family, Seiko’s range of entry-level movements. These movements are robust, reliable, and will be able to handle anything you throw at it. The 4R57 is similar to the 4R35, adding a power reserve indicator. It has 29 jewels, beats at 21,600 BPH, and has a power reserve of roughly 41 hours. 

Seiko luminous glows brightly in the dark

Seiko pairs the SARY211 on a 20mm three-link bracelet. The bracelet gently tapers to a signed Seiko buckle. With the slight taper, the bracelet will conform well to the wearer’s wrist and provide a comfortable fit all day. 

The new Seiko Presage “Style60’s” Power Reserve Black Ref. SARY211 is a welcomed expansion of the Style60’s lineup. It adds additional complications like a power reserve indicator while maintaining the collection's charming good looks. And then some.