Seiko Presage Craftmanship Enamel automatic white dial steel bracelet 40,2 mm

Presage Craftmanship Collection: Journey to Kanazawa

Since its launch in 2016, Seiko Presage has showcased two of Seiko's signature strengths: respect for traditional Japanese craftsmanship and its longstanding expertise in mechanical watchmaking through its "Craftmanship" series. Witness this novelty, which highlights artisans whose fine traditional Japanese craftsmanship finds new life on the miniature canvas that is the dial of a Seiko watch.

With this SPB403, we set off to discover Tsukuba, home to Manufacture Fuji Horo Industry and Mitsuru Yokozawa, the craftsman behind this watch's dial.

A new design

This creation features a newly updated case with refined angles and an elegant sense of proportion designed to highlight the craftsmanship of each dial. Thanks to the double-curved sapphire crystal, the watch is designed to highlight the traditional technique used, while offering a slimmer look on the wrist. Combining polished and brushed surfaces, the steel case features faceted lugs, adding a subtle touch of refinement. The case measures 40.2 mm in diameter and is 12.1 mm thick. Finally, this case is dressed in a brand-new five-link steel bracelet giving it a little vintage look, which we particularly appreciate!

Enamel dial

Here's the most important and striking feature on this Seiko Presage! This creation offers a white enamel dial crafted by master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team. This Craftmansift series features a new dial design, incorporating bold grey indexes designed to stand out against the delicately worked enamel, a material whose lauded depth and immutability can also be found on Seiko's very first wristwatch dating back to 1913, the Laurel. The blue hour, minute and seconds hands contrast beautifully with the brilliant white dial.

This meticulous dial work was carried out by a seasoned craftsman: Mitsuru Yokozawa! This Japanese began working with enamel in 1968, when he joined Fuji Porcelain Enamel Co., Ltd. By applying quantifiable data to the techniques he has been cultivating for over 40 years, Mitsuru Yokozawa has succeeded in improving the reproducibility of high-quality artisanal techniques. He develops a visual acuity that enables him to work with coated surfaces measured in fractions of a millimeter.

While most small enamelled products measure around 10 cm2, the size of the dials used in Seiko watches is considerably smaller, with a diameter of 3 cm. These dials also impose draconian limits due to their thickness and flatness. Mitsuru Yokozawa is the only craftsman in Japan capable of applying enamel to such a delicate support as a Seiko dial.

The fruit of a technique born in the West, enamel is a coating applied to materials such as metal by baking an enameling varnish with vitreous compounds. Its applications are numerous, from everyday items to the most beautiful works of art.

Enamel has a unique luster and warm appearance to create a captivating watch dial with beautiful color fidelity that can last for over a hundred years. The marriage of Seiko watches and enamel, these enduring creations that have long been admired, gives them a value that will endure for generations.

To make this dial, no less than 6 highly complex steps are required, taking several weeks to complete.

A new caliber with 72-hour power reserve

This Presage Craftmanshio features the Manufacture calibre 6R55 self-winding movement. This is a new mechanical movement proposed by the Japanese firm and now used on the top-of-the-range models in the brand's Presage and Prospex collections. It beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers a comfortable 72-hour power reserve, enabling you to alternate with your other watches without having to wind it systematically. Designed to be reliable and robust, its construction is designed to be as simple as possible.

Exclusive to LEPAGE

This special edition model is offered exclusively by LEPAGE on the French market!

In bref :

• A superb enamel dial handcrafted by Mitsuru Yokozawa
• An exclusive LEPAGE edition for the French market
• An automatic caliber with 72-hour power reserve