Seiko Presage Shippo Enamel
Power reserve: 45 h, 28800 variations / hours
Seiko Presage Shippo Enamel
A new Presage with a Shippo Enamel dial
The Presage collection showcases two central aspects of the character of Seiko, our respect for Japanese craftsmanship and our long-established skill in mechanical watchmaking. The new Shippo Enamel Limited Edition provides a vivid demonstration of our ability to combine and explore these two areas.
Shippo is a particular type of enamel that was developed in Japan in the 17th century. The Presage Shippo enamel dial is made by Ando Cloisonné, a specialist manufacturer in Nagoya Prefecture with over 100 years of history. A craftsman paints the glaze by hand onto the surface of the dial. To ensure that the dials comply with Seiko’s high ecological and safety standards as well as the EU’s RoHS Directive, he uses a lead-free glaze specially developed for these watches. The dial is then fired at 800 degrees Celsius. The painting and firing processes are repeated several times until the blue color becomes deep enough to polish. Only when the craftsman is completely satisfied is the dial polished so that the delicate pattern emerges and a smooth surface is achieved.
The dial on this new Presage creation is in a deep blue that mirrors the color of the ocean. It is via the ocean that Japan has absorbed elements of the cultures of other nations but it is equally true that the ocean has also isolated Japan from outside influences. Thanks to this ambivalence, many aspects of Japanese life, from art to industry, have arrived from across the oceans but, once in Japan, have developed in a uniquely Japanese way. Shippo enamel craftsmanship is a perfect example; it arrived from across the seas but, once here, evolved and matured in a Japanese way. The deep, long-lasting blue of the enamel reflects the everlasting blue color of the seas around Japan and the dial pattern echoes the continuous motion of the waves that break on its shores.
This new watch features our 8-beat automatic caliber 6R27, a multi-hand with power reserve indicator and a date calendar. The roman numeral hour markers echo Seiko's first pocket watch, the 1895 "Time Keeper". The watch is offered in a limited edition of 2,500.