ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE ELEVATE YOUR WARDROBE
The Seiko Presage collection raises the style stakes with a celebration of Japan’s craft and design legacy
When it comes to aesthetics, Japan is unique. Running through its storied design history — from the stark and minimalist to the organic and freewheeling — is a deep appreciation for ancient tradition and craftsmanship, lending a sense of authenticity that’s impossible to reproduce.
For almost 140 years Seiko has been crafting beautiful timepieces that effortlessly capture these centuries of culture. Wearing a Seiko is about much more than simple timekeeping; it’s a celebration of Japan’s rich heritage, a smart way to up your horological game with thoughtful, time-honoured pieces, unbothered by fleeting trends.
The Presage collection in particular draws on key elements of Japan’s artistic heritage, such as traditional materials and centuries-old techniques, while keeping a firm eye on the present. A striking example is the Shippo enamel used on the dials of certain timepieces: a line can be drawn from these back to the decorative cloisonné vases of the 19th century. The Riki Watananbe series — named after the godfather of modern Japanese design — melds this proud tradition with a more recent facet of the country’s artistic legacy, echoing the timeless minimalism of Watanabe’s mid-20th century clocks to make a strikingly stylish addition to your watch wardrobe.
The Cocktail Time series takes an altogether different route, paying tribute to Japanese mixology: a bar culture centred on technical precision and quiet focus. The timepieces’ slim markers evoke the narrow stem of a cocktail glass, while textured dials recall a crystal whisky tumbler. These elements distil a sense of ritual into a sleek, unassuming design — distinctive yet comfortingly familiar, like a smooth Japanese whisky.
The Sharp Edged series takes inspiration for its dial pattern and sharp case edges from the Asanoha motif, a hexagonal symbol dating back thousands of years. Resembling the leaves of the hemp plant (traditionally used in religious ceremonies), the angular pattern is believed to bestow the wearer with health and a long life, and has been used on everything from baby clothing to the 2019 Japanese Rugby World Cup kit. Like all Seikos, these timepieces endow the wearer with a distinct sense of luxury; one that is defined not by ostentation or hype, but by history, craft and originality. To experience the difference of Japanese design for yourself, shop the Seiko Presage collection at seikoboutique.co.uk