A Limited Edition Presage Model with a Cloisonné Dial, Evoking the Transparency of the Sea | SEIKO

SEIKO

Cloisonné, Evolved in Japan,
Adorns the Dial with Advanced Craftsmanship

Introducing a limited edition model from "Presage," a collection inheriting 100 years of mechanical watchmaking tradition and expertise. This new timepiece features a translucent cloisonné dial and is limited to 2,500 units worldwide. It will be available starting Saturday, September 8, 2018.

Text by OZAKI Sayaka

Unique Glaze Developed with Environmental Consideration Achieves Beautiful Lustre and Translucent Brilliance

"Presage" is a "Made in Japan" mechanical watch brand that carries on the tradition and know-how of over a century of mechanical watchmaking. With its prestige line incorporating Japanese traditional crafts at its apex, the brand launched its global expansion in 2016, offering a wide lineup where tradition and technology converge. It has garnered high acclaim worldwide.

The 2018 limited edition model is equipped with a cloisonné dial that captivates with its sea-like transparency. Cloisonné is a type of enamel decoration primarily used in art and jewelry, and it is one of Japan's representative traditional crafts, which began to develop in earnest in the 17th century and has since evolved uniquely. Its main difference from enamelware lies in the lustre and brilliance achieved through polishing after firing. For components like watch dials, which require thinness and smoothness, advanced techniques and unique know-how are essential.

The creation of this cloisonné dial was commissioned to "Ando Cloisonné," a long-established cloisonné workshop in Owari with over 130 years of history. Mr. Wataru Totani, a glazer responsible for the crucial "glaze application" process—the hallmark of Owari cloisonné—supervised the work.

Ando Cloisonné adopted a unique lead-free glaze, mindful of Seiko's stringent environmental standards and the EU's RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive. After repeated firings at approximately 800°C, polishing was applied to create a smooth cloisonné dial free from color unevenness.

This model, an homage to the sea, features cloisonné that, having crossed oceans to arrive, evolved uniquely in Japan, an island nation. It will be available in a limited quantity of 2,500 units worldwide starting Saturday, September 8, 2018.