Reflecting Arita Porcelain Aesthetics: A Pale, Bluish-White Dial

Arita porcelain, born in 1616 as Japan's first ceramic, is a traditional Japanese culture whose unique artistry, born from craftsmanship, continues to captivate many. From Presage, two models will be released: one a multi-hand model that adopts this Arita porcelain for its dial, and the other a simple calendar model equipped with a new caliber that also features an Arita porcelain dial and offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve.

The dials are characterized by their pale hue, unique to Arita porcelain, and their three-dimensional shape crafted by artisans. The light, bluish-white color of the glaze, reminiscent of the 'isu-bai' ash glaze used in early Arita ware, has been reproduced. Furthermore, the dial's upper surface, with its ceramic thickness, forms a broad curve, and in the multi-hand model, subtle depressions for the subdials create an elegant expression unique to porcelain.



These dials were produced under the supervision of Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, a ceramic artist from 'Shin-Yo', a long-established kiln with over 180 years of history. In the initial casting process, the three-dimensional dial base is created, and this base is fired at a high temperature of 1300°C to achieve the necessary strength for a watch. Subsequently, the dials, coated with glaze by artisans, are fired again, creating the pale, bluish, lustrous sheen characteristic of Arita porcelain on the surface.

The calendar section is then cut out, followed by a finishing firing, which smooths the cross-section and completes the dial base, combining the unique texture and strength of porcelain. The indexes are accented with a striking red, inspired by the design of the 'Laurel', Japan's first wristwatch, and the hands are colored blue, evoking the painting techniques of Arita porcelain, thus fully expressing the aesthetic sensibilities of ancient times.

These Arita porcelain dial models are offered in two variations: a multi-hand model and a simple calendar model. Notably, the calendar model is equipped with the new caliber '6R35', extending its power reserve to approximately 70 hours, a feature not to be overlooked.



SEIKO Presage Prestige Line Arita Porcelain Dial Models
Ref. | SARW049 (left), SARX061 (right)
Movement | Automatic (left/Caliber 6R27, right/Caliber 6R35)
Power Reserve | Approx. 45 hours (left), Approx. 70 hours (right)
Case Diameter | 40.6mm (left), 40mm (right)
Case Material | Stainless Steel
Strap Material | Crocodile Leather
Water Resistance | 10 bar
Price | ¥200,000 (left), ¥180,000 (right) *Excluding tax for both
Release Date | Saturday, September 7, 2019