Three more designs have landed in Seiko’s Presage Craftsmanship Series collection, a line-up that puts the spotlight on talented Japanese artisans and their crafts. The three models present clean, time-and-date only displays in white enamel (SPB403), black Urushi lacquer (SPB405) or green Urushi lacquer (SPB407).
SPB403 and SPB405 - Credit Seiko
It’s been a busy year for Seiko as the Japanese watchmaker is celebrating 110 years since the launch of their first wristwatch, the well-known 1913 Seiko Laurel. We’ve already covered a number of anniversary releases from the brand including their official Laurel 110th Anniversary collection.
Earlier on, they also unveiled four Presage Craftsmanship Series watches with enamel, Urushi lacquer, Arita porcelain and Shippo enamel dials. These dials, while beautiful, were a little on the busy side with day, date and power reserve indicators. Now for a timeless, effortlessly wearable look, Seiko have delivered another trio of Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series watches with simple time and date displays.
The Dials
SPB407 - Credit Seiko
Seiko have never shied away from the art of dial-making, nor are they afraid to share the names of the artisans that work on their creations. For the new additions of the Presage Craftsmanship Series, they have utilised the talents of enamel master Mitsuru Yokosawa and Urushi lacquer expert Isshu Tamura and their teams.
In the first creation, the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Enamel SPB403 watch, they have elected a crisp white enamel dial with grey metal bar indexes and blued hours, minutes and seconds hands. The latter is a nice nod to the same blued hands used on the 1913 Laurel and they contrast neatly against the white centre for easy legibility.
The Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Black Urushi Lacquer SPB405 watch is my personal favourite, presented with a jet black Urushi lacquer dial, white metal bar indexes and a golden seconds hand. Worthy of a French kiss is the blacked-out date window at 3 o’clock which perfectly blends in with the rest of the display. The Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Green Urushi Lacquer SPB407 watch misses that trick, placing its date on a white backdrop surrounded by a green Urushi lacquer dial with the same metal bar indexes and golden seconds hand.
Extra Specs
SPB405 - Credit Seiko
The new Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series watches share the rest of their specs. Their 42mm wide and 11.6mm tall cases are engineered from stainless steel treated with a special hard coating called DiaSheild for extra scratch protection. Protecting both the dial and case back is sapphire crystal glass, the front side domed with anti-reflective treatment and the back side screwed down for a 100 metre water resistance.
The white enamel and black Urushi lacquer editions are delivered on five-row link stainless steel bracelets with their own super hard coating. They secure easily around the wrist by folding clasps with micro adjustment systems. The green dial is the only one that comes on a calfskin leather strap, one of dark brown with contrasting beige stitching and a steel three-fold clasp with push button release.
All three Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series watches are powered by one of Seiko’s latest in-house automatic movements, their Calibre 6R55. From memory, this is the first time the new calibre has been used within their Craftsmanship Series, combining the weekend-proof 72 hour power reserve with their handcrafted dials. It promises a frequency of 21,600vph, a total of 24 jewels and an accuracy of +25 to -15 seconds per day.
SPB403 - Credit Seiko
The new Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series will be available in October 2023. The white enamel reference SPB403 retails for £1,290 while the black Urushi lacquer SPB405 edition is priced at £1,500. Lastly, the green Urushi lacquer SPB407 model is the most expensive at £1,550.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Seiko
- Model: Presage Craftsmanship Series (SPB403, SPB405, SPB407)
- Price: Starts from £1,290
- Material: Stainless steel with super hard coating
- Movement: Caliber 6R55 automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds or date
- Dial: White enamel, black Urushi lacquer or green Urushi lacquer
- Size: 40.2mm wide, 11.6mm tall
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: As a dress watch. The black Urushi lacquer dial is my personal preference
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone with an appreciation of Seiko’s handcraft dials
- Best characteristics of the watch: The handcraft dials, blacked-out date window on reference SPB405 and the 72-hour power reserve
- The worst characteristics of the watch: The cases would certainly wear better being a little slimmer
