The Presage ‘Laurel Urushi’

This limited-edition timepiece commemorates 110 years of Seiko wristwatch making expertise and is inspired by Japan’s – and Seiko’s – first ever wristwatch; The Laurel.

The layout of the watch dial is inspired by the 1913 original, which was a classic piece featuring an enamelled dial with a signature ‘red twelve’ marker at 12 o’clock – a design element still seen on many Seiko watches today – but replaced with a gold tone on this new interpretation.

The copper toned ‘Kanazawa Urushi’ dial was created through a form of traditional Japanese craftsmanship; Urushi lacquering, where layer upon layer of lacquer is applied by hand to give the dial its depth. Urushi is a natural lacquer obtained from the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree. The lacquer is painted onto the dials by master craftspeople and polished by hand several times, in order to obtain this deep, silky colour often found in art and design objects.

Seiko watchmakers often draw inspiration from their local history, culture and surroundings – the Presage Craftsmanship Series celebrates the Japanese ‘Takumi’ – timepieces which are individually handcrafted by master artisans combining Seiko’s latest watchmaking techniques with centuries of traditional artistry.

The calf leather strap is sourced from Japan’s LWG-certified tanners. The Leather Working Group (LWG) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to responsibly made, sustainable leather production.

There are just 1,500 pieces of this design available worldwide.

Seiko Presage: Timeless looks, precisely Japanese mechanical timekeeping. Minimalistic watch designs with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic.