One of Seiko’s 145th anniversary watches released last month was the Presage Classic Series ‘Shiro-neri’, a dress watch with a silk-inspired dial in a 2,500 piece limited edition. Now they’re reinterpreting that model into a trio of core collection models alongside another limited edition piece. We also got hands-on with one of the core models to test it out.
Seiko Presage Classic Series 38mm
Starting with the core models, we specifically got hands-on with the white edition, which is called Shiro-neri just like the previous anniversary limited edition. It’s joined by Wakatake iro in light green and Sakura iro in light pink. You don’t need a loupe to spot how these references differ from the anniversary edition because it’s written plain across the dial. Instead of a radial silk texture that’s designed to look as realistic as possible, these watches are far more stylised.
They consist of a concentric pattern of wavy grooves that emanate from the central hand-stack in a way that reminds me of flower petals. It’s fun to watch the way the light plays across the many small ridges as you move the piece. The dial itself is also slightly curved to add even more depth to the display.
On the wrist, the watch wears the same as its anniversary counterpart thanks to identical sizing of 38mm diameter and 12.9mm thickness. The shape of the crown is also identical. However, there is a point of difference because the Presage Classic Series 38mm has a smooth bezel instead of a coin-edge one. Structurally that doesn’t really change anything, but it alters the aesthetic by allowing for a polished finish that makes the watch feel sleeker and modern.
Turning the watch over reveals an exhibition caseback that showcases the 6R51 automatic movement. It’s one of the higher spec movements used in the Presage range, offering a 72-hour power reserve and hitting that golden weekend-proof mark. It contributes to the collection being priced at £890 on leather strap and £900 on bracelet, making this a mid-price option in the range.
Price and Specs:
Seiko Presage Classic Series Tomioka Silk Limited Edition
In addition to the core collection models above, there is also a Classic Series Tomioka Silk Limited Edition. It’s based on the same 38mm x 12.9mm Classic Series model but this time with a rose gold coloured coating to create a more luxurious aesthetic. It also returns to the coin-edged bezel design of the anniversary model.
For the dial, it uses the stylised pattern of the core collection models but in a different shade of light grey inspired by a particular type of silk called Gunma-Hoso. What makes this a proper special edition rather than a simple alternative colour scheme is that it is a collaboration with the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organisation. The rose gold case and deep red-brown leather strap are inspired by the red bricks of the Tomioka Silk Mill. On top of that, each watch comes with a Tomioka silk pocket square.
Like the other models it houses the 6R51 automatic movement. At a price of £1,050 it’s also not wildly more expensive, though it will still be quite exclusive due to being limited to 2,000 pieces. That might sound like a lot by normal limited edition standards, but for Seiko and their worldwide collector-base, that’s not a huge number to go around.
Price and Specs:
More details at Seiko.
