The story of how Kintaro Hattori opened a watch sales and repair shop in 1881, which would later become one of the world's most famous watch companies, Seiko. This year, Seiko celebrated its 140th anniversary, paying tribute to Mr. Hattori with numerous limited edition models. Today, the Tokyo district where Seiko's story began and where the company remains to this day - Ginza - is the center of two new limited editions: the Ginza-inspired Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Editions Prospex 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-interpretation SPB259 and Presage SSA445.
The Ginza district in central Tokyo holds special significance for Seiko. It is here that the company's founder, Kintaro Hattori, started his watch business in 1881, initially selling and repairing clocks and watches. Later, young Hattori would create his own watches and founded one of Japan's most important watch companies - Seiko. Even more astonishing is that this Tokyo area still houses the brand, with Seiko watches having told the time in Ginza for over 120 years. Today, Seiko watches look down on Ginza's most famous intersection from the rooftop of the Wako store, home to one of the world's largest Seiko flagship stores. Nearby are other Seiko establishments, including the Seiko Museum, a boutique dedicated to Seiko Prospex, and Seiko Dream Square, where people can explore each collection.
What better way to celebrate the 140th anniversary than with a pair of watches inspired by this district. Both models are based on existing collection models but have been updated with a special dial pattern that echoes the traditional cobbled streets of the area, yet with a modern touch in color scheme - a blue-grey tone that also evokes the modernity of many contemporary buildings that define Ginza today.
SEIKO PROSPEX 1959 ALPINIST MODERN RE-INTERPRETATION SPB259
The first in this new series of watches dedicated to Seiko's 140th anniversary are based on the Prospex 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-Interpretation SPB241J1, SPB243J1, and SPB245J1, released in March this year, watches that pay homage to some of the coolest sports watches by the Japanese brand, watches based on what were once Seiko's first sports watches, but with a more modern approach.
Unlike the faithful and compact modification SJE085J1, the 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-interpretation model, as you might have guessed, is an inspiration, a memory of the past placed in a modern case. While the general technical specifications of the watch are identical to the classic models of the regular collection, the Seiko Prospex 1959 Alpinist SPB259's dial is entirely different. The collection's signature applied markers and sharp hands have been retained, but now they are paired with a blue-grey sunburst dial and, mainly, with an engraved cobblestone texture of Ginza on its surface. Surprisingly, the matte pattern seems well thought out, so depending on the viewing angle, the small cobblestones appear differently under various lighting.
Furthermore, the second hand pays homage to the district's history by using the traditional Japanese Komparu color, named after Komparu Street, once the center of Ginza's nightlife. This blue with a soft green tint was first used in the mid-Meiji era (1868-1912). Additionally, the case is made of stainless steel and is of large dimensions - 38 mm in diameter x 12.9 mm in height, equipped with a domed sapphire crystal, a transparent case back, a screw-down crown, and water resistance of 200 meters.
The 1959 Alpinist SPB259, styled in Ginza fashion, is worn on a stainless steel bracelet with a three-link clasp and push-button release. The watch is powered by the well-known 6R35 caliber, providing a 70-hour power reserve and beating at a frequency of 3 Hz. The watch is released in a limited edition of 3,500 pieces and will be available in Seiko boutiques and selected retail partners worldwide in October 2021. The price will be 750 euros.
Brief info: 38 mm x 12.9 mm - stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, transparent case back, screw-down crown, 200 m WR - blue-grey textured dial - caliber 6R35, 24 jewels, frequency 3 Hz, power reserve 70 hrs - steel bracelet with folding clasp - ref. SPB259 - limited edition of 3,500 pieces - 750 euros
SEIKO PRESAGE SSA445
The second watch offered in the Ginza-style collection dedicated to the brand's 140th anniversary is based on the recently released models of the Presage collection, namely the open-heart Presage Style60 models. These new models were created after the historically significant Seiko Crown Chronograph of 1964. However, here again, we are talking about inspiration rather than reproducing vintage watches one-to-one.
Like the aforementioned watch, the new Seiko Presage SSA445 model uses the technical specifications of existing watches, namely a 40.8 mm diameter x 12.8 mm high case, equipped with a cold external black aluminum bezel with a 60-minute scale. The watch features a boxed Hardlex crystal and a transparent case back, with a water resistance of 50 m. The watch is worn on a three-link steel bracelet with a three-fold clasp and push-button release. Inside is the caliber 4R39, a reliable entry-level automatic movement with a frequency of 3 Hz and a power reserve of 41 hours.
What really matters in this new SSA445 model is the dial, and here again, Seiko plays with texture and color - the same Ginza cobblestone texture and blue-grey sunburst color. The hands and applied indices are identical to the existing models of the regular collection, as is the presence of the open-heart display showing the balance next to the 24-hour indicator.
The Seiko Presage SSA445 140th Anniversary, inspired by Ginza style, will be released in a limited edition of 4,000 pieces and will also appear in Seiko boutiques and selected retail partners worldwide in October 2021. Its price will be 590 euros.
Key facts: 40.8 mm x 12.8 mm - stainless steel case, Hardlex crystal, transparent case back, 50 m WR - blue-grey textured dial - caliber 4R39, 24 jewels, frequency 3 Hz, power reserve 41 hrs - steel bracelet with folding clasp - ref. SSA445 - limited edition of 4,000 pieces - 590 euros
More information can be found on seikowatches.com.