Presage Craftsmanship Black Lacquer Ref. SART011

In the early 1910s, the Japanese watch manufacturer debuted its first mechanical watch. In continuation of its development, Seiko has launched its automatic caliber in the 1950s, along with its marvel, which is the creation of its shock absorbing system for the movement; known as the "Diashock" system.

Seiko has gone through a decade of refining and developing its mechanical watchmaking skills. These had led to the creation of Seiko's all-mechanical collection; the Presage.

In the Presage line consist of Seiko's leading mechanical watch collection at nearly every price point imaginable, like the caliber 4R, 6R and 8R, and today we introduced to you a new addition to the Craftmanship series, the Black Lacquer Ref. SART011. This is a classic dress watch entirely made in-house by Seiko and features an impeccable black lacquer dial crafted in the land of the rising sun which pays homage to Seiko's original pocket watch, the Timekeeper.

Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Black Lacquer Ref. SART011

Seiko is both a genius watchmaker and master in craftsmanship, not just in reliability and quality of their timepieces, but also in their aesthetics and craftsmanship. Therefore, today we will be focusing more on the latter.

Seiko has a long standing tradition of using urushi lacquer to craft dials with profound depth and rich dark hues. Derived from the sap of the lacquer tree, urushi lacquer achieves its elegant lustre through meticulous layering and repeated polishing. The result is a deep black dial with a glossy surface—an exquisite finish that remains difficult to replicate with modern manufacturing techniques. Since each dial is lacquered by hand, subtle variations in color tone and minute dents characteristic of urushi lacquer may occur, making every piece uniquely individual.

The Presage Craftsmanship measures 40.2mm in diameter, with a thickness of 12.1mm and a lug to lug distance of 48.0mm, dimensions that make it exceptionally wearable for everyday use and versatile for any occasion. Housed in a beautifully polished stainless steel case, the watch showcases a stunning black lacquered dial that reveals an intricate interplay of depths and layers, achieved with remarkable precision. A small inner rehaut adds dimensionality, while a sub dial at the 6 o'clock position features a 24 hour display, further enhancing the visual complexity and functionality of the piece.

Intricate finishing on the multi faceted case and bracelet

Further, beneath the domed sapphire crystal lie thick gold Roman numeral hour markers and gilt tracks on the lacquered dial face. Leaf-shaped hands, also in gold tone, complement the design beautifully. One can easily spend hours admiring the intricate details Seiko has infused into this exceptional dress watch. It withstands very close scrutiny and passes with flying colors.

A gentleman's mechanical watch like this bears an uncanny resemblance to its esteemed "Grand Seiko" cousins. As part of the Presage lineup of dress watches, it stands a step above the Spirit collection (SARB033) in both build quality and finishing. The elegant touch is further enhanced by a 20mm black cowhide leather strap with a deployant clasp, crafted by a tannery certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), ensuring exceptional quality.

Seiko's Caliber 6R5H

Always seeking to improve, Seiko unveils its latest engine, the 6R5H caliber, an upgrade from the workhorse 6R15 and 2019's 6R35. This movement is totally new in 2023, making this timepiece the first few to feature Seiko's new automatic caliber. Maintaining operation at 21,600 BPH (3 Hertz) with hacking and hand winding capabilities, this engine has 24 jewels and a longer power reserve of 72 hours (3 days), a whopping 22 hours more than the 7R and 6S. All whilst featuring a 24-hour hand.

While Japan is synonymous with longstanding cultural history. Valuing their tradition till today, in terms of design and manufacturing values. The Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Lacquer Black Ref. SART011 is an everyday, elegant dress watch that is reasonable priced. It showcases Seiko's ability to combine their manufacturing capabilities with Japan's own everlasting culture. This beauty from the Presage collection has offered authentic traditional craftsmanship, in this case, in the form of a urushi lacquered black dial fired by true Japanese craftsmen, pairing with Seiko's state-of-the-art in-house movement.

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