Hand-made in Arita

The simplest way to describe this watch is understated sophistication, with such an incredible story hidden in the dial.  Arita, a small town on Kyushu, the third largest island in the southwest of Japan, came to prominence in the early 17th century when clay suitable for porcelain manufacture was discovered there. Its porcelain products soon became highly prized in Japan for the high quality of their artistry. Within a generation, Arita porcelain, also known as ‘‘Imari ware’’ after the port from which most was shipped, became known overseas. It was exported, first to Europe and later across the world when Japan opened its doors to international trade in the 19th century. Today, Arita porcelain is still highly prized worldwide. Many porcelain makers still thrive in the town of just 20,000 people, thanks to its long tradition of craftsmanship, to the rich variety of its products and to the uniquely Japanese sensibility that they embody. The heritage of Arita porcelain is respected in the colour of the dials, white with a trace of blue, which was the colour of the earliest Arita porcelain. The dials, which are made in Arita itself, have the rich texture and depth which is the signature of all the finest porcelain. Arita porcelain was therefore a natural choice for the dials of a Presage collection but the Presage team needed to be 100% confident in its durability and strength. A new type of Arita porcelain material, created just three years ago, provided the solution. This new porcelain is more than four times harder than the usual material and has both the strength and flexibility required for a Presage watch dial. Producing the dials involves a challenging combination of skill, patience and artistry. First, the base material is put into a special mold which gives dials depth, especially in the version where the power reserve indictor is recessed into the dial with a deep cut. The dials are dried and then fired for the first time at 1,300 degrees to harden and whiten the material. Hashiguchi and his craftsmen then apply the glaze by hand, after which the dials are fired again, this time cementing the glaze on to the dial, a process which gives the dials their deep, rich finish and the subtle blue tinge. Next, the holes for the hands are cut by laser. Finally, the dials are then fired again to render smooth the surfaces that have been cut. This watch is an incredible display of Japanese artistry and it highlights and supports the highly specialised, niche tradition of Arita Porcelain production. Not only are they produced by hand, but no two dials are the same, with each forming their own specific hues of blue and white and texture during the production process. You can get a better look of the creation of the dial from start to finish in this video below with craftsman Hiroyuki Hashiguchi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VdwcgKAAr8 Model reference: SPB267J. 40.6mm case size. Automatic movement with date and power reserve function. Water resistance 100 metres. Limited Edition to only 2,000 piece worldwide. Individually numbered: 611/2000. Price: $2,995