At the moment, Seiko is the king of the
limited release, super quirky and unique watches - pushing the
boundaries of design and innovation to deliver a plethora of new and
fresh ideas in the world of watch design. This one is no exception to
that rule. In fact, this watch may be the greatest example of this to
date.
Because Seiko is celebrating their 140th anniversary this year, they
wanted to create a watch which highlighted their rich heritage as a
company, as well as their connection to Japanese culture. In particular,
they wanted to highlight the Ginza district in central Tokyo, which is
of great importance to Seiko. Ginza was where the company’s founder,
Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop selling and repairing clocks and watches
in 1881, when he was just 21 years old. Today, Ginza is still where the
company is located. For more than 120 years, a Seiko clock in Ginza has
kept Tokyo on time. The Seiko clock looks down on Ginza’s most famous
crossroads from the roof of the Wako store where one of the world’s
largest Seiko flagship stores is located. Nearby are other Seiko
establishments, including the Seiko Museum, a boutique dedicated to
Seiko Prospex, and Seiko Dream Square, where people can experience each
collection’s rich heritage and the unique worldview of Seiko.
Seiko's Flagship store in Ginza
When first looking at this watch, the main
feature is obvious. The dial is absolutely stealing the show. But what
is even cooler than this dial is the inspiration behind it:
"The intricate pattern of the dial incorporates two different sunray
patterns which, as the viewing angle changes, create ever-changing
impressions that capture the texture and feel of Ginza’s cobblestones.
The seconds hand pays homage to the district’s history with Komparu, a
traditional Japanese colour named after Komparu Street, where Ginza’s
nightlife was once centred. This blue colour with a soft green tone
which was first used in the middle Meiji era (1868 - 1912), instantly
found favour among the many geishas who lived there and then gradually
became a popular colour amongst the public."
Whether you love this watch for just the
unique visual display of the dial, or the incredible backstory tied to
it's creation, it is obvious that people have noticed just how cool it
is - it is already sold out from Seiko's boutique.
Some people are already trying to cash in on
the hype on Chrono24, with all the listings above the selling price.
Crazy!
Today is your lucky day because Seiko has
been kind enough to send us one of the 3500 pieces from this release. If
you were looking for this watch or you've now fallen in love with it,
jump on it - I doubt we will ever see this one again. We will even throw
in an NH leather strap and buckle to go with the watch at no extra
charge!
Seiko Prospex SPB259J1
Limited edition - one of 3500 pieces
Brand new, 38mm case, steel, screw lock crown, 200m water resistance, made in Japan, 6R35 Automatic Movement
