Jewellery & Watch News
Bringing together even more sophistication and glamour to the Seiko Presage collection, the Japanese watch manufacturer delivers two new open heart watches with beautifully textured dials inspired by opposite times of the day. While the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday SPB309J1 watch opts for a crisp white centrepiece to evoke late morning, the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midnight SPB311J1 receives a rich navy dial reminiscent of the night sky.
The Seiko Prospex family focuses on diving, the 5 Sports on robust sports watches and the Seiko Astron on solar-powered GPS technology. Then there’s the Seiko Presage watch collection which has always retained the brand’s portfolio of elegant dress watches. In 2020, the brand expanded the line with the launch of the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series and as such, we saw the DNA of the iconic Presage transformed with sharper, more polished surfaces and a legendary textured dial. The latter is that of a hemp leaf pattern, also known as Asanoha, which has been used on Japanese artisan objects like textiles and interiors since the Heian period and is a staple for the Sharp Edged collection. Over the years, the series has introduced several models with different functionality, from GMT, power reserve indicators, pointer date, and day of the week. Another coveted feature is that of the open heart dial.
The new Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday and Midnight watches deliver just that with a stunning skeletonised aperture placed at the 9 o’clock position. The multi-layered dials of references SPB309J1 and SPB311J1 are breathtaking up close, taking the Asanoha hemp-leaf pattern and breaking it up into two sections, the first an outer raised ring which presents the applied hour indexes and the second the centre for the hands and rounded open work element. The Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday SPB309J1 watch comes in Shinonri white with silvered hands and markers and a contrasting blue seconds hand. Meanwhile, Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midnight SPB311J1 watch chooses Aisumi blue and rose gold plated hardware. The hands and markers of both models are treated to a layer of Lumibrite.
Both Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday and Midnight watches share a 40.2 millimetre wide case with a slender height of only 11.8mm, a length of 47.3mm and a lug width of 20mm. The cases are engineered from classic stainless steel and treated with the brand’s super hard coating for additional robustness. There’s also brushed and polished surfaces, sapphire crystal on both the top and case back with anti-reflective treatment on the former and a 100 metre water resistant rating. The Midday reference receives a three-link stainless steel bracelet and the Midnight model secures to the wrist by a dark brown leather strap.
Exposed through the dial on both the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday SPB309J1 watch and the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midnight SPB311J1 watch is a new movement from Seiko. The Calibre 6R38 remains an in-house mechanism with 24 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a more than generous 70 hour power reserve. In terms of timekeeping, things are kept simple with just the hours, minutes and seconds.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday and Midnight watches, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications: Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Midday SPB309J1 & Midnight SPB311J1
- Case Size: 40.2mm x 11.8mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with super hard coating
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal
- Crown: Non-screw locked
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre 6R38 automatic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Jewels: 24
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Dial: White or Blue open-heart dials with Asahona hemp-leaf pattern
- Strap: Steel bracelet or leather
- RRP: £860
