To mark the six decades since Seiko’s first self-winding timepiece, Seiko outdid itself with the new Presage Automatic Watch 60th Anniversary limited editions (refs. SRQ019 and SRQ021) at this year’s Baselworld.
The watches were non-functioning and clearly “hot off the press”, so the movements were not even inside the pieces. These chronographs, as part of the reinvigorated Presage line, are limited to 1,000 pieces and come in a white enamel dial or a black lacquer. I love the simple look and don’t even mind the simple date window at 4:30.
The movement inside is the calibre 8R48, which is visible through the display back. Though finished in a rudimentary manner – there really isn’t much to admire on the back – the calibre 8R48 boasts all the feature found in modern high-end chronographs, namely a column wheel and vertical clutch. While not pretty, the 8R48 is functionally outstanding.
The font and hands used on these Seiko watch harkens back to the 1913 Laurel, which was Seiko’s first wristwatch. The column-wheel 8R48 sits inside. The watches are a wearable 42mm and feature sapphire glass and are water resistant to 100m.
