Introducing: The Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529 — Like Slipping On A Loafer

Upcycling, the process of transforming materials that would otherwise be discarded into new products of higher value through thoughtful design and creativity, is a current theme, and that’s a good thing. You’ll get my point by looking at the new Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529. The elegant 40.2mm watch features a strap made of upcycled leather sourced from Regal, a long-established Japanese shoemaker, and its dial design draws inspiration from another artisanal craft. It has a subtle and sophisticated shade of brown named shiracha (白茶 — literally, “white tea”), a shade admired by tea masters from the late Edo period, particularly in the Bunsei era (April 1818 through December 1830). The result is a classy dress watch with a warm color, uplifted by a qualitative strap that helps reduce waste. This is a veritable “do good, feel good, look good” watch.

Seiko must be the most open-minded and creative brand in watchmaking because it can find inspiration in almost everything. This time, the watchmaking powerhouse found it in fine leather shoes made by fellow Japanese brand Regal, a shoemaker with a lengthy history and an excellent reputation. That inspiration was matched with a tea-brown dial inspired by a shade revered by tea masters from a bygone era. Before exploring the watch, please read the watch’s name again so there’s no mistake. It’s Shiracha, not Sriracha. Although just one letter is different, the effect of sipping warm Japanese tea differs greatly from sipping Thai hot sauce.

The new Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529

The strap has long been an afterthought for people working at watch brands. Luckily, though, that time is behind us. Seiko takes the strap further by using leftover cuts from an artisanal shoemaker. As you can imagine, leather patterns must be cut from large pieces in shoemaking to avoid imperfections, which inevitably leads to material waste. The straps Seiko uses for its new dressy Presage from the Classic Series are the watch equivalent of wearing Regal’s signature loafers; or that’s what Seiko tries to accomplish, anyway. The strap shows the refined, sculpted contours of the premium leather loafer. And the beige decorative stitching adds a sophisticated, understated accent, reminiscent of traditional shoemaking details.

Since a loafer is the source of inspiration, instead of the watch equivalent of laces (a pin buckle), the strap features a folding clasp with push-button release. The experience of putting on your Shiracha should/could be quite similar to that of sliding effortlessly into your loafers.

A golden teaspoon

The brown dial with its subtle gradient effect gives the watch its Shiracha name. It bears a refined color cherished in the Edo period and pairs very well with the elegant gold-tone indexes and hands. The result is warm and underlines the classic aesthetic of the watch. Furthermore, the combination of dial and hands ensures excellent legibility. As expected from a Presage in the Classic Series, the 40.2 × 46 × 13mm case features soft curves that create a flowing silhouette. The watch’s soft appearance is a result of not just the strap, dial, and hands but also the bezel. It shows a rich brown finish and intricate knurling.

The Presage philosophy

Just like the Presage Classic Series Unglazed Arita Porcelain Dial SPB497 that debuted in June of this year, this new model underlines the philosophy of this series of timepieces. Seiko introduced the Presage collection in 2016. Since then, the goal has been to offer different types of traditional fine craftsmanship to a larger audience than ever. Over time, the philosophy materialized in a wide range of models. The current Presage Craftsmanship Series watches offer several types of dials. There are dials featuring luscious, hand-painted urushi (lacquer), delicate and traditional shippō enamel, and Arita porcelain available.

Underneath the SPB529’s “tea-brown” dial — definitely a shade of brown you see with Japanese tea and not Earl Grey — beats Seiko’s in-house caliber 6R55. This automatic movement operates at 21,600vph, has 24 jewels, and offers a healthy 72-hour power reserve. Seiko has specified a daily accuracy of +25/-15 seconds. As most of you know, that is a safe margin, and owners of Seiko watches often report greater accuracy.

The Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529 is a limited edition of 3,000 pairs — sorry, I meant “pieces.” The watches will be available in October. Seiko has not announced the price yet, but we bet it will stay just below €2,000. Feel free to share your thoughts on this release in the comments.