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When you think about it, silk is an absolutely fascinating material. Dating back thousands of years to Neolithic China, the labor-intensive process has produced one of the finest, softest materials produced by man. But what is it about that process that makes silk so unique and rare that people pay thousands of dollars for, say, a silk scarf? Well, to be honest, it’s probably not what you expected. You see, silk begins with silkworms being fed a diet of mulberry leaves. When they’re ready to enter their metamorphosis, the worms begin secreting a filamentous protein for their cocoon, which is then harvested, softened, spooled, and ultimately made into the fiber we consider a luxury. Pretty gross neat, huh?
Well, it seems Seiko thinks so, too. The brand’s latest additions to the Presage Classic Series are inspired by Tomioka silk, a premium variety produced around the Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma Prefecture. And while this is not the first time Seiko has used the Presage platform to honor Japanese craft, this might be one of the collection’s prettiest releases (in my humble opinion).
Looking first at the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization Limited Edition, it’s easy to see the inspiration (and namesake for this particular reference) at first glance. Its white dial is finished with a pearl-like coating, while the rose gold-colored case and dark brown leather strap are inspired by the brick facade of the mill.
The three additional models use the same silk-inspired dial pattern in various colors, with broader themes tied to traditional Japanese craft. Shironeri is a white-dialed option, inspired by undyed silk threads. Wakatake-iro is inspired by kimono dyeing and is a pale, almost pastel green. Sakura-iro rounds out the collection in a soft pink tied to cherry blossoms and comes on a deep brown leather strap inspired by the trunk of the cherry tree (the Shironeri and Wakatake-iro models come on stainless steel bracelets).
All four watches use stainless steel cases measuring 38mm across, a new size variation to the Presage Classic Series. Through the see-through casebacks, you’ll have a great view of the Caliber 6R51 movement, which promises approximately 72 hours of power reserve.
The new Seiko Presage Classic Series Tomioka silk models will be available online and through select retailers in July. The Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization Limited Edition has a price tag of $1,195 and is limited to 2,000; while the remaining three will be part of Seiko’s regular production and are priced at $950.
