King Seiko Modern Re-Interpretation Limited Edition SPB365

King Seiko salutes its Tokyo birthplace 

As the story goes, Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Ginza to sell timepieces in 1881, thus beginning the history of Seiko. His company produced Japan’s first wristwatch in 1913 and has since advanced the art of watchmaking through both technology and craft.

Observing the 110th anniversary celebration of that first wristwatch in 1913, Seiko is serving up a new commemorative King Seiko reference that draws inspiration from Seiko’s rich technological and design heritage built around a dial inspired by the Kameido area of Tokyo. At first glance, this gradient dial enchantingly plays with light, but a closer examination reveals a design inspired by a traditional Japanese geometric pattern known as Kikkoumon, which is based on the hexagonal shape of the tortoise shell. In Japanese culture, the tortoise symbolizes longevity and prosperity, and the six-sided chelonian shape is further associated with samurai armor, as an auspicious pattern signifying strength and victory. The dial pattern has tremendous depth and
texture – each hexagon is in fact series of three inset hexagons, each deeper than the last – and this depth is further expressed on the entire dial through a gradual darkening from the center to the edges.

The patterned dial, in combination with the faceted indexes and razor-edged hands, endows this 37mm anniversary King Seiko with a refined and striking presence, and the bold, angular lugs feature both mirror polished and hairline finishing, providing ample visual contrast as well as a sense of precision in manufacturing. It’s a fitting tribute to the place and time that gave rise to a horological classic, but with all the expected attributes of a premium watch made in the modern era. These include a box-shaped sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating and a state-of-the-art automatic movement with 70 hours of power reserve.