Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” Limited Editions

In 2017, Seiko created a new series of watches in the Presage collection, inspired by the world of the cocktail bar. While usually quite conservative, here Seiko played on textures and colours to bring fresh and original watches, still with mechanical movements but with affordable prices. Elegant, refined and quite unique, the collection was enlarged at the end of 2017 with two new versions, the Seiko Presage Cocktail Starlight and Sakura Hubuk – again with surprising colours and very nice textured dials. Today, a new limited edition named Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” is launched, again based on a purpose-created cocktail.

The Seiko Presage Cocktail collection was inspired by cocktails created by Hisashi Kishi, the head bartender at the STAR BAR in Tokyo’s Ginza area and a past winner of the International Bar Association World Championships. For the record, the first watches in this series comprised eight models, each inspired by a different cocktail and each with its own colour scheme and textured dial (at that time, only sunray patterns deeply pressed). Later, the Japanese brand pushed the concept even further and created unique cocktails to inspire subsequent watches. This was the story behind the beautiful Presage Cocktail Starlight and Sakura Hubuk and so it is again for the new Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” Limited Editions – which is, in fact, a series of 3 different watches – SSA385J1 (date and power reserve), SRPC97J1 (time and date), SRP843J1 (ladies’ time and date).

All three watches in this Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” sub-collection share the same style. Compared to previous editions, changes are to be seen on the dials. For this new edition, bartender Hisashi Kishi created a new cocktail with “a cool, pure appearance”. The word Fuyugeshiki means “winter scene and the dial captures the magic of the bright light of a clear winter’s day”.

The new dial of the Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” has a bright white colour scheme with dark accents (tracks and indications) as well as delicate blue notes (on the subsidiary hands). The texture is refined and the scenery evokes winter in Japan. For the rest, we rediscover the slim and sharp hour markers applied to the dial and inspired by the stem of a cocktail glass. The hours and minutes hands are classical sharp lance-shaped – inspired by Grand Seiko watches, but not with the same execution (different price obliges).

These 3 Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” watches feature a polished stainless steel case and a matching steel bracelet. No leather strap options are provided by Seiko, even though you can easily add a black leather strap for a more elegant look. All have automatic movements with 41h power reserve and a +45 to -35 seconds per day accuracy.

The Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” SSA385J1

The first watch in this sub-collection relies on a traditional display used by Seiko in various Presage models – including this one with a sportier look and the already-mentioned Starlight and Sakura Hubuk. The specificity of this movement, automatic calibre 4R57, is to feature a large power reserve indicator, displayed on the periphery of the dial through a large central hand. The date is also indicated, with a sub-dial positioned at 6 o’clock.

The rest of the watch is familiar: steel case measuring 40.5mm, a 14.4mm height and a 5-link steel bracelet. The Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” SSA385J1 will be limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide, at a price of EUR 530.

Specs: 40.5mm x 14.4mm – stainless steel case, polished – sapphire crystal front and back – 50m water-resistant – Calibre 4R57, automatic – hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve – steel bracelet with deployment clasp – ref. SSA385J1 – 7,000 pieces

The Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” SRPC97J1

The second piece in the collection is a more classical take on the Presage Cocktail concept, with a time-and-date display (meaning central hours, minutes and seconds and a date at 3 o’clock in a window). The watch is powered by the automatic calibre 4R35, a well-known and reliable movement found in multiple Presage or Prospex watches.

The watch measures 40.5mm in diameter but benefits from a slimmer 11.8mm case lending it a more elegant profile. The lack of complication brings an uncluttered view on the dial’s colour and texture. The Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” SRPC97J1 is also a limited edition of 7,000 pieces worldwide and will be priced at EUR 440.

Specs: 40.5mm x 11.8mm – stainless steel case, polished – sapphire crystal front and back – 50m water-resistant – Calibre 4R35, automatic – hours, minutes, seconds, date – steel bracelet with deployment clasp – ref. SRPC97J1 – 7,000 pieces

The Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” SRP843J1

Last but not least, Seiko will also offer the Presage Cocktail to ladies, with the ref. SRP843J1. Basically the same watch as the one shown above, it is now proportioned for women with a 33.8mm case, slimmer lugs and a narrower bracelet. The rest of the watch is identical:  with a “winter-inspired” dial, the same indices, the same 4R35 automatic movement and the same design for the steel bracelet. The Seiko Presage Cocktail ”Fuyugeshiki” SRP843J1 will be limited to 5,000 pieces worldwide and priced at EUR 415.

Specs: 33.8mm x 11.3mm – stainless steel case, polished – sapphire crystal front and back – 50m water-resistant – Calibre 4R35, automatic – hours, minutes, seconds, date – steel bracelet with deployment clasp – ref. SRP843J1 – 5,000 pieces

More details on the watches here, on seikowatches.com.