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Seiko Adds Spring Drive-Powered Models to the Presage Collection for the First Time


Despite the fact that the Presage collection has only been around for three years, it has become an entrenched part of the contemporary Seiko identity due to its strong value proposition. Split into the “Basic” category (home of the flamboyant Cocktail Time) and the more elaborate “Prestige” line, Presage has established itself as one of the more comprehensive collections from a pricing standpoint within Seiko as a whole. Yesterday, we received word that two new watches will be joining the upmarket-focused Prestige lineup. These two timepieces, SNR037 and SNR039, don’t just mark a new high-water mark for Presage, they also feature the application of a first for the line. That’s right, both of the watches are powered by Seiko’s proprietary Spring Drive technology.

Formerly restricted to the premium Grand Seiko and Credor brands, Spring Drive found its way into Seiko’s sporty Prospex subdivision at Baselworld 2019. The Prospex and Presage lines are intertwined as the home for the more high-grade and enthusiast-focused timepieces that feature Seiko branding. The two new watches are virtually identical other than their black and white porcelain enamel dials. Enamel is a common sight on Presage timepieces with Arita and Shippo being two of the more memorable tecnhiques to appear on a Seiko face. These dials have all been produced by Mitsuru Yokosawa, a 48-year veteran of the Japanese enamel industry. While most small enamel products measure in the range of 10 square centimeters, the dials used in Seiko watches are significantly smaller at just 3 centimeters in diameter. According to Seiko, Yokosawa is the only craftsman in Japan that can reach these tolerances.

Both of the new watches are powered by Caliber 5R65 that offers an accuracy of +/- 1 second per day and running autonomy of up to 72 hours. This movement also enables a power reserve display between 7 and 8 o’clock on the dial and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. Seiko has applied its “Super-Hard” coating to the 40-mm, stainless steel case, which features elongated, straight lugs. Additionally, the water resistance rating has been specced to 100 meters. The sapphire crystal is curved over the enamel dial, while the 5R65 Caliber is visible through an exhibition caseback. The Seiko Presage Enamel Spring Drive SNR037 and SNR039 are both priced at $4,500 and will be available in October.

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  1. Gerry Dimatos

    I’ve been loving everything that Seiko and Grand Seiko have been doing lately but this move just doesn’t make any sense to me at all.
    I have 7 Grand Seiko’s and the Spring Drive movement that lives in 3 of them is the 9R65 which is beautifully finished.
    To put a less decorated 5R65 movement into a Seiko just devalues the Spring Drive prestige and exclusivity that has already been built…
    Seiko needs to tread carefully as it could alienate GS buyers if their movement is found in lower grade and market positioned watches…
    I would always go a GS branded and finished watch over a Seiko branded watch.
    Remember why Seiko changed its branding to GS in the first place ?
    Seiko cannot be going backwards,
    From Gerry Dimatos in Melbourne Australia…

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  2. They must be crazy with that price, nobody will bother when you could just get a GS in the same ballpark. Maybe that was actually the plan? If this was priced reasonably to be an affordable spring drive it would sell as fast as they could make it, but apparently not…

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  3. Agree with the above. $4500 for this watch is ludicrous…. think of the class of watches that price point puts you in and would ANYONE have that in your top 50 let alone 10???

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  4. Seiko seems to be out of touch with the average aficionado via-a-vis branding/marketing. Numerous times, with offerings like these, the response is the same: Nobody’s going to pay premium prices for non-premium brands. It didn’t work with the SLA017, SLA021, nor the LE Baby Snowflake. If I want a Spring Drive, I’m not going to pay $4500 for a Presage when I can pay a bit more and get a GS on bracelet. Like it or not, prestige is part of the appeal of watches, and if I’m going to put out serious money for a piece, branding matters.

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    • Agreed. When I saw this article I was really excited because I figured that I could get a spring drive for much less than GS prices and would have jumped right on that. I don’t know who this is marketed towards.

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