Seiko Presage 145th Anniversary: The Soul of Japan in Blue

There are anniversaries that we celebrate with figures. And then there are those we honour with symbols, materials, gestures, and that rare ability to make history converse with the present. For its 145th anniversary, Seiko has chosen the second path. A profoundly Japanese path, at once technical, artisanal and poetic, with two new limited-edition creations within the Presage Classic Series collection.

Two watches, two interpretations of a single heritage. On one side, a piece with a cobalt-blue Arita porcelain dial, a vibrant tribute to the “Seiko Blue”. On the other, a more understated creation inspired by shironeri, that immaculate white drawn from the refining of silk threads. Two complementary expressions of a house that, since 1881, has moved forward with that founding idea so dear to Kintaro Hattori: to always be “one step ahead of the rest”.

145 years of history and pioneering spirit

When Kintaro Hattori opened his “K. Hattori” shop in the Ginza district of Tokyo in 1881, he did not merely found a watchmaking house. He laid the foundations of an industrial and human adventure that would give rise to one of the most important names in world watchmaking. In 1913, Seiko produced Japan’s first wristwatch, before going on to set numerous major milestones throughout the 20th century: Japan’s first wrist chronograph in 1964, Japan’s first diver’s watch in 1965, then the world’s first quartz watch in 1969.

It was also during this period of intense innovation that the “Seiko Blue” took shape, a colour that has become a signature. More than a shade, this blue expresses Seiko’s spirit of progress, its taste for experimentation and its intimate connection with a controlled modernity. For this 145th anniversary, Presage takes up this blue thread and inscribes it within a territory in which Seiko excels above all: Japanese craftsmanship applied to watchmaking.

HCC007: the hypnotic depth of Arita porcelain

The first piece, reference HCC007, is without doubt the more spectacular. It stands out for its Arita porcelain dial dressed in a cobalt-blue glaze. This colour, traditional in the world of Arita porcelain, appears for the first time in a Presage creation. The result is superb: a deep, almost liquid blue, crossed by a radiating motif that plays with the light and reveals subtle variations in tone.

The magic of this dial lies as much in its beauty as in the difficulty of its making. Arita porcelain, whose origins date back to the early 17th century in Japan, is among the country’s great decorative crafts. Here, each dial is made under the supervision of master artisan Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, by Toshiaki Kawaguchi and his team, within a historic Arita manufacture whose roots reach back to 1830.

The challenge was to apply this cobalt-blue glaze to a dial slim enough to fit a mechanical watch, while preserving the depth, transparency and legibility of the motif. The raised and recessed surfaces were worked with precision so that the light flows through the material, without ever flattening the composition. Seiko notes that the porcelain used receives a specific formulation, more than four times more resistant than traditional porcelain, in order to meet the demands of watchmaking use.

This artisanal process naturally entails slight variations from one dial to the next. And it is precisely this that gives each example its character. In a world where industrialisation sometimes tends towards perfect uniformity, this singularity becomes a precious quality.

A new case to better serve the dial

The HCC007 also introduces a new case design, conceived to showcase the depth of the porcelain dial. Its 39.6 mm diameter gives it a fine presence on the wrist, while the doubly domed sapphire crystal contributes to this sense of volume and visual softness. The whole remains faithful to the spirit of the Presage Classic Series: a calm, legible, balanced elegance that seeks not effect but rightness.

Inside, Seiko has chosen the automatic caliber 6R51. This three-hand, no-date movement places the emphasis on purity of display and offers a comfortable power reserve of around 72 hours. The watch is presented on a dark-blue leather strap, sourced from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group, with a three-fold deployant clasp and push-button.

Limited to 1,500 pieces, this Presage HCC007 will be available from July 2026, at a recommended retail price of 1,800 euros.

HCC004: the silent elegance of silk

The second creation, reference HCC004, plays a more restrained score, but one no less seductive. Here, Seiko draws inspiration from silk, a material deeply tied to Japanese culture. Its silvery-white dial evokes shironeri, a pure shade obtained during the refining of silk threads. This almost immaculate white symbolises renewal, an idea particularly fitting for an anniversary watch.

The dial presents a finely worked texture, with silky accents, that gives it a discreet yet genuine presence. The blue hands and indexes, inspired by the Seiko Blue, create an elegant contrast with this pale surface. The composition is sober, but never cold. It possesses that form of balance one looks for in a classic watch meant to span the years.

Its 36 mm case reinforces this impression of timelessness. Compact, fluid, warm, it appeals as much to lovers of restrained dimensions as to those who appreciate dress watches with vintage charm, without excessive nostalgia. The delicately decorated bezel adds a further classic note, while the doubly domed sapphire crystal follows the curve of the dial.

Like the HCC007, this HCC004 houses the automatic caliber 6R51 with 72 hours of power reserve. It does, however, benefit from a water resistance of 10 bar, compared with 3 bar for the Arita porcelain version. Limited to 2,500 pieces, it will be available from June 2026, at a recommended retail price of 1,050 euros.

Presage, or the art of making time tangible

With these two limited editions, Seiko does not simply celebrate an anniversary. The house reminds us of what makes Presage so singular: this ability to pair accessible, reliable and serious mechanical watchmaking with a cultural approach to the dial. At Seiko, the material is never merely decorative. It tells of a country, a tradition, a colour, a gesture.

The HCC007 impresses with the depth of its cobalt blue and the rarity of its Arita porcelain dial. The HCC004 charms with its delicacy, its restrained format and its more classic reading of the Seiko Blue. Two very different watches, yet driven by a single intention: to make the wrist a meeting place between history, craftsmanship and time.

For its 145th anniversary, Seiko thus signs two Presage watches that are at once commemorative and profoundly coherent. Two watches that seek not to make noise, but to leave a mark. And it is perhaps there, precisely, that their elegance lies.

Seiko Presage HCC007 technical specifications

Seiko 145th Anniversary Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Arita porcelain dial limited edition
Reference	HCC007
Movement	automatic caliber 6R51, manual winding possible
Frequency	21,600 vibrations per hour
Power reserve	approximately 72 hours
Jewels	24
Case	stainless steel with ultra-hard coating
Dial	cobalt-blue Arita porcelain
Crystal	doubly domed sapphire, internal anti-reflective coating
Caseback	transparent, screw-down
Diameter	39.6 mm
Thickness	12.8 mm
Water resistance	3 bar
Magnetic resistance	4,800 A/m
Strap	dark-blue leather, deployant clasp
Limited edition	1,500 pieces
Recommended retail price	1,800 euros
Availability	From July 2026

Seiko Presage HCC004 technical specifications

Seiko 145th Anniversary Presage Classic Series limited edition
Reference	HCC004
Movement	automatic caliber 6R51, manual winding possible
Frequency	21,600 vibrations per hour
Power reserve	approximately 72 hours
Jewels	24
Case	stainless steel with ultra-hard coating
Dial	silk-inspired texture, shironeri shade
Crystal	doubly domed sapphire, internal anti-reflective coating
Caseback	transparent, screw-down
Diameter	36 mm
Thickness	12.5 mm
Water resistance	10 bar
Magnetic resistance	4,800 A/m
Strap	dark-blue leather, deployant clasp
Limited edition	2,500 pieces
Recommended retail price	1,050 euros
Availability	From June 2026

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