BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
Continuing its never-ending streak of producing watches that offer amazing bang for the buck, Seiko recently added another gem to its Presage collection. The new Seiko Presage Ref SPB295J1 features a stunning green Urushi dial and a functional and uncommon retrograde display.
Seiko knows how to make a rest dial, and the olive-green dial on the SPB295J1 is a testimony to this. The lustrous green dial is painstakingly crafted almost entirely by hand by master artisan Isshu Tamura using the Urushi lacquer. To achieve the smooth reflective sheen the dial is painted and polished multiple times. Laid on top of the Deep green dial is an unusual retrograde presentation of day and date at 6 and 3 respectively. You also get a power reserve display at 9 to keep the balance and harmony of the dial intact. To provide a nice contrast and improve the legibility, the text, the applied indices, and almost all hands have been painted white. Additionally, the golden elements add a touch of color and elegance to the dial.
The case measures a modest 40.5mm in diameter and has a manageable thickness of around 13mm. It is made of stainless steel and features a healthy water-resistance of 100 meters. The case features a nice mix of brushed and polished surfaces to give the watch a premium feel. Finally, there is a well-sized knurled conical push-pull crown at 3, which should make it easy to juice up the mechanical movement that drives this watch.
Speaking of the movement, the SPB295J1 comes equipped with the in-house calibre 6R24. Ticking at 4 Hz, the 6R24 comprises 31 jewels and offers a respectable autonomy of around 45 hours when fully wound. While the movement is visible through the exhibition case back, it looks quite austere for the most part, with the only exception being the rotor that has been decorated with Geneva stripes.
The new Seiko Presage SPB295J1 comes attached to a black textured buffalo leather strap with a regular steel folding buckle. Production is limited to 2000 pieces, and the retail price has been set at EUR 1,950, which looks fair for what you get.
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