BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Seiko’s Presage collection comprises a mix of casual and elegant watches, which are powered by reliable automatic movements, feature visually compelling dials, and most of all, offer great bang for the buck. Last year, Seiko expanded the Presage collection with the Sharp Edged series watches that feature a sharp angular case and a textured dial. Now, the Sharp Edged family has been given a functional upgrade with the introduction of the new Sharp Edged GMT watches that can track two different time zones at the same instance.
Like their three-hand siblings, the Sharp Edged GMT watches come with a heavily textured dial that features a hemp leaf pattern. The multifaceted ridges bring in a ton of depth and dimension and make the dial quite dynamic, enabling it to look different, depending on how the light falls on it. Placed on top of the dial are applied indices and sword-shaped hands, which, like the base, have been designed to offer maximum light play. Furthermore, Seiko has given the hands and indices a generous dose of its proprietary luminous paint, Lumibrite, to make it easier to read the time in dimply lit situations. Surrounding the hour markers is a bi-colored minute chapter ring that also doubles as a day/night indicator. There is a power reserve display at the 9 o’clock position, which is balanced by the text at the 3 o’clock position, and the date complication has been implemented using a circular display at 6, which helps in keeping the symmetry of the dial intact. Finally, the GMT hand, as well as the ‘GMT’ text, has been presented in a different color to provide a nice contrast to the base dial.
Made from stainless steel, the case on the Presage Sharp Edged GMT measures 42.2mm in diameter and has a thickness of around 13.7mm. To complement the sharp details on the dial, the case features an angular geometry, offering a nice mix of finely brushed and polished surfaces. The case is water-resistant to 100 meters and comes equipped with a grippy signed crown that should make operating the movement inside a joy. Speaking of the movement, ticking inside these new watches is Seiko’s caliber 6R64. A self-winding movement, the 6R64 comprises 29 jewels and offers an autonomy of around 45 hours when fully wound. In terms of functionality, the movement can take care of general timekeeping, and more importantly, can track an additional time zone using the GMT hand along with the fixed 24-hour bezel that has also been color-matched to the dial color.
The new Seiko Presage Sharp Edged GMT watches come attached to a stainless-steel bracelet and would be offered in four different flavors; SPB217J1 (blue), SPB219J1 (green), SPB225J1 (Brown), and SPB221J1 (black). The watches would be available to purchase from May 2021 onwards and would retail for USD 1,400.
