In collaboration with Studio Ghibli, Seiko presents the new Presage Porco Rosso limited edition watches.
Introduced in 2016, the Seiko Presage watch collection is known for its artistic beauty highlighting traditional Japanese craftsmanship in combination with Seiko’s watchmaking skills. This series offers a number of timepieces enhanced with traditional handcrafts such as Shippo enamel and Arita porcelain.
In 2020, Presage is introducing two new watches that reveal a completely different and more contemporary form of Japanese artistry. These timepieces take inspiration from the widely acclaimed feature-length film “Porco Rosso,” created by the famous Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli.
Studio Ghibli is popular among animation fans worldwide for their creative, other-worldly settings, distinctive visuals and masterful storytelling. One of these films is “Porco Rosso,” released in 1992.
The film features an early 20th century pilot who transforms himself into a seaplane-flying pig, Porco, and makes his living chasing sky bandits over Italy and the beautiful Adriatic Sea. With its vivid animation, the film brings to life the romance of the early days of aviation.
The two Presage Studio Ghibli Porco Rosso watches capture the passion for mechanical engineering and technology that underpin the film and explore the interface between function and design that the film’s director, Hayao Miyazaki, describes through the affectionate way that he depicts Porco’s airplane, Savoia S-21.
Dials
The enamel dials made by master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his colleagues echo the feel and texture of the materials used in a 1920’s aircraft.
The beauty and individuality of Porco’s fictitious 1920’s plane, Savoia S-21, are reflected in every detail of the watch. The dial takes its inspiration from the instrument panel of the plane with clear, bold hands and numerals as well as detailed and intricate markers.
A specially created seconds hand for the black dialed watch reflects the plane’s propeller. The “R” emblem on the tail of Savoia S-21 appears at the six o’clock of the Spring Drive watch and at three o’clock with the same coloring as the plane’s tail in the automatic chronograph.
This coloring is also subtly integrated into the Spring Drive creation with its white dial, red seconds hand and green power reserve indicator.
Seiko Presage Studio Ghibli Porco Rosso Spring Drive Reference SNR047J1
The watch with the white dial carries Seiko’s innovative Spring Drive movement. The crown features specially engraved emblem of Porco Rosso and his plane’s name graces the case.
The Spring Drive watch incorporates the Caliber 5R65 which has an accuracy of +/–1 second per day and a power reserve of 72 hours. There is a power reserve indicator at the eight o’clock position and a date window at three o’clock.
Seiko Presage Studio Ghibli Porco Rosso Automatic Chronograph Reference SRQ033J1
The automatic chronograph houses Seiko’s most advanced chronograph caliber, 8R48, which measures elapsed time up to 12 hours and has a power reserve of 45 hours.
In addition to a vertical clutch and a column wheel, it incorporates Seiko’s unique three-pointed hammer and a heart-shaped cam which ensure the perfect and instant synchronization of the hands when the chronograph is reset.
The beauty of the movement is clearly visible through the sapphire crystal case back, as is the Porco Rosso symbol. On the case back, you will discover an engraving, in Italian, a famous quote from the film, “A pig that does not fly is just a pig.”
Each timepiece comes in a special presentation box, each with an alternative strap and a leather cloth that is marked with the symbol of Porco.
One strap is in the vibrant red color of the fuselage of Savoia S-21 with stitching in red, white and green, and the other is in black with the same colored stitching. The special box comes with an alternative strap and carries a message from the film’s director, Hayao Miyazaki.
Both watches are available in the Presage collection at Seiko boutiques and selected retailers worldwide from June 2020 as limited editions, 500 for the Spring Drive version and 600 for the automatic chronograph.
Technical details
Collection: Seiko Presage Studio Ghibli Porco Rosso Collaboration Limited Editions
References
Presage Spring Drive SNR047J1
Presage Automatic Chronograph SRQ033J1
Movements
Presage SNR047J1
– Caliber: Spring Drive 5R65
– Driving System: Automatic
– Power reserve: 72 hours
– Accuracy: +/‒1 second per day (+/‒15 seconds per month)
– Number of jewels: 30
Presage SRQ033J1
– Caliber 8R48
– Automatic Chronograph up to 12 hours
– Column wheel and vertical clutch systems
– Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
– Power reserve: 45 hours
– Number of jewels: 34
Case
Stainless steel case with super-hard coating
Dual-curved sapphire crystal with super-clear coating
See-through screw case back
Diameter: 40.0mm, Thickness: 13.1mm (SNR047)
Diameter: 42.0mm, Thickness: 14.9mm (SRQ033)
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Dial
Enamel dial
Strap
Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release
Additional crocodile strap in black (SNR047) / red (SRQ033)
Price
Approximate recommended retail prices in Europe: €5,800(SNR047) / €4,100 (SRQ033)
Edition
Limited editions of 500 (SNR047) / 600 (SRQ033)
