Termine » Seiko Presage Craftmanship 'Urushi' GMT

Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Urushi GMT Introduces Second Time Zone to the Collection



Following the launch of the Prospex GPS Solar Chronograph, Seiko continues its exploration of adding new complications to existing collections. Granted, this new launch wasn’t as extreme as ramming Astron into the Prospex collection with the force of the Large Hadron Collider. Instead, they added a GMT hand to the Presage Craftsmanship collection for the first time. The end result is the Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Urushi GMT watch.

If you’re not familiar with the Craftsmanship collection, it’s Seiko’s high-end Presage watch line that features dials crafted using traditional Japanese craftsmanship techniques. Previous models have featured dials made from materials like porcelain, but this one features Urushi lacquer. This is a traditional lacquer made from the sap of the urushi tree, and is often used on dark dials. It adds an extraordinary smoothness to the black dial.

It’s paired with understated baton hour markers and spade-shaped hands, adding a classic touch. The seconds hand and GMT 24-hour hand are in shiny gold, matching the 24-hour scale on the edge of the dial for a luxurious touch. The GMT function allows you to track two time zones simultaneously, with the main hour hand tracking one time zone and the GMT tracking the other. Typically, this is the local time and the home time, making it the ultimate travel companion.

Powering this watch is the 6R54 movement, one of Seiko's top movements, which has a 72-hour power reserve and a daily error of -15/+25 seconds. In addition to the hours, minutes, seconds, and GMT functions, this watch also features a date window at 3 o'clock. It is housed in a 42.2mm x 12.35mm stainless steel case with a transparent caseback.

The price seems appropriate considering the traditional craftsmanship on display on the dial and the good specifications of the movement. A few years ago, this price might have been on the high side for Seiko, but nowadays it is more of a mid-range price. It's nice to see the Craftmanship collection expand its horizons beyond the time-and-date model, making it a standalone sub-collection rather than a novelty on the edge of Seiko's offerings.

Model: Seiko Presage Craftmanship 'Urushi' GMT
Reference: SPB447
Case: Ø 40.2mm x 12.35mm thick, stainless steel
Dial: Black
Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
Movement: Seiko 6R54 automatic, 24 jewels
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
Strap: Brown calfskin with gold stitching