Seiko Presage Watchmaking Takumi 'Laurel' 110th Anniversary automatic white enamel dial leather strap 37.5 mm

Laurel: Japan's first wristwatch

The history of Seiko begins in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opens a store in Ginza to repair and sell clocks. In 1892, he established a factory called Seikosha to produce his own clocks. At that time, at the beginning of the Taishō era, pocket watches were still so popular that only a few wristwatches were imported into Japan. However, Kintaro Hattori was not content to simply follow the trend, and was determined to enjoy a "head start" on any other competitor, challenging himself to create Japan's very first wristwatch. And his efforts paid off in 1913, when he introduced the Laurel to the world. Although in its early days the company could only produce 30 to 50 watches a day, this model represented absolute exclusivity: for the first time, Seiko enjoyed an incredible advantage over its competitors.

After this launch, Seikosha made huge strides in the development of all wristwatch manufacturing technologies, from design to micro-fabrication to machine tool manufacturing. In 2014, the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers designated Laurel as one of its "mechanical engineering heritages" in recognition of its contribution to the development of mechanical technology.

Inspired by the vintage model

This new watch reprises the shape and design of the Laurel in every detail, including proportions, lugs shape, typography and color including the red signature at 12 o'clock.

The 37.5mm diameter round steel case is carefully designed to retain the elegance of the original, while housing a modern automatic movement. The large crown has also been faithfully recreated, in keeping with the nostalgic look of this special timepiece.

This Takumi Presage, like the 1913 original, features a pure enamel dial. Its depth and beauty, as well as its durability over time, are made possible by the expertise in enamel production of master craftsman Mitsuru Yokohama and his teams. The same distinctive Arabic numerals mark the hours, including the distinctive design of the number four. Two blue pear-shaped hands and a fine blued second hand mark the center. The date counter at 6 o'clock is inspired by the small seconds present on the period model.

This SPB359J1 is dressed in a brown deer leather "bund" strap with an aged look, and is topped with a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal, reinforcing its vintage feel. The back of the watch case bears the words "Limited Edition" and the serial number.

An automatic caliber

The reissue of the Laurel is powered by Seiko's high-performance caliber 6R27, which features a power reserve indicator at nine o'clock and a date indicator at six. It beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers 45 hours of power reserve.

In bref:

• A reissue of the first Japanese wristwatch
• A limited edition of 2500 copies
• An exceptional dial handmade by a Japanese craftsman