Buzz
I agree with my fellow enthusiasts that the first timepiece crafted by artisan Kintaro Hattori in the Seikosha workshop was adorned with the Laurel logo, unveiled in 1913. It is renowned as Japan's inaugural wristwatch. Earlier this year, Seiko also introduced the SPB359 model with Breguet-style numerals, drawing inspiration from a 110-year-old wristwatch.A less-known story revolves around Seiko's first watch featuring the Seiko logo on the dial, which was introduced in 1924. This happened after the devastating Great Kanto earthquake in 1923, which completely destroyed the Seikosha factory. Next year will mark the centennial celebration of the first Seiko timepiece. At the current moment, Japan's largest watch brand has also introduced the SPB441, a way to commemorate their memorable milestone:
The resemblance in the dial details between the first Seiko and the Presage Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SPB441 is striking: a pointed second hand, classic font hour markers, a pristine white enamel dial, and a set of green hands. Serving as a time machine capturing the past, the stainless steel case boasts a modest 35mm diameter. However, it compensates with scratch-resistant and anti-glare sapphire crystal of the modern era.
And just like the past, during the era of the first wristwatches with soldered lugs for attaching straps, the SPB441 also features a robust round steel case, lug structure securing the leather strap like a hinge, movable instead of being rigidly attached to the case. This design reinforces the vintage charm of a limited-edition piece created to commemorate a memorable Seiko milestone.
Despite reaching a thickness of 12.3mm, the SPB441, with its 35mm diameter, is truly a blend of classic and distinctive. In an era where wristwatches commonly boast diameters ranging from 39 to 42mm, and sometimes even more, it stands out as a unique and vintage-inspired timepiece.
Inside the SPB441 beats a self-winding mechanical caliber 6R5H, operating at a 3Hz frequency, with a power reserve of up to 72 hours. It is expected to hit the market in early 2024, priced around 2,000 USD, with a limited edition of 1000 pieces.
Source: Monochrome
