The Land of the Rising Sun is known for many things, and its exquisite watch brands are certainly among them.
From a super-dope collab by two timepiece giants, to a line of intricate artisanal chronometers, here are two new watch drops that are another level.
Seiko Presage x Porter Classic SPB449J1
We’ve seen many watch brands collaborating over the years, to the point that it’s an almost daily affair – but it’s a rare event for Seiko. The Japanese watch brand has been quite conservative with which labels they work with, and when they do, you know it’s something big.
Seiko has collaborated with Porter Classic to create a limited edition watch as part of its Presage Craftsmanship Series that honours both Laurel, the first wristwatch made in Japan, and co-founder Katsuyuki Yoshida’s passion for pocket watches.
Inspired by Seiko’s 1913 Laurel model, the new reference is housed in a traditional round 35mm case. The SPB449J1 is paired with wire lugs as a nod to the vintage models, as early 20th-century timepieces were frequently converted from pocket watches.
The dial’s retro appearance is enhanced by its sleek black enamel, spade-shaped hands, silvery Breguet-style numerals, and 24-hour subdial at the sixth of the clock. This sophisticated watch is powered by the in-house 6R5H calibre, which has a three-day power reserve. The caseback is engraved with the silhouette of Katsuyuki Yoshida, designating the reference as a collaborative work.
The timepiece is completed with a cordovan leather pull-through strap in black as well as an additional brown option.
The Seiko Presage x Porter Classic SPB449J1 Limited Edition, available in only 500 pieces, is up for pre-order on the company’s website for £2,070 (~RM11,514).
Kurono Tokyo’s “SENSU N.O.S.”
After a long wait, Kurono Tokyo has finally unveiled its latest pair of Special Projects Réserve de Marche wristwatches, nicknamed “SENSU NOS.”
Hajime Asaoka, the renowned watchmaker and founder of Kurono Tokyo, has reimagined a stunning guilloché crafted on a convex dial for both the blue and cream variants of the model. “SENSU NOS” has a 38mm case diameter and a charming Art Deco design. The Cream model has Arabic numerals, and the blue-steel hands give the soft dial a seductive pop of colour contrast. The Blue edition, on the other hand, has Eastern touches like calligraphic Kanji hour-makers and a guilloché power-reserve indicator shaped like a collapsible Japanese fan.
Kurono Tokyo’s internal modifications to a Cal.9134PWT movement serve as the beating heart of the “SENSU NOS.” The manufacturer claims that Asaoka “desired a classically clean dial to showcase as much of his guilloche design” and that in order to reduce the number of indicators on the dial, he was forced to remove the date function from the calibre.
The Special Projects Réserve de Marche “SENSU N.O.S” will be available to order beginning 10th October for US$2,150 (~RM9,106) each. For enquiries, visit Kurono Tokyo’s official website.
