The New Seiko Presage Classic Series Unglazed Arita Porcelain SPB497

Seiko has shown great skill and creativity when it comes to its watches, mostly in the art of dial making. Ranging from simple to complex, there’s always an interesting story surrounding the inspiration and the creation of its dials. Whether it be a texture of Edo silk, or the shift in colour in the waters surrounding a sunny island, or even using ancient craftsmanship techniques, it always seems to capture the imagination of enthusiasts and collectors the world over. One of the most unique styles found in Seiko’s arsenal, more specifically in the Presage collection, is the Arita porcelain dial. Since its introduction in 2019, we’ve seen several models using this ancient Japanese technique. This is also found in the new Presage Classic Series Craftsmanship Unglazed Arita Porcelain Dial Limited Edition SPB497, albeit in a never-seen-before way!

To get the basics out of the way first, the new Seiko Presage Classic Series Craftsmanship Unglazed Arita Porcelain Dial Limited Edition SPB497 (what’s in a name) comes in steel only. The brushed and polished case has a diameter of 40.6mm and a height of 12.4mm, making it an easy fit for most wrists. The dual-curved sapphire crystal on top has an anti-reflective coating on the inside, and there’s a knurled pull-out crown at 3’. Around the back, there’s a see-through caseback, and the watch is water-resistant to 100 meters.

With most of Seiko’s work, it’s the dial that gets the most attention. And although at first glance this looks like a simple one, I must admit it is one of Seiko’s finest in recent years. Inspiration often comes from elements in nature or traditional Japanese culture, and that saga continues with the SPB497. As its name suggests, the dial is made from Arita porcelain, a material that is lauded for its finesse and often ornate decorations in bright tones of colour, mostly blues. The technique stems from the 1600s and is named after a small town on the island of Kyushu, a place where a specific type of porcelain clay was found.

Praised for their quality, Seiko has embraced Arita porcelain in its Presage collection, including watches such as the SPB293 and SPB319 limited editions. Where previously the Arita porcelain dials were overglazed, resulting in a unique shiny finish, this one is unglazed. The result is a powdery cream coloured dial with the softest of textures. To give it a sense of depth, Seiko added a rhombus-type pattern around the indices, said to be a historical symbol of prosperity and good health. Time is indicated with leaf-shaped hour and minutes hands, a central seconds hand with a crescent-moon counterweight (a signature element in Presage watches) and simple yet effective applied stick markers. All are finished in a rich gold tone to contrast with the soft look of the dial.

Visible through the caseback is Seiko’s in-house automatic 6R51 calibre. This has been used across a number of models in Seiko’s vast portfolio, including the King Seiko and the special edition Nausicaä Of The Valley of The Wind. The mid-range calibre runs at a frequency of 21,600vph and delivers a solid 72 hours of power reserve. The finishing is a tad industrial, yet the gold coloured rotor stands out and neatly ties in with the indices and hands up front.

The new Seiko Presage Classic Series Unglazed Arita Porcelain SPB497 is worn on a black leather strap with a three-part folding clasp. It’s a limited edition of 1,200 pieces, and retails for EUR 1,950 incl. VAT. It will be available from Seiko Boutiques and selected retail partners worldwide from July 2025 onwards.

For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com.