Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Limited Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Akebono SPB361 and SPB363 (Live Pics & Price)
A new pair of limited editions dressed in black and blue, with GMT or Date complications.
After a prolific year (to say the least), what we’ll be looking at today might be one of the last watches unveiled by Seiko this year, and it isn’t based on one of the popular Prospex models, but on another growing collection, the Presage Sharp Edged Series. Since its launch in 2020, this range of watches combines Japanese culture with smart, modern design. While the sharp lines of the case and the elements of the dial pay tribute to the name of the collection, the dial is decorated with a traditional Japanese motif taken from Asanoha (hemp leaf pattern), a popular motif on the Island. Following the black/red Kabuki edition, the brand now reveals two limited editions with black/blue colour schemes, golden accents and two possible displays, a GMT (SPB361) or a Date (SPB363).
The Presage collection is often regarded as Seiko’s dressier and most traditional range. It comprises watches that pay tribute to ancestral Japanese decorative techniques, such as enamel, porcelain or Urushi lacquer and more accessible models grouped under the Cocktail moniker. With the Sharp Edged Series, Seiko introduced something more modern combined with a dash of Grand Seiko. Yet, the classic Japanese inspiration was still present, remodelled with a textured dial that pays homage to Asanoha, a geometrical pattern that has long been part of the decorative arts on the Island.
The Seiko Presage Sharp Edged series is articulated around two watches. One is simple, with a time-and-date display and a relatively compact case. The second is bolder, more complex and slightly sportier as it features a dual time complication and a scaled external bezel. While the overall design language is identical, the specs are quite different, with some notable differences in the proportions, the display and the movements used.
The two new models in the Presage Sharp Edged Series – references SPB361 (GMT) and SPB363 (Date) – play with bolder colours and more contrasted attire. The inspiration is said to come from Akebono, the moment when the darkness of night gives way to the first glimmers of dawn. For this, the dial opts for a gradient blue colour, which contrasts with the warmth of the pink gold-coloured hands and markers, representing the morning sun. The all-black case and bracelet, with a hard black coating, are here to remind us of the dawn sky, foreshadowing the day ahead.
The pattern on the dial of these new Sharp Edged watches SPB361 and SPB363 isn’t new but still manages to create a striking effect. It is achieved by stamping a 0.4mm metal plate to produce a three-dimensional effect that reflects light in various directions. This is complemented by the newly designed trapezoidal-shaped markers with reflective surfaces and a new arrow-tipped seconds hand. Contrast is also seen on the cases, with flat surfaces and a combination of polished and brushed finishings.
The Presage Sharp Edged GMT ref. SPB361
As we said above and in previous articles, the Sharp Edged GMT is a much sportier edition, with a beefed-up case of 42.2mm and a thickness of 13.7mm. It is characterised by the presence of an external bezel with a fixed 24-hour contrasting aluminium ring. In the present Akebono model reference SPB361, the case is coated in black with a hardening process, and the bezel retains the same colour scheme. The 3-link bracelet is also darkened. The watch comes equipped with a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a see-through caseback and a comfortable water-resistance of 100m.
Underneath the newly designed dial in gradient blue with golden accents is a well-known movement, the calibre 6R64. This automatic engine beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and stores 45 hours of power reserve. In addition to the time, it features a power reserve indicator, a date by hand positioned at 6 o’clock and a central GMT hand on a 24-hour scale.
This new Seiko Presage Sharp Edged GMT Akebono SPB361 is a limited edition of 2,000 pieces, available from January 2023. It will be priced at EUR 1,450.
Quick facts: 42.2mm x 13.7mm – stainless steel case with hard black coating, sapphire crystal, fixed bezel, 100m water-resistant – calibre 6R64, in-house automatic GMT – 3-link black-coated steel bracelet, folding clasp – limited to 2,000 pieces – EUR 1,450
The Presage Sharp Edged Date ref. SPB363
The second model in this Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Akebono series, known as the reference SPB363, is a slightly simpler but more compact option. A classic time-and-date model, it is presented in a 39.3mm case that is also much thinner – just above 11mm in height. Otherwise, the specifications are identical: a hard black coating on all external parts, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a see-through caseback and 100m water-resistance.
The dial, with its newly designed golden markers, protects calibre 6R35, a slightly different base movement, which benefits from an extended power reserve of 70 hours with a 3Hz frequency. This Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Date Display Akebono SPB363 is a limited edition of 2,000 pieces, available from January 2023. It will be priced at EUR 990.
Quick facts: 39.3mm x 11.1mm – stainless steel case with hard black coating, sapphire crystal, 100m water-resistant – calibre 6R35, in-house automatic – 3-link black-coated steel bracelet, folding clasp – limited to 2,000 pieces – EUR 990
For more details, please visit seikowatches.com.
