This watch is part of Seiko’s Presage collection, specifically the Craftsmanship Series. It’s got a stainless-steel case that’s 40.5mm wide and 12.4mm thick, with a unique textured finish. Both the front and back have sapphire crystal to keep the dial and movement safe. The back’s got a special gold-colored ring, tying it to the movie. Even the crown’s got a different shape and a blue glass crystal insert, making it stand out from the regular Presage watches.
The dial’s enamel is this cool blue, taken straight from one of Nausicaä’s outfits in the film. There’s also the white and red logo from her chest on the dial. The hour markers and minute track are white, with leaf-shaped hands and a gold-colored second hand. If you look closely, the enamel dial has this neat orange-peel effect and a little dip around the hands, giving it more character.
Running the show is the Seiko Calibre 6R51, with a solid 72-hour power reserve thanks to its gold-colored rotor. It ticks at 21,600vph like its cousins but skips the date display. They kept the finishing simple to let the cool caseback artwork shine, a nod to the movie’s final scene. A legend from the Valley of the Wind that is expressed in the film, “Clothed in blue robes, descending onto a golden field” is engraved on the gold-plated case back.
This watch is limited to 1,500 pieces, offered in a special presentation box with an illustration of a scene from the film. The box carries an original card with the message “Let’s live without being bound by time” written in Japanese from the film’s director, Hayao Miyazaki. It comes on a brown leather strap with a three-part clasp and retails at EUR 1,750 or MYR9,000. Even though it might not be on everyone’s radar, Seiko knows how to make these special editions fly off the shelves. For Ghibli fans, the SPB437 drops in March 2024, so keep an eye out if you’re keen on snagging one.
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