While most luxury watch collectors keep a keen out eye for Seiko’s Prospex range, their Presage collection is equally as desirable offering some of the brand’s best craftsmanship for exceptional value for money. Introduced in 2020, the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series remains one of the family’s most breathtaking examples presenting sporty dress watches with sharp, angular cases and interesting textured dials. Today, that series expands with the launch of the Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT SPB303J1 watch, a limited edition of 900 pieces we expect to be high on collector’s wish lists.
The GMT complication was first presented in the Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series this time last year, retaining the angular lines of the original time-and-date models with useful GMT hands at the centre. Their dials also maintained the stunning hemp leaf pattern, also known as Asanoha, which has been used on Japanese artisan objects like textiles and interiors since the Heian period. Following the launch of four Seiko Presage Sharped Edged GMT watches, the brand also revealed the elusive and limited SPB223J1 model which with its crisp white textured dial and blue bezel became part of a quartet launched to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Japanese brand. The next limited edition in the series is this new Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT watch which takes its name and colourway from ‘Ao-Fuji’, the description of Mount Fuji during the summer months when it’s without its usual snow covering.
The deep navy tones of ‘Ao-Fuji’ can be found across the hemp-leaf patterned dial and fixed bezel, the latter of which is engineered from scratch resistant ceramic and printed with a 24 hour scale to allow for multiple time zone calculations. Other than that, the specifications of the Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT SPB303J1 Limited Edition are much like that of its predecessors with a large 42.4mm diameter, 49.2mm length and thickness of 13.65mm. The case is engineered from stainless steel with polished finishings, vertically brushed lugs and brightly polished case flanks. There’s also a non-screw locked crown worthy of a 100 metre water resistant rating and sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface.
As with all previous Sharp Edged GMT models, the new Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT watch showcases a dial with impressive levels of detail. The textured patterned is finished in a gorgeous deep blue and presents applied elongated rectangular indices with faceted detailing and Lumibrite at their tips and sharp sword-shaped hands for the hours and minutes also faceted with a stripe of Lumibrite down their centre. In preceding references, the GMT hand has contrasted against the rest of hardware but for the Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT Limited Edition it blends in beautifully finished in silver. There’s also a subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock for a pointer date and a power reserve indicator located between 9 and 10 o’clock.
Powering these complications is the Calibre 6R64 automatic winding movement with an accuracy of -15 to +25 seconds per day, a 45 hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800vph. Usefully, the movement allows the GMT complication to be set individually via the crown meaning you don’t have to interfere with the minutes or seconds when moving the hand backwards or forwards. Lastly, the Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT SPB303J1 watch is completed by a vertically brushed and polished stainless steel bracelet. Delivered with each of the 900 limited edition pieces, you’ll also get a blue leather strap with white stitch detailing which can be easily swapped out for a different look.
The Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT Limited Edition will be available for delivery early June, but if you’d like to pre-order one of the 900-pieces early, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team on 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications: Seiko Presage Ao-Fuji Sharp Edged GMT Watch (SPB303J1)
- Case Size: 42.2mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed, blue ceramic with 24 hour scale
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Non-screw locked
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre 6R64 automatic winding
- Accuracy: -15/+25 seconds per day
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date, power reserve indicator
- Power Reserve: 45 hours
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Blue hemp-leaf pattern with Lumibrite hands and indexes
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet and additional blue leather strap
- RRP: £1,320
- Limited Edition: 900 pieces
- Release Date: June 2022
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