Seiko’s Elegant and Affordable All-Rounder Gets a New Goldilocks Size

Although it doesn’t get as much attention as many of Seiko’s other lines, the Japanese brand’s Presage Classic series represents some of its best everyday watch options, thanks to dressy dials, optional steel bracelets, dependable automatic movements and 100m of water resistance.

The watch ia also pretty well-sized, with references available in either 36mm or 40mm. But now, Seiko has made the Presage Classic even more wearable with a new 38mm case size.

Seiko

Goldilocks

38mm is often dubbed a “Goldilocks” size for watch cases, since it’s “just right” for a wider variety of wrists than probably any other size out there. Unless you have veritable tree trunks for wrists, you’ll probably look pretty good wearing a 38.

The new Presage Classic consists of four references in this ‘tweener case size, all of which are in stainless steel with a Super-Hard Coating like the rest of the line.

They all measure a very reasonable 43.8mm lug-to-lug and 12.9mm thick and feature curved sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on the underside only. What’s more, all maintain the line’s healthy water-resistance rating of 100m.

Seiko

Ticking away inside, we have the Seiko Caliber 6R51. That’s the same movement you’ll find in the 36mm Presage Classic, and it’s a no-date version of the 6R55 that powers the 40mm version. The automatic movement boasts a weekend-proof 72-hour power reserve, along with hacking and hand-winding.

The most interesting thing about these new Presage Classic models, beyond the perfect case size, is the new dial pattern. All four references feature the same stamped pattern featuring a guilloché-like arrangement of swirls. Seiko says it got the design’s inspiration from the elegant texture and drape of Tomioka silk, a premium silk produced in Japan’s Gunma prefecture.

Seiko

There are four colors to choose from. A Sakura-Iro Pink dial is paired with a brown leather strap equipped with a deployant clasp. Shironeri White and Wakatake-Iro Green both come on seven-row steel bracelets. All dials feature baton indices and alpha hands like other Presage Classic references.

A fourth version is limited to 2,000 pieces and features a white dial with a “pearl-like coating” that mimics the luster of the silk. It also has a pink gold-tone case and a fluted bezel, along with a textured brown leather strap styled after the brick façade of the Tomioka Silk Mill.

Seiko

Availability and pricing

Prices are largely the same as existing Presage Classic models. The pink-dial on leather (HCC003) and the white (HCC001) and green (HCC002) steel bracelet models all go for $950.

The limited-edition pink gold-colored edition (HCC008), which is a collab with the Tomioka Silk Promotion Organization, tops out the range at $1,150

All four references will be available from Seiko beginning in July.

Seiko

Seiko Presage Classic Series 38mm HCC002

Specs

Case Size	38mm
Movement	Seiko Cal. 6R51
Water Resistance	100m

• $950 at Seiko

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

Related Topics