Reviewing the Seiko Presage Cocktail “Skydiving” Watch
Wednesday - 17 May 2023
Seiko offers some pretty impressive retro watches as part of its Presage watch collection. The line is most notable for its designs largely based on the Laurel developed back in 1913. Seiko Presage watches are amongst some of the company’s most popular since these models are so versatile and simple with an understated style that you can go anywhere and do anything with. Since 2016, the Presage collection has been made available to the public. One of the sub-categories of the Presage line is the Cocktail series, which brings us to focus on the very classic-looking Seiko Presage Cocktail Time “Skydiving” watch. It’s the men’s version of the lady’s Cocktail Time “Skydiving” Diamond Twist watch ref SRE007J1, adorned with a powder blue ripple-like dial and imbued with scintillating diamonds.
The roots of the Cocktail Time series
In the past, Seiko has honoured its links to Ginza with timepieces that feature beautiful dial patterns that echo its traditional cobblestone streets whilst remaining incredibly modern. Over the years, Japanese bars have played a significant role in the renaissance of the cocktail craft. The first Western-style bars in Japan began serving cocktails in the 1870s and were led by young men eager to learn the traits and tips of the cocktail world. Many opened up their own bars in the Ginza area and a cocktail culture soon emerged.
The true art and form of cocktail making sees one bartender devote his entire attention to creating a special drink, poured and mixed properly to ensure he gives the customer the ultimate luxury experience. That’s a little like buying a luxury watch. Elegantly crafted timepieces are designed and built by the hands of skilled enthusiasts, experienced within their required field of knowledge. Bit by bit, the essential ingredients of a beautifully made wristwatch are brought together to offer the wearer a unique and memorable timekeeping experience that reinvigorates traditions and techniques from the past. At the Star Bar in Ginza, Hisashi Kishi – the first Japanese to win the International Bartenders’ Association World Cocktail Championships – serves as an advisor to Seiko in the development of the Cocktail Time range and, of course, the evolution of its popular Presage watch collection. The Seiko Presage series radiates a sense of glamour and sophistication and has been a playground for some of the Japanese watchmaker’s most elegant and enduring designs to date. Some models from the series evoke the Skydiving cocktail with an ice-blue face, whilst others inspired by the Manhattan cocktail boast brown graduating dials that play beautifully with the light.
One model from the Presage Cocktail watch collection deserves a closer look. It belongs to the same sub-range as the Seiko Presage ‘Illuminate’ Cocktail Time SSA455J1 with a ripple-effect light gold dial, the ‘Red Brick’ Cocktail Time SSA457J1 with a deep red skeletonised dial, the diamond-set Cocktail Time ‘Clover Club’ Diamond Twist, the Cocktail Time ‘Skydiving’ Diamond Twist SRE007J1, the Cocktail Time ‘White Lady’ Diamond Twist SRE010J1 with a steel and rose gold-plated design and the Cocktail Time ‘Pink Lady’ Diamond Twist SRE012J1 with a pink ripple dial.
The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time “Skydiving”
watch
The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time “Skydiving” watch will constitute the perfect companion for those who find themselves with very little time to switch their watch over to suit an event whilst on the go. It can provide the perfect finishing touch to professional attire at a business meeting but equally looks just as great with a jeans and shirt duo. Its timeless design features a pale blue display executed with a sunburst style pattern, with rays that span from the centre of the dial and open up towards the edge of the face. One of the key advantages to point out about the watch is how comfortably it sits against the wrist with a height of 11.8mm and a diameter of 40.5mm. The watch is crafted from stainless steel and is topped with a box-shaped piece of Hardlex glass that evokes the retro charm that this collection has come to be most loved for. Beneath this glass material are a set of faceted shard-like hour markers and two sword-shaped hands – one for the minutes and one for the hours. Joining this is a deep blue needle-fine seconds hand that sweeps effortlessly across the textured dial with an ethereal composure. The Seiko name at 12 o’clock is balanced by the “Presage Automatic” lettering at 6 o’clock, whilst the date window at 3 o’clock adds another layer of functionality to this design.
Inside the 50-meter water-resistant case of the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time “Skydiving” watch reference SRPE19 is the automatic Calibre 4R35. It beats at a rhythm of 21,600 vibrations per hour and provides a power reserve of 40 hours once fully wound. The movement is also equipped with Seiko’s Diashock technology and comprises 23 jewels. To complete its elegant styling, this Seiko Presage Cocktail Time “Skydiving” watch is fitted on a robust stainless steel bracelet with a deployment clasp and push-button release mechanism.
If you’d like to learn more about the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time “Skydivng” watch reference SRPE19 for men, you can check it out in more detail here or call and speak to our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453.
