PRESAGE CRAFTSMANSHIP
SERIES ARITA PORCELAIN
CENTURIES OF HISTORY LIVE ON TODAY
Arita, a small town on Kyushu, the third largest island in the southwest of Japan, came to prominence in the early 17th century for the high quality of their porcelain artistry. Within a generation, Arita porcelain, also known as ‘‘Imari ware’’ after the port from which most were shipped, became known across the world when Japan opened its doors to international trade in the 19th century. Today, Arita porcelain is still highly prized worldwide, and many porcelain makers continue to thrive in the town of just 20,000 people, thanks to its long tradition of craftsmanship, the rich variety of its products, and to the uniquely Japanese sensibility that they embody.
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP
Presage Arita porcelain is created with exceptional strength and a long-lasting finish due to a unique partnership between master craftsmen and Seiko’s engineers.. Each dial is individually molded, fired, and painted by Hiroyuki Hashiguchi in a difficult and meticulous multi-stage process resulting in a one-of-a kind work of art. Gently rising and falling terrain is expressed within a thickness of a mere 1mm, the fruit of taking on – and succeeding in – a challenge to achieve the physical limits of thinness. The resulting porcelain dial is nearly 4 times stronger than normal porcelain and employs a deep luster and soft shading, giving each timepiece a singularly elegant appearance.
A REFLECTION OF EXCEPTIONAL TECHNIQUE
These exceptional dials are created in variety of colors from pure white, to ivory, to light blue, each requiring a slightly different technique. The “Hakuji” or “pure white” dials use a clear, transparent glaze to allow the natural white color of the porcelain material to shine through. This pure white porcelain is inspired by the delicate reflection of the moon on water, a theme prevalent in Japanese culture, and creates a sharp contrast with the hands, roman numerals and other features. The ivory dials transport the wearer to the Izumiyama Ceramic Stone Field in Arita, its rich color reminiscent of the natural tone of the porcelain, while the pale blue color Arita Porcelain dials, similar to famous tripod dishes from Kyushu, create faint lapis lazuli colors created by a traditional dyeing technique called “ruri zome”. Each Arita Porcelain dial reflects the care and craftsmanship for which Presage is renowned and truly is Japanese beauty crafted into a mechanical timepiece.
