As someone who works in the industry and sees hundreds if not thousands of watches every year, I often label a watch as a possible “yes” or “no” based on a press release or a few pictures. I’m sure the same is true to some extent for collectors and enthusiasts. Sometimes I release a watch for myself I don’t mean to say that it’s a bad watch at all, but rather because I feel like it doesn’t appeal to me enough to consider buying it. But I fully admit that sometimes I have to back down after picking up the watch in question and changing my mind about it because it really surprises me. That’s exactly what happened with one of Seiko’s latest releases, the limited edition Studio Ghibli Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind SPB437.
It’s often said that collaborations are a dime a dozen these days and that along the way they’ve lost most of their shine, and I completely agree with that. Collaborations have become so commonplace in the industry that they often no longer feel special. Luckily, there are still a few that can really surprise me, and that’s exactly what this particular Seiko did to me. When I wrote the first story and learned of the connection to the 1984 Studio Ghibli anime fantasy film titled Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindI had to do some more research to find out the details. This search revealed something I knew little about, an element of life that I always enjoy: discovering new things. So I watched the movie and tried the watch.
When I received the watch, something clicked in a way I didn’t expect. Trying to break it down isn’t that hard. For me, it’s about how this watch stands out from the rest of the admittedly very diverse Presage collection: through the subtle finishing of the case, the striking blue enamel dial and the oversized crown with blue crystal insert. The dial is easy to read thanks to the clear blue tone, white markings and hands. It also has the lovely, subtle orange peel effect of the enamel dials. It may be a simple watch at heart, but it does what it needs to perform brilliantly. Thanks to its subtle case design, the colors of Nausicaä’s outfit, the blue crystal in the crown that mimics an Ohm’s eye, the Ohm embossed on the inside of the bracelet end, and so on, it fits the film perfectly. For people who know and love the film, there is much to connect with and honor the heroine, Nausicaä.
And yet, for people who may not be familiar with it, it’s subtle enough to not seem cheesy or forced. As a watch it is still a very beautiful piece in its own right. Sure, the logo on the dial and the print on the glass back are clearly visible, but they don’t seem intrusive at all. Seiko has pushed this limited edition in a direction that I would like to see more of in the future. The overall look and feel gives the classy Presage a more instrumental approach, and I’m already imagining something suitable for an urban exploration adventure. Does that make any sense? I don’t know; All I know is that this watch made me stop thinking much about it based on the press photos and I really liked it when I got my hands on it. And we shouldn’t forget that, because our personal experience of a watch can be different than ours think A watch can look and feel based on pictures. It’s too easy to dismiss a watch before picking it up yourself. Well, if there are at least some one Something I can take out of my chain of thought, let it be that.
The limited edition Studio Ghibli x Seiko Presage Craftsmanship Series Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind SPB437 is available in an edition of 1,500 pieces. It is available now at retail price of 1,750 euros.
For more information about the SPB437 and other models and collections, visit SeikoWatches.com.
https://monochrome-watches.com/first-look-seiko-presage-spb437-craftsmanship-series-studio-ghibli-nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind-collaboration-limited-edition-6r51- Specifications-Price/
