Seiko has announced a new small watch collections in their Presage line, and it?s directly inspired by the life and work of Riki Watanabe, one of the most important Japanese designers. Watanable passed away in 2013 at the age of 101, but in his life was responsible for creating much of what we now think of as the modern Japanese design language. Often called the ?Charles Eames of Japan,? he became particularly well known for creating beautiful furniture from inexpensive materials in the years following World War II. His clock and watch designs produced later in his career (many of them for Seiko) became iconic – if you Google ?Riki Clock? you?re sure to see a clock that reminds you of one in your own life, even if it?s not a true Watanabe design. These new watches from Seiko, dubbed the Enamel Dial Automatic, represent a direct link to that aesthetic.
Seiko Presage Enamel Dial Automatic

Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial: Black, maroon 
Dimensions: 39.9 x 12.4 x 47.2mm
Crystal: Sapphire   
Water Resistance: 10 bar
Crown: Push/pull          
Movement: 6R35
Strap/bracelet: Leather  
Price: $1096
Reference Number: SPB113J1, SPB115J1
Expected Release: January 2020 

As the name would imply, this watch uses an enamel dial in one of two color variants: traditional and stark white, or a deep maroon. Enamel dials are incredibly difficult to make properly, and the tight tolerances around their craft means that, inevitably, many have to be thrown ...