Seiko’s Best Affordable Dress Watch Is Even Classier With a Brand-First Strap Design
From scraps to straps.
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Seiko opened 2025 by introducing the Presage Classic Series .
It's a follow-up to the fan-favorite Cocktail Timer series , continuing the tradition of offering watches with a luxury-tier appearance at mid-tier prices, powered by respectable movements.
The Presage Classic 'Shiracha' is named after the dial color, which emulates a traditional Japanese textile dye. - Credit: Seiko
Less than a year in, Seiko introduces a couple of small but significant design twists in the limited edition Presage Classic 'Shiracha.' (No relation to the hot sauce.)
One is a coin-edge bezel with a copper tint, and the other is a strap unlike any Seiko has ever produced.
The dial also adds a new color to the Edo silk theme that has run through the series since its introduction. The gradient beige is named Shiracha after a special shade of brown prized during the late Edo period in Japan.
The Presage Classic 'Shiracha' has a 40mm polished steel case. - Credit: Seiko
Aside from the two new features, the Presage Classic 'Shiracha' follows the blueprint of the 40mm references released when the series debuted.
Seiko has used similar applied baton indices since the 1960s. But the faceted lance hour and minute hands with a matching seconds hand counterweight are new and definitive of the Presage Classic Series.
From scraps to straps
The Presage Classic 'Shiracha' has an oxblood leather strap with white end stitching and a steel folding clasp—nothing extraordinary. What is groundbreaking is the leather's provenance.
The oxblood leather strap is made from trimmings created during shoe production. - Credit: Seiko
Seiko sourced the leather from Regal , a small but well-respected Japanese shoe brand. The upcycled straps are made from trimmings produced during dress shoe production.
It's a brilliant move because the soft, supple leather used for dress shoes is virtually identical to that used for watch straps. The panel sizes required to make two-piece straps also align with the scraps created by shoemakers.
The lining of the leather straps is also sourced from Regal. - Credit: Seiko
Regal also provides Seiko with the lining material used for the soft underside of the straps. It is the same fine-grain leather used to line Regal dress shoes.
Unfortunately, Regal no longer carries the matching oxblood penny loafers that inspired the strap.
Shiracha silk
Seiko's Presage Classic Series features dials inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship of the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. Much like the Renaissance in Europe, it was a golden age of artistic innovation.
Shiracha is a light brown shade prized during the Bunsei era of the Edo period. It was used in artwork and decorative design for its soothing atmosphere.
The Presage Classic 'Shiracha' is limited to 3,000 pieces. - Credit: Seiko
The gradient shiracha silk-textured dial pairs beautifully with the gold-tone hands and indices and the oxblood leather strap. The copper tone of the coin-edge bezel pulls the motif together.
Seiko's Presage Classic Series already offered some of the best dress watches in the $1,000 range, especially the 36mm options, and the upcycled loafer leather strap and coin-edge bezel add a degree of sophistication at no additional cost.
Availability and price
The Seiko Presage Classic 'Shiracha' will be available in October 2025 from Seiko for $1,050.
It is currently only available for preorder in the European and Australian markets and is limited to 3,000 pieces worldwide.
Seiko Presage Classic 'Shiracha' Edition
Specs
| Case Size 40mm |
|---|
| Movement Seiko caliber 6R55 automatic |
| Water Resistance 50m |
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men's Health. Now, he's on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.
