Porcelain enamel, also called vitreous enamel, has been a decorative art form for thousands of years. From ancient Egypt to modern-day Japan, it is prized for its beauty, strength and versatility. Enamelling involves fusing powdered glass to a substrate. The colored powder is heated to 750 – 850℃, at which point it melts and can be applied to metal or other compatible surfaces. As it cools, it hardens and acquires a glass-like surface. In the 19th century, manufacturers began using enamel to coat consumer products, such as bathtubs, cookware and countertops. And now, Seiko Presage has created yet another timeless application.
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For almost half a century, Mitsuru Yokosawa has been expanding the boundaries of enamel, mastering time-honored techniques and gradually creating new ones. As his experience broadened, the layers of enamel he was able to apply became thinner and thinner. Yokosawa-san is now able to apply a flawless enamel coat just 0.1 mm thin. Such precision requires not only exceptional visual acuity, but also the seemingly magical ability to make minute adjustments to the enamel composition based on fluctuations in humidity and weather conditions. Aptly, it would take the skills of a magician to create the face of the new Seiko Presage.
Pre-treatment
Enamel Production
Enamel Application
Firing
Inspection and Shipment
Featuring an enamel coating a mere 0.1mm thick, the elegant white face of the Seiko Presage honors Japan's first wristwatch: the 1913 Laurel. Amazingly, its whiteness will not fade over time. Decades from now, your Seiko Presage will have the same fresh-faced look it displayed the first time you wore it, thanks to Japan's timeless tradition of porcelain enamel.
