Homage watches are often polarizing. Some watch companies would often just revive vintage silhouettes from their extensive catalogs, slap on a modern caliber movement, produce them in classic and modern colors, and call it a day.
True homages, on the other hand, capture the essence and historical significance of these historic timepieces, preserving their vintage character while incorporating a modern twist. Seiko’s new Presage line, the Style 60s, did just that, taking inspiration from the 1964 Crown Chronograph and giving it a vintage yet contemporary look for today. Seiko introduced the Style 60s in 2021 as its take on 1960s-inspired watches, marking another addition to its ever-growing Presage line. Right off the bat, the Style 60s wears its vintage aesthetic on its sleeve, but with modern sensibilities.
The 1964 Crown Chronograph: The Revolutionary Watch Behind Seiko’s Legacy in the 1960s
As previously mentioned, the Style 60’s Presage line drew inspiration from Seiko’s and Japan’s first wristwatch chronograph, the 1964 Crown Chronograph. This watch features a Calibre 5719 hand-wound chronograph movement that operates at a high frequency of 5.5Hz, or 39,600 vibrations per hour (vph). The Crown Chronograph houses this impressive movement in its 38mm steel case with a rotating bezel. The case size was relatively small for its time, especially considering it was designed for a chronograph wristwatch.
The Seiko Presage Style 60s: A Modern Homage to a Vintage Classic Seiko Design
The more you look into the Style 60s watches from this lineup, the more you see why Seiko chose the 1964 Crown Chronograph as inspiration. For starters, the Style 60s all have a 40.8mm case diameter, giving the line a much more reasonable case size that’s suitable for everyone, especially since Seiko tends to favor larger cases even for most of its other Presage watches.
Instead of reviving the Crown Chronograph and adding a modern movement, Seiko decided to capture its essence in the Style 60’s line, primarily through its black bezel, multi-textured surface, and sharp case silhouette. The dials and markers are all simple yet legible, maintaining the quality and essence of the original Crown Chronograph from the 1960s.
A Deeper Look Into the Retro Seiko Presage Line of the Style 60s
The Style 60s design philosophy remains similar yet modern in contrast with the Crown Chronograph: applied, polished indices with Seiko’s Lumibrite on both the markers and hands for better legibility, and a fixed bezel with a 60-minute metallic insert in an assortment of colors available, all housed in a reasonably-sized steel case with a raised Hardlex crystal that pretty much anyone could wear. The skeletonized versions of the Style 60s also have an additional 24-hour subdial right beside the exposed regulator on the dial.
The Style 60s has two main variations: a time-minute-date model and an open-heart or skeletonized version. The first three references of the Style 60s, released back in 2021, namely the SRPG03, SRPG05, and SRPG07, are powered by Seiko’s in-house calibre 4R35 movement with 23 jewels. The open-heart references, SSA423 and SSA425, now feature the Calibre 4R39 movement, which has 24 jewels and a 24-hour indicator. Both models feature 50 meters of water resistance and retain a 41-hour power reserve. The SRPG references are 12.0mm thick, while the SSA open-heart ones are 12.8mm thick.
The Presage Style 60s line also has GMT variations in the SSK009 and SSK0011 references. Both models still retain the dauphine hands and date window of the Style 60s look, but exchange the 60-minute bezel with a 24-hour bezel to accompany the additional GMT hand, which allows for tracking two different time zones.
Transcending Generations: How The Presage Style 60’s Retro Look is a Timeless Cultural Statement
The overall aesthetic of the Style 60s Presage line is a tasteful reinterpretation of Seiko’s 1964 Crown Chronograph. The box-shaped crystal lends the watch a robust and sporty look, while the slim bezel and gilt markers and indices contribute to the sporty vintage vibe of the Style 60s. The earthy tones of the various dial colors and the cream Lumibrite on the dauphine hands contribute to the faux-patina effect sought after in authentic vintage watches.
The updated 40.8mm case diameter wears convincingly small on the wrist thanks to the thin and sharp lines of the case and the taper of the lugs. You can dress it up or down by using different steel, leather, NATO, and rubber straps, making it much more versatile over time.
Overall, the Style 60s stays true to its goal. The Presage vintage watch line boasts a luxurious and fun yet sophisticated look, inspired by the 1960s. If you want a modern and versatile piece that is the perfect blend of old and new, full of history, the Seiko Presage Style 60s hits that spot perfectly.
