Seiko's new Presage Classic "Bonsai" limited-edition: First hands-on images reveal 2 different casebacks
Seiko's press images for the new Presage Classic x Tradman's Bonsai show a dark green dial. However, hands-on photography from Fratello and Hodinkee Japan shows something far less settled.
Across the two shoots, the dial refuses to hold one colour. In Fratello's studio frames on slate it looks almost black (see below). Most of the green survives only near the centre. In contrast, their outdoor wrist shot changes the dial color to vivid emerald across nearly the whole surface. Hodinkee's daylight images look pretty similar as well. In their photos, the dial is practically glowing in open shade, while one angled studio frame looks more teal than anything. Mind you, these are four different states of the same watch, captured by two photographers. It makes the whole dial texture way more interesting.
Speaking of the texture, Fratello's macro work exhibits the stamping is not machine-regular. Fine striations radiate outward. They are more dense and tangled near the centre, but stretch into longer strokes toward the rim (with visible waver). That irregularity catches light kind of unevenly, and it could explain why the dial changes color instead of "sweeping" like a sunray finish.
What's even more interesting than the dial photos are the casebacks — they are not identical. Fratello's international sample carries only the Seiko markings, "Limited Edition" and the serial 0001/2000 around an unprinted sapphire. Hodinkee Japan's HCC011J adds the Tradman's Bonsai name in gold across the glass, numbered 001/600. Seiko's own description mentions the engraving and serial but not the printed collaboration branding. So far, it is visible only on the Japanese reference.
Other details are pretty much uninteresting, if you already read our coverage of the official launch. The case measures 12.9 mm, but the polished mid-case band is shallow — most of the height is in the domed crystal and the caseback, so it should wear thinner than the number suggests. Bezel milling is fine and dense. It's closer to a coin edge than a fluted Datejust bezel — though gold plating, a seven-row bracelet and a green dial will invite that comparison, regardless. The texture is left to carry the watch on its own, since there is no date (and no lume as well). Also, Fratello describes a pin buckle on the spare leather strap, while Hodinkee's image shows a folding clasp — just another distinction between the two.
All images are copyrighted by Hodinkee Japan and Fratello Watches.
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