Introducing The Studio Ghibli x Seiko Presage Nausicaä

Traditional Japanese craftsmanship is a key feature of the Seiko Presage collection, combining fine mechanical watchmaking with various art forms. Now, Seiko presents the latest addition to this collection, a new watch in cooperation with “Ghibli Studios”, which specializes in animation films. This watch is inspired by one of the most famous Japanese animated films: “Nausicaa or the Valley of the Wind.” The fantasy anime film "Princess of the Valley of the Winds" was released in 1984, and to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its release, the two companies presented the new watch. The overall design of the watch is round and curved, inspired by the tools and machines used by "Nausicaa" in the film.

This collaboration is based on the Presage Craftsmanship collection, so it takes the roots of this famous collection, The stainless steel case,measured 40.5mm wide and 12.4mm has a textured, vintage-style finish, and is protected with a super-hard coating. It resembles the kind of well-worn tools that appear in the film. The uniquely shaped crown, newly designed for this watch, has a large size to ensure ease of use. A blue crystal glass adorns the crown to express the eye of the Ohms, a giant, shell-covered trilobite-like species central to the film’s plot.

The pure blue enamel dial has been newly created to represent a blue outfit worn by the story’s heroine. The dial color was made possible through the skill of master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his team, who specialize in enamel production. The white hour and minute hands, as well as the printed indexes, stand out against the blue dial to enhance legibility. The hour and minute hands have a rounded, leaf-like shape while the white indexes have an elongated shape, while the second hand provides a gold-toned accent. allowing the time to be read at a glance. The emblem from one of Nausiccä’s blue outfits is printed at the six o’clock position.

The watch is powered by Caliber 6R51, a new iteration of Seiko’s high-performance 6R55 movement. This updated version boasts a power reserve of 72 hours and maintains the same performance capabilities, albeit without the inclusion of a date display. The development of this new movement aims to accentuate the elegance of the meticulously crafted dial that sits atop it.

Through a display case back, wearers can admire the movement's gold-coloured oscillating weight, accompanied by a depiction of the climactic scene wherein a non-toxic plant emerges from the depths of the Sea of Decay, evoking a vision of Earth's purification. Engraved on the gold-plated case back is a legendary quote from the Valley of the Wind, as expressed in the film: “Clothed in blue robes, descending onto a golden field.”

This watch is a limited edition of 1,500 pieces and comes packaged in a box adorned with artwork inspired by the animation series. It will be released in March 2024 and includes a brown leather strap with a three-part folding clasp. The retail price is EUR 1,750, which is roughly equivalent to 6,900 AED.

For more information please visit Seiko official website.