Seiko Presage Style 60s automatic purple dial steel bracelet 39,5 mm

The 1964 Heritage: The Crown Chronograph Spirit, Reimagined

The Seiko Presage Style 60’s collection draws its inspiration from a milestone in Japanese watchmaking: the Seiko Crown Chronograph of 1964, the first chronograph produced in Japan, launched for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

While today’s models do not feature a chronograph function, they faithfully borrow its key design codes:

• a slim bezel with a 60-minute scale,
• faceted vintage-inspired indexes,
• boldly shaped hands,
• and above all, the box-shaped domed crystal that instantly recalls the acrylic “plexi” glasses of the 1960s.

The Style 60’s is not a strict re-edition. It is a modern reinterpretation: it retains the warmth and nostalgia of the sixties while integrating today’s standards of reliability and everyday comfort.

With the 2025 lineup (SRPL71, SRPL73 and SRPL75), Seiko refines the formula even further:

• a reduced 39.5 mm diameter,
• a redesigned dial with greater depth,
• a date window now positioned at 6 o’clock for improved symmetry.

The result? A watch with unapologetic retro charm, yet perfectly rooted in contemporary daily wear.

A Redesigned Dial: More Depth, Better Balance

For the 2025 series, Seiko did more than introduce new colors. The Japanese manufacture reworked the very architecture of the dial to bring greater coherence and sophistication to the Presage Style 60’s collection.

The first noticeable change is the return of the date at 6 o’clock. After a controversial phase with a 4:30 date window, this new placement restores the dial’s natural symmetry. The outcome feels instantly more balanced, more classic, and more faithful to the 1960s spirit that inspired the collection.

But the true evolution lies in the dial’s construction. The central surface now adopts a horizontal brushed finish that captures light with subtlety. Surrounding it, a slightly concave ring creates a new sense of depth within the range. This discreet relief generates a play of shadows and reflections that gives the dial more presence on the wrist—without ever tipping into excess.

The overall effect evokes a “sector dial” aesthetic revisited, fully in tune with sixties watch design. The applied, faceted indexes—punctuated with LumiBrite—reinforce that impression of graphic precision. The luminous dauphine hands add crispness and dynamism, perfectly balancing the watch’s vintage character.

The fixed 60-minute graduated bezel, though purely aesthetic, acts as a fine and discreet frame. It highlights the dial without weighing it down, subtly recalling the tool-watch universe of the era.

With this evolution, the Presage Style 60’s gains maturity. More harmonious and more structured, it retains its retro charm while asserting a more refined and contemporary design.

Silvery Violet: Controlled Originality

More unexpected, the SRPL73 embraces a bluish-grey tone with subtle lilac reflections. A rarer shade in watchmaking, it gives the watch a presence that is both soft and distinctive.

The satin-finished grey bezel frames the dial with restraint, allowing its depth and shifting light effects to fully express themselves. Paired with a stainless-steel bracelet, this version achieves a particularly successful balance between classicism and originality. It will appeal to enthusiasts drawn to less conventional hues—without ever slipping into eccentricity.

A Compact Case True to the 1964 Spirit

The new Presage Style 60’s SRPL71, SRPL73 and SRPL75 maintain well-balanced proportions. With a 39.5 mm diameter, a restrained 12 mm thickness and a 46.2 mm lug-to-lug length, they are designed to be genuinely wearable and versatile.

This compact format recalls the sporty watches of the 1960s—starting with the 1964 Crown Chronograph that inspired the collection. On the wrist, the watch sits naturally, without excess, with a measured yet confident presence.

The stainless-steel case adopts slightly curved lines, softened by mirror-polished finishing on the lugs. The overall impression is one of discreet elegance, where nothing feels oversized. The fixed 60-minute graduated aluminum bezel is purely aesthetic: it frames the dial like a thin outline and reinforces the watch’s vintage sport character.

Seiko retains its box-shaped domed Hardlex crystal, an unmistakable nod to period acrylic glasses. This choice is central to the watch’s retro identity and helps keep pricing attractive, while still offering good everyday resistance.

Water resistance is rated at 50 meters. More than sufficient for everyday life—rain, splashes, handwashing—it also serves as a reminder that this is a sport-inspired watch, not a diver.

Overall, the case does exactly what it should: place the dial at the center of attention. It acts as a restrained frame in service of the design, true to the Presage spirit.

A Proven Automatic Movement: Calibre 4R35

At the heart of the Presage Style 60’s SRPL71, SRPL73 and SRPL75 beats a movement well known to Seiko enthusiasts: the automatic calibre 4R35. Reliable, robust and easy to service, it perfectly reflects the Presage philosophy—offering a genuine mechanical experience at an accessible price.

This in-house movement runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and delivers a power reserve of approximately 41 hours. It features automatic winding, as well as manual winding and a stop-seconds (hacking) function for precise time-setting.

Visible through the screw-down transparent caseback, the 4R35 does not aim to impress with extravagant decoration. Its skeletonized gold-toned rotor nonetheless highlights its belonging to the more refined Presage family, dressed up compared to Seiko’s purely utilitarian ranges. The approach remains intentionally functional: priority is given to reliability, longevity and ease of maintenance.

In this price segment, few brands offer an in-house automatic movement as proven as this one. It is one of the key strengths of these Style 60’s models: delivering a true mechanical watch that is durable, coherent and budget-friendly.