Seiko Presage Cocktail Owner Review : Dazzling, solar and luminous

Where to begin? Relatively simple, this dial is simply sublime and enough in itself to make you forget the small flaws of this watch! The relief is incredible: it captures the light in an extraordinary way, whether artificial or natural, direct or indirect. From afar or up close, from the front or the side, it is always splendid! What more can I say? According to Seiko, it evokes the magnificent landscapes of Japan in winter. This is a "limited" series released in 2017 in a run of 7,000 pieces. This one is an SSA385J1, with a power reserve display and a date hand at 6 o'clock. There are also two other variations: the SRPC97J1 with a date window at 3 o'clock, and the SRP843J1, also with a window at 3 o'clock but in a more compact format. Learning a Seiko reference isn't easy... And what's more, this one has an (official) nickname inspired by a cocktail: Fuyugeshiki. It's not easy to remember either! I really like this dial, but that's not all. I'm generally not a fan of classic date windows at 3 o'clock, and here, I love the way the date is displayed. The power reserve perfectly complements the whole look. Plus, once it's put away, I like being able to see the remaining power (41 hours) if I want to put it back on quickly! Now, it's not without its flaws—otherwise, it would be a Grand Seiko! The original steel bracelet is, in my opinion, mediocre. I replaced it with a blue leather strap, which matches the color of the complication hands, and which I find absolutely perfect for this model. Another negative point: the 14.9 mm thickness (for a 40 mm diameter) is too much. It detracts from the elegance of the watch. It would be so much more elegant with 3 or 4 mm less… But the 4R57 movement probably has something to do with it: average precision, but excellent robustness. Conclusion: it really makes you want to own a Grand Seiko, which would erase these flaws! But for the price, it's already an exceptional watch.