Seiko Presage Cocktail Owner Review : Sublime, classy and subtle

In this price range, you can find just about anything. But Seiko has remarkable expertise, offering the best of what industrial watchmaking has to offer: excellent value for money. That's the feeling this Cocktail gives. While the polished steel case is somewhat ordinary (we would have preferred a gold PVD case or even solid gold, as it deserves it), and the folding clasp is rather basic, the leather strap is beautifully crafted, as is the crown, reminiscent of a Pilot's Watch. What makes the difference is the dial, which always catches the light and, depending on the angle, reveals a constantly renewed look. The sword hands are finely crafted, as are the hour markers. The openworked seconds counterweight stands out beautifully against the dial, and the date is just the right amount of prominent, thanks to the black background with white numerals (we would have liked the numerals to be gold as well, but that would probably have hindered readability). The sapphire crystal case back offers an interesting view of the NH35 caliber, which does its job well, with the typical drift characteristic of this movement (we'll see in a few years). What's interesting is the beautifully crafted, gold-colored oscillating weight, which really enhances the feeling of a "beautiful watch." But the highlight is the dial: I never tire of holding it up to the light every time I check the time to see its reflections. The online images from Seiko are enhanced with filters to best visualize the color gradient, but the reality is much more subtle, and ultimately, that's what I really remember about this watch: classic, subtle, and sublime thanks to its dial. Now sold out, it's worth more than its purchase price. In fact, it's worth that price because it gives the impression of being worth (more) than it actually is. However, it's expensive for what it offers with an NH35 caliber.