Two new limited editions of the beloved Seiko Presage Cocktail Time have been unveiled for the Asia Pacific, taking inspiration from luxurious resort life.
Beach time is perhaps one of the most sacred times of all. And on our side of the world, with some of the world’s best beaches, sunset views and ocean aplenty, we love to take that time extremely seriously. Well, about as seriously as one can take such a time. But Australia is just one location, and across the Asia-Pacific there are plenty of places to get your ocean fix. Regardless of whether you’re in Krabi, Palawan or the Cook Islands, Japanese watch brand Seiko has just released two of the best accompaniments to the occasion.
Of course, these watches could be none other than the brand’s iconic Presage Cocktail Time collection. Known for combining traditional mechanical watchmaking with distinctive dial designs, the lineup has so often taken inspiration from the atmosphere, colour and character of cocktails. But this time around, the focus isn’t on the cocktail in hand but the surrounding occasion, with both releases aiming to capture the beauty of the setting sun from the beach.
First & Last Resort
The new watches, named the HCB010 and HCB011 respectively, take after many of the other Presage Cocktail Time models already in the catalogue. Housed in stainless steel cases, they measure 40.5mm in diameter, 47.5mm from lug to lug and 11.8mm in thickness. While it’s certainly a mite bigger than the universal wearing dimensions of 39/38mm, they don’t overstay their welcome on the wrist, wrapping easily around it.
Both watches are also finished in their own types of gold PVD. The HCB010 uses a more flamboyant yellow gold finish, while the HCB011 tones things down with a rose gold PVD. One could almost see them as contrasting points in the sunset, where the yellow gold is the golden hour and the rose gold represents the moment before dusk turns to night.
The new duo also come with Hardlex crystals instead of the usual sapphire, which helps keep the price point accessible. Interestingly, Hardlex also provides superior shatter resistance, something sapphire lacks.
The two new Presage Cocktail Time references come in two different strap options. The HCB010 comes on a five-link yellow gold PVD bracelet matching the case, terminating in a butterfly clasp for enhanced comfort. The rose gold HCB011, on the other hand, uses a brown leather strap and a rose gold PVD pin buckle instead.
Both watches are distinctively dressy, so it should be unsurprising that both only have 50m of water resistance. However, that’s more than enough to survive the rigours of daily life, though I wouldn’t take either beyond the sand and into the surf.
Selling Sunset
The two new Seiko Presage Cocktail Time models also exemplify why the Japanese brand has some of the best dial finishing in the entire watch industry. Before we get to that, however, the watches share the same dressy common ground across several elements.
Sharp Dauphine hands and faceted applied indexes stretch towards each other to tell the time, while a needle-like seconds hand points towards the adjoining printed seconds track. Aesthetically pure, the only interruptions are the applied Seiko typeface, the ‘Presage’ and ‘Automatic’ designations, and the three o’clock date window in contrasting white. These elements add up to one of the most recognisable, accessible dress watch looks of all time.
Available in two distinct finishes, both the HCB010 and HCB011 capture a different attitude towards the beauty of the Asia-Pacific. The first comes with a rich teal-green finish, alongside white and yellow gold accents. Combined with a subtle gradient, the effect changes with the light, revealing the undertones of blue within the green.
This is further compounded by the Presage Cocktail Time’s signature crisscross finish, inspired by cracked ice in a cocktail. Together, they lend the dial an organic quality reminiscent of tropical foliage surrounding a beach at sunset.
Conversely, the HCB011 captures the pink sky of the setting sun, using a unique blush-pink tone surrounded by black and rose gold accents. The crisscross finish produces a soft metallic sheen, with its tonal variation similarly changing according to the light. Between the two, the pink and rose gold is my personal favourite, though it may be due to my bias towards one of its more luxurious siblings, the Grand Seiko SBGA413 Shunbun.
Japan-Easy
Through the transparent caseback is Seiko’s own Cal. 4R35 automatic movement. Beating at a classic 3Hz (21,600VpH) with a 41-hour power reserve, this is about as standard as Seiko movements get. Featuring only a single complication, it has long been one of the most reliable and price-friendly movements of its generation.
Having covered many a watch with the Cal. 4R35 movement inside, it admittedly gets harder to add something new to the conversation every time. But while the 4R35 isn’t doing anything spectacular, it’s still functional, intuitive and incredibly reliable. For a first foray into mechanical watchmaking, it’s an excellent place to start.
Initial Thoughts
Though Seiko often gets maligned for creating limited-edition timepieces at such an immense capacity, the brand’s market reach is as ubiquitous as it is for one of the most recognisable luxury brands in the industry. Dropping these new releases across the entire Asia-Pacific market, the HCB010 and HCB011 merely serve to underscore what makes Seiko so special, whilst also characterising what makes our region the same.
From the near-universal wearability of the cases to the exceptional dial finishing, reliable movement and entry-level price point, there’s no faulting just how accessible Seiko is, even to the most unfamiliar of outsiders. In all, the two new Presage Cocktail Time models continue the collection’s tradition of bringing expressive dial work and mechanical watchmaking together in a format designed for dressy yet adaptable wear.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | HCB010 (Green) HCB011 (Pink) |
| Dimensions | 40.5mm case diameter x 47.5mm lug-to-lug x 11.8mm thickness |
| Case | Yellow / rose gold PVD steel |
| Dial | Green with yellow gold accents Pink with rose gold accents |
| Crystal | Hardlex |
| Caseback | Open, Hardlex |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. 4R35 with date complication |
| Power Reserve | 41h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Yellow gold PVD steel bracelet with butterfly clasp Brown leather strap with rose gold PVD pin buckle |