Seiko celebrates the Ichigo Ichie in Sydney and Melbourne, reminding us to slow down every once in a while
Borna BošnjakFriday quiz question: What do Ferris Bueller, Seiko watches and a 16th century Japanese tea-ceremony master called Sen no Rikyu have in common? That’s right. They all subscribe to the same life philosophy. As Ferris pointed out: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Sen no Rikyu had a similar belief. He came up the phrase “Ichigo Ichie” which basically translates to “One lifetime, one encounter.” Sen no Rikyu demanded his disciples give total focus and sincerity to each act of the tea ceremony, because that particular moment will only exist once and so must be fully lived to appreciate its full potential.
This same idea now inspires Seiko’s latest Australasian limited edition that pays tribute to the “Ichigo Ichie” philosophy. At a Seiko event at the Eau de Vie cocktail bar in Sydney, Daniel Findlay, the brand’s Australian marketing manager, explained this is the idea of being fully present and cherishing each moment as a singular experience that will never occur again. “Please take this gentle reminder to pause, reflect, and appreciate those moments,” Daniel told the assembled crowd. “It might be something as simple as enjoying the gentle tick of your Seiko watch in the afternoon sun. Or appreciating that first sip of whiskey as you sit around a fire with your friends.”
As well as offering Japanese-inspired wisdom, mercifully, Daniel was also dispensing hard liquor. Seiko has partnered with Lark, the famous Tasmanian whiskey distillery, for some time now and asked them to dream up a cocktail that riffed off the “Ichigo Ichie” concept. In a nod to the tea ceremony, the resulting drink combined sencha and hibiscus teas alongside shochu, champagne, pickled ginger and, of course, a shot of Lark Classic Cask. It tasted like a super-punchy take on a Bellini in the best possible way.
The striking golden tones of that cocktail were credited with inspiring the new Presage Cocktail Time SRPL20J, and its beautiful champagne sunray dial. The idea was very much replicated in Melbourne, just a week later – though with a much larger crowd in attendance at Nick & Nora’s, with Art Deco fittings taking you back to the post-prohibition opulence of a now-legal speakeasy.
And it wasn’t just the Ichigo Ichie that was being celebrated, as Seiko brought out Cocktail Time pieces inspired by a variety of drinks, many of which resulted from collaborations with Tokyo’s Star Bar. As a result, even if you weren’t into the beverages (for whatever reason), there was plenty on display to quench any remaining horological thirst.
Luke, Borna, and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: we’re too easy
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Most of the time, watch fans need no excuse to get a new watch – see above.
Wristshot of the week: Teasing from Andersen Genève
I’d like to see someone say “no” to Andersen’s social media team when they posted this image with the caption “would you like to see this live again?” Though there’s an ongoing trend of watches getting smaller and smaller, I still feel like we’re sorely missing a few high-end complications in 36-38mm cases to drive the point home. This is elegance, personified (in a watch).
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Zodiac Super Sea Wolf World Time
The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf World Time combines two of the most popular aesthetics of the 1950s in a modern watch. It’s a capable diver with 200 metres of water resistance, but also a reliable travelling companion, courtesy of the Soprod C125 GMT movement.
Discover the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf World Time, either online or in our Melbourne Discovery Studio. Price: US$2,000
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