Seiko serves up another limited-edition, Australian whisky-inspired Presage Cocktail Time with a delicious dial
Jamie Weiss- Following on from the success of last year’s “Irori Moments”, Seiko collaborates with formative Australian whisky distillery Lark on a second Australasian limited edition.
- It’s named the “Ichigo Ichie”, which is a Japanese concept that expresses the fleeting, singular experience a good cocktail can be.
- It features a rose gold-plated steel case and an engraved radial sunray dial for a very dressy look.
Lark Distillery is Tasmania’s (and Australia’s) foundational whisky distillery. Founded by Bill and Lyn Lark in 1992, the Lark family helped create an entire industry from scratch: distilling whisky in sheds and kitchens before growing into a world-renowned brand and inspiring others to start making whisky in Tasmania, a region perfectly suited to the practice thanks to its pure water, clean air, exceptional barley, climate, and peat bogs. Seiko, too, is Japan’s foundational watchmaker. That’s why it was so fitting when the two brands came together last year to collaborate on a limited-edition Presage Cocktail Time inspired by a Lark whisky-based cocktail, which was one of Seiko’s highlight 2023 releases. In 2024, Seiko and Lark have penned another collaboration inspired by yet another whisky cocktail – and it’s a very tasty second round indeed.
Last year’s cocktail (and watch) was called the “Irori Moments” (ref. SRPK50J), designed to evoke the warmth and conviviality of an irori, the traditional Japanese sunken hearth used for heating, cooking and as a gathering spot for families. This year’s edition features a more philosophical inspiration. It’s called the “Ichigo Ichie”, which as Seiko explains, is a concept rooted in a 16th-century Japanese proverb that’s also a core principle of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony as well as mixology.
It roughly translates to “for this time only” or “once in a lifetime”: when used about drinking, it’s the idea that each cocktail – or each bottle or expression of a whisky – is a singular experience, and should be appreciated as such. It’s a typically romantic and inscrutably Japanese concept, but one that definitely resonates as a whisky lover and watch collector. Time is fleeting, especially in our fast-paced world, and we should savour the little things. By the way, I’m chasing Seiko and Lark down for the exact recipe for their Ichigo Ichie cocktail, but I know it contains Lark Classic Cask, shochu, champagne, sencha and hibiscus tea garnished with pickled ginger. We love a literal cocktail watch.
So, how are these admittedly delicious ideas expressed in a watch? Based on the popular Presage Cocktail Time, the Ichigo Ichie (ref. SRPL20J) combines a 40.5mm rose gold-plated steel case with an engraved radial sunray dial and a black calf leather strap with rose gold-plated hardware. This is a similar look to last year’s model, which had a yellow gold-plated case and gold textured dial. While that model, the Irori Moments, had a very warm aesthetic, the Ichigo Ichie is more effervescent and I daresay dressier.
The engraved dial is classic but executed well, with a colour that ranges from off-white to champagne (highly appropriate considering the Ichigo Ichie cocktail contains champagne) depending on the angle and light. To be clear, it’s not guilloché, but you could be fooled into believing that it was – Seiko does know how to do a cracking dial at a sharp price point. It’s less unique than the Irori Moments, but probably a more versatile timepiece in one’s rotation.
Under the hood of the Ichigo Ichie is Seiko’s in-house calibre 4R35, a workhorse movement given a slight makeover with a semi-skeletonised gold-tone rotor. It beats at 3Hz, has a 41-hour power reserve and is viewable through a Hardlex caseback. The Ichigo Ichie also features a Hardlex crystal protecting its dial: the slightly pedestrian movement and use of Hardlex are the only criticisms I have of this watch, which is otherwise a deserving limited edition.
Each watch will be sold with a special presentation dark timber box, which nods to the barrels that Lark whiskies are aged in and suits the vibe of this watch perfectly. Sadly, the Ichigo Ichie doesn’t come with a free bottle of Lark. Believe me, I asked.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Australasian Limited Edition 2024 “Ichigo Ichie” SRPL20J pricing & availability
The Seiko x Lark Presage Cocktail Time “Ichigo Ichie” is an Australasian limited edition of 1,000 individually numbered pieces and will be available from September 2024 at Seiko boutiques and select retailers across Australia and New Zealand, as well as online. Price: A$950
| Brand | Seiko |
| Model | Presage Cocktail Time Australasian Limited Edition 2024 “Ichigo Ichie” |
| Reference Number | SRPL20J |
| Case Dimensions | 40.5mm (D) x 11.8mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Rose gold plated steel case |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Crystal(s) | Hardlex front and back |
| Dial | Engraved off-white radial sunray |
| Strap | Brown calf leather with push-button folding clasp |
| Movement | Seiko 4R35, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Australasian limited edition of 1,000 pieces |
| Price | A$950 |