Seiko’s Porco Rosso-inspired watches are a delight for animation lovers
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RIDDHI DOSHI
- 6 minutes read
Japanese watchmaker Seiko has launched two new watches inspired by the movie Porco Rosso, a Japanese comedy-adventure movie created by Tokyo-based animation studio Studio Ghibli. Released in 1992, it was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
These watches fall under Seiko’s Presage series, which is a collection of completely mechanical watches that are inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The series has a wide variety of creations such as Shippo Enamel collection and the Arita porcelain dial, which are an amalgamation of beauty and technology.
The movie’s plot revolves around the early 1930s in Italy; where bounty hunters, air pirates and crony pilots ruled the skies. The film’s protagonist, Porco Rosso is a seaplane-flying pig, the most skilled and crafty pilots, who makes a living chasing the sky bandits over Italy and the stunning Adriatic Sea.
The two watches encapsulate the passion for technology and mechanical engineering that is at the core of the film. It also explores the interface between function and design that director Miyazaki has conveyed through the affectionate way that he depicts Porco’s aeroplane, Savoia S-21.
The individuality of Savoia S-21 is reflected in the detail of the watch. The dial takes its inspiration from the instrument panel of the plane with clear, bold hands and numerals as well as detailed and intricate markers.
One strap is a vibrant red, which was the colour of the fuselage of Savoia S-21.
The strap has stitching in red, white and green, and the other is in black with the same coloured stitching.
The white and black enamel dials, made by master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his colleagues, echoes the feel and texture of the materials used in a 1920s aircraft.
The “R” emblem on the tail of Savoia S-21 is displayed at the six o’clock position of the Spring Drive watch at three o’clock with the same colouring as the plane’s tail.
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The watch with the white dial carries Seiko’s innovative Spring Drive movement while the black dial version pays tribute to watchmaker’s contribution to the history of traditional horology with an automatic chronograph.
The beauty of the Spring Drive movement is visible through the sapphire crystal case back, as is the Porco Rosso symbol. On the case back, a famous line from the film, A pig that does not fly is just a pig, is engraved in Italian.
The watches come in a special presentation box with an alternative strap and a leather cloth that is marked with the symbol of Porco.
