"Leaked" Photo of the New Upcoming Citizen Attesa Direct Flight

This appears to be the yet to be released Citizen Attesa Direct Flight model BY0040-51F

(Photo courtesy of Journal.mycom.co.jp)

This is the first "Real life" photo we have seen of the new Attesa Direct Flight models since the Citizen press release at Basel World '11 in March. The watch has a release date of June 2011 in the Japan domestic market, but was informed by a reliable source that due to the aftermath of the Japan earthquake tragedy in early March, the watch release has been pushed back to August, 2011.

Citizen Appleseed and RING Highlighted in Real Scale

Real Scale Volume 12 highlights the Appleseed and Ring models recently announced at Baselworld 2011.  Some is presented below but check out the online issue for more content and some more sweet pictures.

Citizen's marketing is hard at work and I love it.  First the tag line "Space Drives Time" and now "Horology, from Heaven to Earth".

Seiko Releases Executive Summary of Baselworld 2011 Press Conference

Echos of the 1923 earthquake, celebration of 130 years and a strip tease.

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This morning, the first day of Baselworld 2011, SEIKO held its now traditional press conference in the Congress Center next to the main hall. Over 400 people attended and, as they entered the Hall, one could sense a slightly muted atmosphere, reflecting the sympathy that the media brought to the nation of Japan after the disaster of the recent earthquake.



Mr. Hattori, President and CEO

Video Friday: Citizen Appleseed XIII

Super cool video. Enjoy!

Basel World 2011: Seiko Ananta Collection

The Ananta mechanical chronograph for divers.
A celebration of Japan’s artistry.


SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION is proud to announce the creation of an Ananta Automatic Chronograph Diver’s watch. It is a leading watch in the SEIKO 130th Anniversary Commemorative Collection and is offered as a limited edition of 700 pieces. It will be released in the autumn of this year on a worldwide basis.

Basel World 2011: Seiko Premier Collection

The 2011 SEIKO Premier collection.
A new look, a new mechanical movement and a perpetual appeal.

Premier is SEIKO’s leading dress watch collection and has been a consistent and significant success worldwide for many years, first in Europe but now all over the world. Its appeal lies in the synthesis of the modern with the classical. The exterior design is inspired by the architecture of classical times,
but with the addition of touches from the world of modern buildings. Similarly, the duality of Premier is expressed in the movements within. The Premier range includes both traditional mechanical calibers and also the very latest Kinetic movements. In every sense, where classicism and modernity meet, there lies the essence of SEIKO Premier.

A new look
For 2011, the collection offers a new interpretation of this classic and modern duality. The cases are slightly more rounded, the dials are more textured, the crowns are new and the bracelet links are slightly smaller, to give a softer fit on the wrist. The change from 2010 is subtle, but evident at first glance. The new Premier is more classic in its look and softer in its feel.

Video Friday: Seiko Premier 2011 - Classic Inspiration. Modern Expression

Video Friday: Seiko Sportura 2011 - For Those who Know the True Value of Sport

Video Friday: Grand Seiko 2011 -Seiko 130th Anniversary

Video Friday: Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater

Let the magic sounds from this masterpiece engulf your senses. Enjoy!

Video Friday at Jikan Watch Blog

That's right. Whenever possible we will bring you video watch related content on Friday's so you can start your weekend in the right set of mind.

Here we have some cool promotional videos from Seiko to share with you, our valued readers, as part of the new watch releases unveiled in yesterday's press conference in Basel.

Let's get started with this one. Here you'll see the new Seiko Ananta 2011 watches, including the limited edition 200m diver's mechanical chronograph with the new caliber 8R39 movement (The 8R39 is a modified 8R28 for underwater duty) and its exquisitely hand crafted black lacquer dial:

Seiko Ananta 2011- A Form of Japan's artistry

Baselworld 2011: Seiko's Heritage Honoring our Past Building our Future

The story of SEIKO began in 1881, when a 22 year old entrepreneur, Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop selling and preparing watches and clocks in central Tokyo. Just eleven years later, 1n 1892, he established the 'Seikosha' factory and built its first clock, and in 1895, its first pocket watch. Today, after 130 years of innovation, Kintaro Hattori's company is still dedicated to the perfection that the founder always strove to achieve.
Follow this link to the rest of the story:

Seiko 1881 to 2011.... 130 years of dedication to perfection

Seiko Baselworld 2011: Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater

Wow! That is all I can say about this pinnacle of Seiko's haute watchmaking and know how...

A very significant release since the Spring Driven Credor Sonnerie flagship model shown at the 2006 Basel World fair.

SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION is proud to announce the creation of the Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater. It is the first minute repeater watch ever built by SEIKO and, alongside the Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie, marks another milestone in the developing tradition of SEIKO as a leading
manufacturer of ‘complication’ timepieces.

Baselworld 2011 Citizen Eco-Drive "Ring"

Citizen announced the commercialization of a product concept introduced at Baselworld 2009.  Not sure why it is called Ring but that is how it was presented in the translated version of the release.

Not much to say about this one except I could look at that stunning casework all day. Incredible. Double Sweetness!

Press release here.

Baselworld 2011 Citizen Attesa

Citizen announced the planned release of a new Attesa model for May 2011. This model looks very similar to the current "Direct Flight" with the same H610 radio controlled caliber inside except with a funky, futuristic looking bracelet. Sweetness.

Press release here.

Baselworld 2011 Citizen "Appleseed XIII"

Citizen plans to release in the fall a model inspired after the anime Appleseed XIII and is also capable of receiving time calibration through GPS satellites.  Quite an interesting look and technology to boot.

Prototype image below with a picture of the city-state of Olympus.

Press release here.

Baselworld 2011 Citizen Campanola

Citizen has announced a new Campanola model.  The Campanola line features exquisite, artistic, Japanese laquer, hand crafted dials.  Several years ago Citizen introduced the Eco-Drove technology to this line and many felt the quality of the dials suffered.  These new models continue the use of Eco-Drive, but from the press photo, the dials are very impressive.  I look forward to seeing some better pictures of these.

Google translation is rough, but here are the details.

Product Name Kanpanora
Item Number BU0020-03A / Tenma stars (Hoshino honey sweet) BU0020-03B / Scarlet depth (drill respiratory)
Suggested Retail Price (approx.) \ 283,500 (planned)
Release Date Will be released in July 2011

Press release here.

Seiko Baselworld 2011 Sportura Models

Seiko announced the release of two new Sportura models, a chronograph featuring the 7T62 caliber and a 200M diver featuring the kinetic 5M62 caliber.

Citizen Baselworld 2011: New "The Citizen" Eco-Drive Models Unveiled

The biggest news coming out of Baselworld this year for Citizen Watch Co., are the introduction of the first ever "The Citizen" high accuracy quartz watches using a yet to be specified Eco-Drive caliber with adjusted factory accuracy of -/+ 5 seconds per year!

Basel World '11: New Seiko 130th Anniversary Models

Basel World 2011 is here and we are only hours away from Seiko's press conference where the above 130th anniversary edition models along with new 2011 watch releases will be unveiled to the public.

For now, let's take a quick look at the new 130th anniversary models in the caption above:

Grand Seiko manual wind model SBGW033 retailing at 430,000 YEN or USD $5,300 at today's exchange rates. This model is reminiscent of the original Grand Seiko launched in 1960. There will also be gold and platinum versions of this magnificent piece.

The second watch shown below the Grand Seiko is a new interesting addition to the successful Ananta lineup. You are looking at first ever "Diver" watch offered for the Ananta line and it is based on the Japan domestic market Seiko Brightz Phoenix mechanical chronographs. The model number is SAEK015 This one appears to house the caliber 8R28 automatic chronograph movement with column wheel, vertical clutch, 34 jewels, 292 hand assembled parts and 45+ hours power reserve. This time around Seiko is using an "off the shelf" Brightz Phoenix model with its own case design instead of the hallmark Ananta "Katana" sword inspired semi-monocoque case design with very pronounced side lugs. It is rated to 200m or 20 bar water resist. No word on retail pricing yet.

The last watch is another limited edition Professional Tuna shrouded diver's watch from the Japan domestic market Prospex line. I believe this one is based on the current "Emperor Tuna" with the 8L35 mechanical movement. The model number is SBBN021.

It isn't clear whether these models will also be available in the North American market. Seiko will release them to market in August 2011.