While it’s tempting to build a collection of just tool watches and divers with beefiness and durability in spades, having a good dress watch is a boon for any collector. Not only can a dress watch give you an excuse to put on that dress or suit and accessorize, it can also help remind you that function isn’t everything then it comes to timepieces; style matters too.
Seiko’s Presage collection has long been a stalwart for dress watch shoppers on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice craftsmanship, and the new SPB537 reference is a tonneau-shaped addition to the Classic Series line. The enamel dial, paired with the tonneau case, is the major selling point for the SPB537, as it was designed by master artisan Mitsuru Yokosawa and his apprentice, Kazunori Uchiyama. This extra level of prestige elevates the SPB537, and adds a sort of intimacy to the design, despite it being introduced as a non-limited, continuous production model. The dial is white, a gentle contrast to the 46mm by 35.9mm stainless steel case and bracelet, and features sharp black Roman numerals, with a black minute track around the outer edge. A matching 24-hour sub-dial at 6 o’clock balances the dial, with the Seiko Presage logo just below 12.
Blued steel hands provide a colorful accent, with a balancing half moon on the tail end of the seconds hand. The blue, though on the subtler side, is a welcome addition to the otherwise very business-like dial, and it furthers the artisan craftsmanship promise introduced by the enamel. The crown sits at 3 o’clock, and features a regal onion shape. At 12.5mm in thickness, the SPB537 isn’t necessarily dainty, but it should wear smaller on the wrist due to the tonneau shape. A dual-curved sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating seals the dial in, and an exhibition case back keeps the Caliber 6R5H movement safe and visible. 72 hours of power reserve are on tap here, a decent amount for the price point, and 50 meters of water resistance is promised (though I don’t imagine anyone will be willingly dunking their Presage in any liquids). The five-row bracelet has curved links and a three-fold clasp with a push-button release.
As the only tonneau-shaped watch in the Classic Series line, the SPB537 offers a stylish—if aesthetically particular—variant for enthusiasts with a taste for more vintage styling. The added prestige of the artisan enamel dial and the reliability of the Caliber 6R5H movement should make the SPB537 a popular choice, and the blued hands provide a much-needed splash of color to the design. For the price, you’d be hard-pressed to find a similarly-valued dress watch, much less one with the brand cache of the Seiko Presage name.
The Seiko Presage Classic Series “Craftsmanship” Enamel Dial SPB537 retails for $1,600. Seiko
Elodie Townsend
2026-01-12 19:00:00