The Seiko Basel Fair Exhibition Stand

For 2003, Seiko has created an all-new exhibition stand at the Basel Fair. It is inspired by the Seiko vision of `Innovation & Refinement' and has been designed to demonstrate how Seiko's products all embody these two ideas.

The Heritage
In the 8th Century, the Emperor Shomu commissioned a Treasury House that still exists today; it is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world and is in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan. The construction was ingenious; the wooden planks were cut into triangular shapes, so that they not only allowed water to drain easily, but also so that, in the dry days of winter, the planks expanded to block out the cold air, whereas in the hot, humid days of summer, they contracted to allow the air to circulate freely. Thus the building has a highly effective natural air-conditioning system and has thereby been able to preserve, in pristine condition, the Emperor's 9,000 treasured items of clothing, weaponry and musical instruments, gathered from all over Europe and Asia. Today, the diversity of the collection in the Shosoin Treasury stands as an evocative reminder of the glory of the Silk Road, at the east end of which Nara stands.

The Inspiration
This Shosoin Treasury is the inspiration of the new Seiko stand. With its tubular exterior walls and light, airy atmosphere it, too, serves as a perfect showcase for the treasures of the Seiko collection. And just as the Shosoin floats above the ground on stilts surrounded by the natural beauty of its parkland setting, so the Seiko stand's exterior murals will depict the beauty of the natural landscapes of Japan. For 2003, this main mural is a dramatic view of the mountains around Lake Suwa in Nagano prefecture in central Japan. Suwa is home to the largest manufacturing company in the Seiko Group - the birthplace of Quartz, of Kinetic and of many other industry-leading developments. Perhaps it is the majesty and mystery of these beautiful mountains that has inspired these landmark breakthroughs. The natural theme is carried through to the product displays on which, like flowers growing in the meadows under the lea of the mountains, stand around 120 new Seiko timepieces.

The Kinetic Echo
The innovative use of natural energy made possible the 8th century air-conditioning system of the Shosoin Treasury. Thus, it provides a distant echo of the Kinetic technology which is at the heart of the 2003 Seiko collection, most notably the new all-Kinetic Arctura series, which is showcased at the very front of the new stand.

Technical details: Area: 302 Sq meters, on 3 floors
Design: Seiko Watch Corporation Design Centre
Construction: Pac Team, Lausanne
Location: Hall 1.0 Stand A27

ARCTURA, from Seiko. The Ultimate Kinetic Collection.
The Synthesis of Innovation & Refinement.

Basel 2003 witnesses the launch of a new signature design for Seiko's unique Kinetic technology - the Arctura collection.
In 1997, the first Arctura established itself as a leading edge design to complement the Kinetic movement, the world's first automatic power generating quartz watch.

Today, the new collection embodies the Arctura personality in a design that is bold, original and unique. The lines are clear, round and strong in all three case shapes and the dials are all deep set, textured and two-layered. There is an architectural feeling to Arctura that speaks volumes of its strength, desirability and build quality.

The new Arctura is for consumers who appreciate excellence in all its forms, and who want a watch that imposes no demands upon them - a watch that needs no battery change, that will last for years and that will never go out of fashion.

Arctura Kinetic Chronograph: The ultimate synthesis of Innovation, in the form of an all-new movement, and Refinement, in a dial layout that is easy-to-read and elegant. The Kinetic Chronograph is available in 5 versions, including Titanium, and will retail for around Euro 640 in stainless steel, and Euro 910 in Titanium.

Arctura Kinetic Auto Relay: All the functions of Kinetic, but with Seiko's unique Auto Relay function. When not worn for 72 hours, it puts itself to sleep, ready to awaken at any time up to four years later, and automatically resets itself to the correct time. There are 4 models which will retail for around Euro 450.

Arctura Kinetic: 4 models, in solid stainless steel, with the celebrated 5M Kinetic calibre. No battery change, 6 months autonomy on a full charge and maintenance-free ease of use. Arctura Kinetic will retail for around Euro 350.

Arctura will be the focus of Seiko's global marketing campaign and will be presented in a new advertising campaign, starting in Summer 2003. Arctura and four other Seiko collections: Vivace, Premier, Rivoli and Sportura, will be the long-term star collections for the entire Seiko range.

Arctura is the ultimate embodiment of `Innovation and Refinement', the hallmark of Seiko.

History
* Launched in 1997.
* Arctura is one of Seiko's five star collections: Arctura, Vivace, Sportura, Premier and Rivoli.

New models
* 13 references in 4 cases.
* Case: Round, stainless steel Arctura Kinetic, stainless steel Arctura Kinetic Auto Relay, stainless steel Arctura Kinetic Chronograph and Titanium Arctura Kinetic Chronograph.
* Glass: Sapphire crystal.
* Band: Solid stainless-steel bracelet/Titanium bracelet. Three-fold clasp with push button release.
* Water-resistance: All models 100m water-resistant
* Price: The suggested retail price will be approximately from Euro 350 for the Arctura Kinetic to 910 for the Arctura Kinetic Chronograph Titanium model.
* Market entry: Leading international markets from autumn 2003.

VIVACE

Vivace was first launched in 2000 and the Vivace style has found favour world-wide among women who seek real quality as well as innovative styling. The new 2003 Vivace design retains the warmth, simplicity and elegance of the original but has a new, younger, flair. In a word, it's Vivacious!

Inspired by the sea shore
The new design draws its inspiration from the shapes and textures of the sea shore. Pebbles made smooth by the play of the waves, ripples of water as the waves rise up the beach and the shimmer of wet sand in the sunshine - all have inspired the soft smooth lines and textured surfaces of the new Vivace.

Innovative Textures, Refined Design
And, like all Seiko designs, the new Vivace combines Innovation & Refinement. The surface of 6 of the new Vivace models carries a new kind of texture, unique to Seiko, called `Frost Finish', which is both beautifully tactile and visually delightful. And all the new Vivace watches have the refined elegance that has always characterised the collection, slimness, curved crystals, and, in some models, 8 diamonds on the patterned dials.

History
* Launched in 2000.
* Vivace is one of Seiko's five star collections: Arctura, Vivace, Sportura, Premier and Rivoli.

New models
* 15 references in 3 cases.
* Case: Pillow, cushion and track shape.
* Glass: Curved Hardlex.
* Band: Solid stainless-steel bracelet. Deployment clasp with push-button release.
* Water-resistance: All models 50m water-resistant
* Price: The suggested retail price will be approximately from Euro 280 to 420.
* Market entry: Leading international markets from autumn 2003.

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Source:
April 2003