SEIKO PRESAGE SRP841J1 COCKTAIL TIME AUTOMATIC WOMEN WATCH

What does a box-shaped crystal do?

It changes how the watch looks rather than how it works. Instead of sitting flush across the bezel, the glass rises from it with near-vertical sides, so the dial appears recessed under a small clear block. Looked at from the side the watch gains obvious depth, and as your wrist moves the edges of the box pick up light and let it go in a way a flat crystal never does. The crystal material here is Hardlex, Seiko's own, made in-house and fitted across much of its range. The practical trade is that a raised crystal stands a little more exposed than a flush one, so it is worth being conscious of door frames and desk edges.

Is there a wrong time of day to set the date?

Between 9:00 pm and 1:00 am. Seiko's instructions for the 4R35 say not to set the date during those hours, and warn that amending it then may cause problems such as the date failing to change the next day; the end-of-month guidance adds that doing so may cause damage. The way round it is simple enough — wind the hands forward past 1:00 am or back before 9:00 pm, set the date there, then return to the correct time. You will also be correcting the date by hand after any month shorter than 31 days, since this movement does not know how long a month is.

Is 50 metres enough for a pool?

Yes. Seiko's own water-resistance table for this calibre puts a 5 bar watch at "suitable for sports such as swimming", and lists nothing it should be kept away from at that rating — worth saying plainly, because 50 metres is often assumed to mean splashes only. The level below it, marked simply "water resistant" with no bar figure, is the one that carries Seiko's warning against swimming. Being on a steel bracelet, there is also no strap here to stiffen or mark after a swim. Read 50 metres as a pressure the case is tested to rather than a depth to dive to, and rinse the watch in fresh water after the sea or a chlorinated pool.

Is there any luminosity on the dial?

None. The specification lists no luminous material at all for this reference, which means neither the hands nor the baton markers hold a glow and the dial cannot be read in an unlit room. It is not something that can be added afterwards, so decide now whether it matters to you. A reference specified with LumiBrite is the alternative if you want the time legible at night.

What is visible through the case back?

The 4R35 at work. The large weight swinging as you move is the rotor, and it is what winds the mainspring from the motion of your wrist; the small wheel ticking back and forth beside it is the balance, which governs the rate at 21,600 vibrations an hour, or six a second. Watching it is also the easiest way to tell whether the watch is running when the hands have not moved for a while.

Does City Chain size the bracelet?

Yes — complimentary sizing is available in store, and it is worth bringing your warranty book along. A steel bracelet is shortened by removing links, and the length is set to your wrist as part of the service.

What warranty applies when buying from City Chain?

Three years against manufacturing defects on any SRP841J1 purchased from City Chain Singapore, an authorised Seiko retailer. That covers faults present in how the watch was built. It does not extend to accidental damage or to the ordinary wear a case and bracelet accumulate, and routine maintenance on a mechanical watch falls outside warranty work. The warranty card and your proof of purchase are both needed when a watch goes in, so keep the two together.