Seiko Life Experience: Pantelleria bound

What is the best way to present a collection of diver’s watches? To bring them to life in their natural environment, the sea – and even better if this happens on one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. This is what Seiko has done in recent days, organising an experience on the Pantelleria islandwhich we attended together with one of the new ‘friends of the Japanese brand’, Filippo Tenti. Three days during which we got to know the host and producer of the RAI TV show ‘Il Mondo con gli Occhi di Overland’ (The World through Overland’s Eyes), enjoyed the island’s natural and gastronomic beauties, and explored first-hand new watches and consolidated collections by Seiko.

SEIKO LIFE EXPERIENCE: IMMERSIVE AND SURPRISING

While the adjective ‘immersive’ is too often used inappropriately, in the case of the Pantelleria ‘Seiko Life Experience’ it has proven to be more than relevant: a true immersion in a unique environmental context, as guests of a structure of excellence, in contact with the culture and cuisine of an island whose name already reflects the destiny of beauty that has befallen it. In fact, Pantelleria derives from the Arabic ‘Bent-el-Rhia’, which means ‘daughter of the wind’. After all, the Tunisian coast is only about 70 km from the island, as opposed to the 85 km that separate it from Sicily; it is therefore natural that names of Arabic origin abound on Pantelleria as well.

But the immersiveness was also something tangible, as guests had the opportunity to dive into Pantelleria’s waters to discover underwater archaeological remains dating back to Roman and Punic times. An experience that Filippo Tenti certainly did not shy away from, and as a good ‘friend of the brand’, he tackled it with a Seiko diver from the Prospex collection on his wrist. After all, his professional history speaks for him, making him the perfect person to convey the Japanese brand’s message regarding its historical vocation for adventure.

FILIPPO TENTI AND SEIKO’S SOUL

Leader of the Overland team, Tenti has led numerous expeditions in extreme and diverse environments, from deserts to jungles, mountain ranges and the polar regions. These adventures are also a ‘test bench’ for Seiko timepieces, which are designed to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining the quality of their performance. Already in 2023, the brand had accompanied Filippo Tenti on a number of Overland expeditions, reinforcing a bond founded on a shared passion for travel, adventure and precision. His life, dedicated to exploration, reflects the spirit of Prospex, ‘Keep Going Forward‘: a call to push the boundaries and seek new destinations, both in the watchmaking world and in everyday life. 

In the many moments we spent with him, we realised first-hand why Tenti embodies Seiko’s essence in terms of determination, courage and desire to explore the world. Although he is not yet 40 years old, he has lived through more adventures than an ordinary mortal in an entire lifetime. His stories are as fascinating as the way he brings them up. Thanks to his adventures, we have travelled in our imagination from South East Asia to North America, from sub-Saharan Africa to Afghanistan, where he experienced one of his most complicated moments, under fire from the Taliban.

As he likes to say, ‘life is a journey, a continuous adventure that pushes us to explore new horizons and discover the unknown’. And when you are facing the unknown, having a reliable and precise instrument on your wrist is essential. This is why Filippo did not shy away when he had the opportunity to collaborate with Seiko, whose watches have become not only travelling companions but indispensable instruments capable of withstanding even the most difficult conditions, accompanying him to the most remote places on Earth. And we also saw him on the island, when he enjoyed changing watches depending on the occasion and the time of day.

THE PROSPEX AND KING SEIKO COLLECTIONS

After all, besides Filippo Tenti, the real stars of the three-day Pantelleria ‘Seiko Life Experience’ were the watches themselves. Which we were able to enjoy poolside at the Pantelleria Dream Resort where we were guests. A presentation on a bright morning, followed by an exciting aperitif at sunset and a Pantelleria-style dinner in the picturesque village of Scauri, in the west of the island. Good wine and good company, between the Dammare Pantelleria Art & Home Restaurant and La Nicchia Restaurant, while the sun slipped between the sea and rags of capricious clouds and the wind – of which Pantelleria is the daughter – gave us a welcome respite.

And so them, the watches, by the pool. To enrich the ‘Seiko Life Experience’, the brand brought several collections to Pantelleria. Starting with the timeless elegance with which King Seiko pays homage to the famous KSK model, declining it through a refined and innovative design. Six new models that combine technical excellence and sensitivity to Japanese tradition and culture. We are talking about the three King Seiko KSK Garyu-Bai Red SJE103J1, Kameido Blue SJE105 and Tenjin-Fuji Violet SJE107J1, with date display, 38.6 mm case and box-shaped sapphire crystal. 

Alongside them are the three other King Seiko KSK SPB459J1, SPB457J1 and SPB461J1, which were inspired by the ‘Ivy League’ fashion trends that influenced many young Japanese university students in Tokyo in the 1960s. Inspired by the cosmopolitan look of the students attending the Ivy League universities – some of the United States’ most prestigious institutions – they created a style that combined Western elegance with Japanese aesthetics and traditions. The three King Seiko timepieces have a 36 mm case, a blue, green or red dial, and a box-shaped sapphire crystal.

Along with the King Seiko, we saw Seiko’s divers in their natural environment, starting with the four new watches in the Prospex Marinemaster collection. The references SJE117J1 and SJE119J1 revisit the sporty and refined design of the famous 62MAS from 1965. They have a 38.5 mm steel case and a dial with a horizontal striped texture, which gives them more three-dimensionality.

The references SLA077JE and SLA079J1, on the other hand, have a 42.6 mm steel case, a white or black dial combined with a black bezel, and Lumibrite-coated indexes and hands. Dulcis in fundo, the new limited edition (1000 pieces) produced exclusively for the European market, previewed precisely in Pantelleria: it is the Prospex SPB473J1 in a 40.5 mm case, inspired by the Greek island of Zakynthos. This can be seen on the dial, whose gradation of blue and white recalls the colours of the area’s landscape, while the printed motif represents the ripples of the waves washing the Hellenic coastline.

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

This last watch was the best way to prepare for the day we were to experience after the presentation, as we moved from the imaginary Greek waters of the Prospex SPB473J1 to the real waters of Pantelleria, with a complete tour of the island aboard a typical Pantelleria boat. Sailing along the coast, always accompanied by Filippo Tenti‘s stories, we were able to admire from the sea some of the views for which Pantelleria is famous, along with hidden coves and corners of fascinating beauty. Bue Marino, Laghetto delle Ondine, Cala Cottone, Arco dell’Elefante, Grotta del Formaggio, Balata dei Turchi, Punta Tre Pietre passed before our eyes in all their majesty.

As you can imagine, we didn’t miss the opportunity to dive into the still-warm waters of the Mediterranean, partly to cool off and turn the day around, and partly to test the performance and endurance of the Seiko watches we had on our wrists. Natural delights that we were able to enjoy, without neglecting those of delicious cuisine, thanks to a lunch on board with typical local dishes and specialities that the captain had prepared for us. Unmistakable flavours that also accompanied us at the farewell (or goodbye) dinner that concluded the three days on Pantelleria on the same evening.

We hope that, with our story, we helped you understand, the value and uniqueness of the ‘Seiko Life Experience’. These are moments in which the brand welcomes brand enthusiasts into its world, letting them enjoy special days. Because the experience is not only linked to adventure, to the territory, to discovery, to the pleasures of life. It is an occasion for Seiko to share its essence, its philosophy, its vision not only of watchmaking but of life as a whole with guests. A moment to understand that behind each timepiece there is always someone who has imagined, designed, tested and created it, guided by an idea not only of the product but also of life. And that a Seiko wearer, whether a famous person like Filippo Tenti or a simple enthusiast, is an important link in a chain that leads straight to excellence. 

By Davide Passoni