The Seiko watch company has announced two stunning (and expensive!) watches — SNR047 and SRQ03 — inspired by the 1992 film Porco Rosso.
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso follows a former Italian World War I fighter pilot who is transformed in an anthropomorphic pig. Based on Hikōtei Jidai ("The Age of the Flying Boat"), a three-part watercolor manga by Miyazaki, the film released in Japan in 1992 to critical acclaim. The dubbed version was released in 2002 in the Ghibli LD Box Set and was later redubbed by Disney in 2005.
Each of the two watches features allusions to the animated film. The white dial of the SNR047 model is inspired by the instrument panel of Porco’s Savoia S-21, while the red letter "R" that appears on the rudder of Porco’s seaplane is placed just above 6 o'clock. This model also has an old-world feeling to match Porco's 1920s plane.
The SRQ033 model is more resemblant of the watch Porco Rosso wears in the film itself. The small seconds counter at 3 o'clock contains the colors of the Italian flag and the "R" and shield on the rudder of Porco Rosso's plane.
The name of Porco Rosso's Savoia S-21 plan is engraved on the side of the watch case, while the back case features an engaging of Porco Rosso himself and the quote -- in Italian — "A pig that does not fly is just a pig." Finally, each watch comes in a presentation box that also contains a leather cloth that is marked with the symbol of Porco.
The watches are part of the company's Presage series, a collection of all-mechanical watches inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The SNR047 model goes for €5,800/$6,237, while the SRQ033 goes for €4,100/$4,409. The limited edition collection will be available in June 2020.