Quite cool as well, but I couldn't warm up to the balance between the dial's size and the size of its numerals and hands.... I believe it was introduced a bit later, perhaps last year. I seem to recall that one of our members owns one.
This model was one of many that Seiko released a couple of years ago to commemorate the co.'s 110 years of making wristwatches and is an homage to its first wristwatch, called the Laurel (which also had that type of strap).
The strap configuration was needed, I believe, to hold what was essentially a modified pocket watch with loops, instead of lugs, attached to the case to hold the strap.