Showing posts with label Black Dial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Dial. Show all posts

Sep 29, 2015

1980 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-8580 "Radioactive"


Introducing
Seiko 5 7009-8580 "Radioactive"
Circa 1980

Large cushion case, a void of a black dial, large fearless green markers - what's there not to like about this watch?


It's like out of a the depth of nuclear waste, when the world is dark and lifeless, the first sound you hear is the beating of this 7009, risen from society's fallen, echoing across the barren wastelands. 

The green hits you, hard. Then the rest of the watch falls into place.


You noticed that if the watch was given silver markers it would no less be a handsome offering, but a rude twist of fate in the maker's office gave it green digits, and it's somehow worked out well, even in spite of the lack of lumibrite on the markers.

Remnants of the silver construct stand unfazed by the obscene intrusion, offering a welcome contrast between casual and classy - sword hands and day/date window, and the outlines of each hour marker.


And all this, encased in a stainless steel skeleton, perhaps the best kind to brave the harsh realities of desk diving.




1980 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-8580 "Radioactive"
Hour, minute and seconds hands with day/date display
Eng / Spn day display
Matte black dial
35mm stainless steel case
40mm lug-to-lug
19mm lug width 
7019 automatic movement @ 21,600vph with quickset push for day change
Acrylic crystal
Seiko stainless steel bracelet

S$60

Sep 26, 2015

2013 Seiko SRP231K 4R36 Baby Tuna Shrouded Diver


Introducing
Seiko SRP231K 4R36 
Baby Tuna Shrouded Diver
Circa 2013

The Seiko diver series of watches need no introduction. Having celebrated 50 years of diving watch making this year, the Japanese giants have no doubt cemented their mark in horology history.

Among their wallet-friendly ranges of diving watches is the Baby Tuna, or the Sardine. So named because the huge case resembles that of a tuna / sardine can. 


The SRP series of shrouded divers offer a plastic shroud for protection against the harsh reefs and rocks that the diver will face down under. The uni-directional bezel then sits comfortably inside the shroud except for the two grooves to allow the diver to utilize the bezel. 


The dial is also very well constructed - matte black forms the perfect backdrop for the white Lumibrite markers and hands, providing unrivalled legibility in low light conditions. Each luminous hour marker sits in small grooves cut into the chapter ring, a small detail that goes a long way with me.


The 2013 series of shrouded divers also come with the nicest hands on a Seiko diver I've ever encountered, making the appreciate of the timepiece even more worthwhile. 

Strapped to the significantly sized case is Seiko's accordion rubber strap, which allows for maximum comfort even while the diver's wrist expands during the dive.  


All in, the Seiko SRP231K is an excellent offering for a sporty outfit. It may be designed to dive 200m down, but it'll also fit a nice t-shirt and jeans. Surprisingly trendy for a utility tool. 




2013 Seiko SRP231K 4R36 Baby Tuna Shrouded Diver
Hour, minute and central sweeping seconds
Eng / Rom day display
Black dial
45mm stainless steel case with plastic shroud
50mm lug-to-lug
22mm lug width
4R36 automatic @ 21,600vph
Hardlex crystal
Seiko rubber diving strap
S$450

Email
for orders or enquiry



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Sep 14, 2015

1980 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-3100 "Datejust"


Introducing
Seiko 5 7009-3100 "Datejust"
Circa 1980

There's something classic about the whole black and gold formula, even more so when it's presented on a vintage dial with broad sword hands and no-nonsense hour batons. The watch reminds me of the old 1980s Rolex Datejusts, and so gave it its name.


The classic look begins from far away - the traditional oyster three-link bracelet, joined to the solid case with the smooth bezel, mineral glass flat and smooth. The links hang loose, a sign of vintage wear, and feels absolutely comfortable around the wrist. 


As you approach the dial, the black/gold combination hits you - pure vintage class. You're greeted to a polished black dial, setting the stage for the elongated bars of gold that form the rest of the watch face. You almost wish the day and date window wasn't in the way of such gentlemanly suave, but appreciate the utility of such a feature in a daily beater. 


And while faint, the lume on the hands provide the increased legibility you know you'll miss once the sun sets. 

There's more than simplicity in this watch. There's the feeling of the good old days, lost to the rapidly shifting tides of the modern world. How you wish for a distraction away from the distractions, a simple black face rid of the mundane complexities of life.




1980 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-3100 "Datejust"
Hour, minute and seconds hands with day/date display
Eng / Arb day display
Polished black dial
34mm stainless steel case
40mm lug-to-lug
18mm lug width 
7019 automatic movement @ 21,600vph with quickset push for day change
Mineral glass crystal
Seiko Japan stainless steel bracelet

S$80

Sep 7, 2015

1970s Vintage Seiko 5 7009-6000 "Modern"


Introducing
Seiko 5 7009-6000 "Modern"
Circa 1970s

Don't we all love a classic? The matte black dial, oar hands and polished makers. Based on the above characteristics, I'm sure you'll chance upon a pretty fair amount of watches.

But once in awhile, you find a wrist piece that bucks the trend, not to levels of absurdity, but in a satisfying way that let's you appreciate the difference in style without wishing the creators hadn't invested so much time in standing out from the crowd.

Modern is the word, and it offers just that - a touch of class on a tried-and-tested design. 


At 12, 6, and 9'O, the hour indices have been replaced with raised pyramids, putting up a little more eye candy in the loupe. At every hour marker is also a rivet, replacing every fifth minute track. 

Even the hour and minute hands have been offered a little change, its oar handles noticeably longer than the typical Seiko 5s'.


Away from the dial, the stainless steel case comes in a two-piece construction, the commonplace straight horn lugs turning into a short, quick cut into the atypical stainless steel bracelet. 

All in, the quirkiness of Modern has accorded it a special place in the store that's not often filled - one that's a step away from obscenity, but not too far as to lose its acceptable place as a dress watch. Truly a compatible watch to be a daily beater.




1970s Vintage Seiko 5 7009-6000 "Modern"
Hour, minute and seconds hands with day/date display
Eng / Rom day display
Matte black dial with gold hour markers
34mm stainless steel case
39mm lug-to-lug
18mm lug width
7009 automatic movement @ 21,600vph with quickset push for day change
Mineral glass crystal
Seiko stainless steel bracelet

S$60

Sep 1, 2015

[SOLD] 1979 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-8331 "Seamaster"


Introducing
Seiko 5 7009-8331 "Seamaster"
Circa 1979

As far as dials go, this has to be one of the most impressive ones I've seen on a Seiko 5. It presents itself with a classic majesty, its many elements combining to a very solid wrist presence.


Let's start with the dial. It doesn't get much better than the vertical guilloche trenches cut deep into the dial. It was what attracted me to the Omega Seamaster 150 and it's here again on this very affordable timepiece. 

The designers of this watch knows exactly what they're doing, minimising each element to their bare essentials to not just complement the emblematic dial but to also to let them each have their own moment in the spotlight. 


Gold is naturally the color chosen to complete the jet black dial. Polished hour indexes escape  commonality with indents and spots of lumibrite at their ends, an aesthetically surprising and useful application in line with the Seiko 5 mantra.

Sporty baton hands are in the same gold, also applied with lumibrite. A harsh white day and date display sits beneath the gold window at 3'O, once again a choice of practicality over a fashion decision. Topping it off is the applied Seiko 5 emblem and printed Suma logo on the dial. 


All of that class sits underneath a mineral glass crystal, with a less traditional give-link bracelet completing the sports watch look.  The large stainless steel case melts seamlessly into the links and bracelet, not letting the dial lost its thunder to watch lugs.

I almost feel like keeping this guy for myself.




1979 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-8331 "Seamaster"
Hour, minute and seconds hands with day/date display
Eng / Rom day display
Polished black guilloche dial
36mm stainless steel case
42mm lug-to-lug
20mm lug width
7009 automatic movement @ 21,600vph with quickset push for day change
Mineral glass crystal
Seiko stainless steel bracelet

SOLD



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Aug 22, 2015

1970s Vintage Citizen Alarm Date 3102 "Fashion"


Introducing
Citizen Alarm Date 3102 "Fashion"
Circa 1970s

For those who saw my Seikomatic Weekdater post and wanted in on something unapologetically handsome, here's an offer that you might not want to miss out on.

A polished black dial, with patina hour markers and nice shiny dauphine hands and a short arrow alarm hand. And this one doesn't come with the boring lugs of the Seiko either.


Alarm watches are a very nice novelty to own and operate. For those who own Seiko Bell-Matics, you'll be glad to know that the Citizen mechanical alarm movement sounds a whole lot louder, comparable to the legendary Vulcains. 


Unlike vintage Vulcains however, the Citizen Alarm Date is more suited to today's watch sizes, and wouldn't look out of place on a modern wrist. 

Two large crowns wind the barrels that power the movement and the 20 second alarm manually, and with something that large it's really easy to wind up on the go without having to take your watch off the wrist (not really recommended, but worth noting nonetheless).

Add in the cyclops date glass, and you've got yourself something serious enough to be fun at the same time.




1970s Vintage Citizen Alarm Date 3102 "Fashion"
Hour, minutes and sweep seconds hands
Polished black dial
37mm stainless steel case
45mm lug-to-lug
19mm lug width
3102 manual wind alarm @ 18,000vph
Acrylic crystal with cyclops date magnifier
Black aftermarket leather strap

S$850

Email
for orders or enquiry



###


Aug 13, 2015

1982 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-870J "Sergeant"


Introducing
Seiko 5 7009-870J "Sergeant"
Circa 1982

No nonsense. That's what I think this watch is. And hardball. And tough.

Large arabic numerals make no mistake when telling the time, the thick baton hands pointing where they're supposed to.


The gold hands hint at the hidden side of Sergeant - on closer inspection, like more tough guys, there is refinement. The numerals are lined with a gold border, offering a treat to whoever takes a closer look.


And with time, you get over the crude, utilitarian outlook and start to appreciate the beauty in something that is made to last.




1982 Vintage Seiko 5 7009-870J "Sergeant"
Hour, minute and seconds hands with day/date display
Eng / Arb day display
Polished black dial with large arabic numerals
35mm stainless steel case
40mm lug-to-lug
10/20mm proprietary lug width
7009 automatic movement @ 21,600vph with quickset push for day change
Mineral glass crystal
Seiko stainless steel bracelet

$S60

Aug 9, 2015

[SOLD] 1971 Vintage Seiko 5 6309-8230 "James"


Introducing
Seiko 5 6309-8230 "James"
Circa 1971

This guy looks like he'll pair pretty well with some guy's socks. While common on a knitted jacket, the pattern seems to also go well with wristwatch dials. 

Who'd have guessed?


And check out the roman numeral printed at 12'O. The markets and hands aren't trying to take attention away from the dial, which is a good thing, because you're really buying James for the awesome black and grey pattern. 


  

1971 Vintage Seiko 5 6309-8230 "James"
Hour, minute and seconds hands with quickset day-date
Eng / Arb day display
Knitted black / grey combination dial with gold checkered lines
34mm stainless steel case
40mm lug-to-lug
19mm lug width
6309 automatic @ 21,600vph
Mineral glass
Aftermarket stainless steel bracelet

SOLD


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