SEIKO Dolce "Frosted Ivory Dial" Quartz 1990

A Seiko Dolce made in July 1990, from Seiko's line of slim dress watches. The dial is what makes this one: an ivory face with a fine frosted texture, a little like handmade paper, that takes in the light softly instead of shining and turns warmer under indoor lamps. Inside is the high-accuracy quartz Cal.9531, so there is nothing to wind and very little to fuss over. It comes on a black croc-embossed leather strap, and it wears as easily with a suit as with a knit.

The case is tungsten carbide, a very hard material that resists everyday scratches, finished in a gold tone over a stainless steel caseback. There are light marks from use, but no major damage. It measures 29mm across (excluding crown) and 34mm lug to lug, with an 18mm lug width. Cut corners and faceted sides give the tonneau shape a crisp outline, and the thin case lies flat and slips under a shirt cuff.

The dial is signed 9531-5180 at the lower edge, matching the movement. It carries applied gold baton markers with a double marker at 12, gold hands and a slim seconds hand, with SEIKO at the top and Dolce in script below. A few markers show light tarnish at close range. At arm's length the dial reads as an even, warm ivory, and the texture keeps it from ever looking flat.

- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -