SEIKO Dolce "Golden Stripe Dial" GP 1980s

A Dolce from the 1980s, from Seiko's line of dress watches. The gold dial is cut with fine vertical stripes, so it catches the light in thin lines and moves from bright gold to a deeper bronze as the wrist turns. Inside is the quartz Cal.5931, so there is nothing to wind. The strap is a black crocodile leather, chosen because it sets off the gold. It sits as easily with a suit as with a knit.

The case is made of NSAG, a super hard alloy Seiko rated at about 1200 Hv on the surface. It resists small scratches far better than ordinary plating, and the gold-toned case still has clean, sharp edges. The stainless steel caseback shows scratches from use. The case measures 29mm across (excluding crown) and 36mm lug to lug, with a 19mm lug width. The thin cushion-shaped case lies close to the wrist and slips under a shirt cuff without catching.

The dial is original. Vertical stripes run across the whole face, with slim applied baton indices and a triple marker at 12. There is light spotting near the edge, visible at close range. The stripes give the gold real depth, so the dial never looks flat, even in soft indoor light.

- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -