SEIKO Dolce Rectangular Ivory Dial Quartz 1994

A slim rectangular dress watch from Seiko's Dolce line, made in May 1994. Dolce was Seiko's dress collection of the 1980s and 1990s. This one pairs a gold-toned case with silver-toned ribbed ends at the top and bottom, so two metals frame a soft ivory dial. Inside is the quartz Cal.8N41, so there is nothing to wind. We fitted a black croc-embossed leather strap, which is not original to the watch. The black sharpens the ivory and gold, and the watch works as well with a suit as with a sweater.

The case is plated base metal with a stainless steel back. There are light marks from use and small wear on the edge of the gold bezel, but no major damage. It measures 24.5mm across (excluding crown) and 36mm lug to lug, with an 18mm lug width. A dark cabochon sits on the crown. The case is narrow and thin, so it sits close to the wrist and slips easily under a shirt cuff.

The dial is the original ivory. Applied gold Roman numerals mark 12 and 6, applied gold bars mark the other hours, and a thin printed frame holds SEIKO and DOLCE in the centre. The hands and the slim seconds hand are gold to match. Because the ivory is soft rather than stark white, the gold reads warm against it and the simple layout gains a quiet depth.

- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -