SEIKO Octagon Silver Dial 1981

A slim octagonal dress watch from Seiko, made in November 1981. The dial is the reason to look at it. Its silver surface has a fine woven texture, like linen, so it scatters light instead of mirroring it, and the thin black markers and hands stand out sharply against it. Inside is the quartz Cal.5931, which Seiko introduced in 1978 for its thin quartz dress watches, so there is nothing to wind. It comes on a vintage expanding metal bracelet that slips on without a clasp, which makes it an easy watch to wear every day.

The case is silver-toned plated with a stainless steel back. There are marks from use, including scratches on the caseback, but no major damage. It measures 29.7mm across (excluding crown) and 36mm lug to lug, with a 17mm lug width. The square case has its four corners cut away into eight short edges, and the polished bezel catches the light along each of them as the wrist turns. The case is thin and sits low, so it fits easily under a shirt cuff.

The dial is the original silver with a fine woven texture. Slim black baton markers sit at each hour, with dark hands, a thin seconds hand, the SEIKO QUARTZ signature and Seiko's quartz emblem at 6. There is light discoloration around the outer edge. In bright light the texture turns almost white and in shade it settles to a soft grey, so the face changes with the room while the black markers stay easy to read.

- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -