SEIKO Octagon "Silver Dial" 1983

An octagonal dress watch from Seiko, made in August 1983. Its silver dial has a fine woven texture, like linen, so it scatters light instead of mirroring it, and the slim black markers and hands stand out sharply against it. Inside is the quartz Cal.6431, a three-hand movement with 7 jewels, so there is nothing to wind. On a black leather strap it works as well at the office as it does at dinner.

The case is silver-toned plated (PDP) with a stainless steel back. It shows marks from use, but no major damage. It measures 27mm across (excluding crown) and 36mm lug to lug, with an 18mm lug width. The square case has its corners cut away into eight edges, and the stepped polished bezel catches the light along each of them as the wrist turns. The case is thin and narrow, so it sits low on the wrist and slips under a shirt cuff.

The dial is the original silver, and its printed code (6431-5270) is one Seiko listed for this case. Polished batons mark 12 and 6, with slim black batons at the other hours, black hour and minute hands, a thin silver seconds hand and Seiko's quartz emblem above 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, while the black markers stay easy to read.

- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -