There are many vintage Seiko icons popular with Seiko enthusiasts, and the 1989 Seiko V338 series – like the classy 1989 Alba V338-6100 moonphase dress watch here, made by Seiko – is not one of them. Why? Because women's watches all too often languish in relative obscurity, as they are designed to accommodate the more...slender of wrist.
But what pops the most on this watch here? Its monophase complication, of course!
For the uninitiated, a moonphase watch features a complication that tracks the current lunar cycle (e.g., new moon, half-moon, full moon) using a visual display on the dial. As the lunar month progresses, a rotating disc moves beneath an aperture (window) to show the exact shape of the moon as it currently appears in the night sky.
But back to the watch - 1969 was one of the most spectacular years in Seiko’s storied history. That year, it released the world’s first automatic chronograph, the Calibre 6139 and, separately, the V.F.A. (Very Fine Adjusted) movement – which delivered Seiko’s highest yet level of precision for a mechanical movement.
But Seiko wasn’t finished – it would also release another first upon the world, the first quartz wristwatch. Seiko’s proprietary technology went on to change the way the world told time, and severely tested the dominance of the Swiss, bringing high technology within the reach of all.
Speaking of which, Alba - read Seiko - designed these unique dive watches here to be both colorful and highly functional. The watches feature stainless-steel cases with colorful two-tone bezels, screw-down crowns, and a highly visible dial and bezel design, all perfect for the active diver.
Alba watches continue to be primarily aimed at Asian and Middle Eastern markets in the hope of creating long-term customer loyalty, which can translate loyalty to Seiko proper as the demographic ages and purchasing power increases. Of note, Alba has often adopted Seiko's watch designs, notably those of Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.
This late 1980s Alba moonphase comes on a leather strap, and with spring bar tool and rugged travel case.
JDM 1989 Alba V338-6100 Womens Moonphase Dress Watch
DIAL: Crisp Alba-signed cream-colored dial with classic black Roman numeral hour indices, no imperfections. Correct unique handset; the atypical moonphase disc rotates as designed.
CASE: Bronzed metal case measures 31mm (32mm including crown) x 36.5mm, with matching caseback.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal, no cracks or deep scratches.
BAND: This Alba moonphase comes on a maroon leather strap.
MOVEMENT: Hacking quartz movement, manufactured in October 1989.
CROWN: Unsigned bronzed metal crown.
