When vintage watch and auto aficionados think of iconic Seiko watches designed by the legendary Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro they automatically think of the iconic Seiko “Ripley” famously worn by Sigourney Weaver in the Alien film franchise.
Rarely does the Seiko Alba K2000 – like the near new-old stock 1998 Alba K2000 V657-6090 here, with what appears to be it's original box – come to mind. The last to be designed by Giugiaro, the K2000 here is very similar to the aforementioned “Ripley,” with its unique vertical pusher design and stunning and vibrantly blue and orange dial.
Inside is the Seiko V657 chronograph movement, a quite accurate and reliable movement. Separate from the relative rarity of this watch, it is also the only Seiko made model after the famed 7A28 to have the unique vertical pusher design, and the only one to have stainless-steel vertical pushers – the 7A28 featured vertical plastic pushers, prone to breakage with time.
Why the “Giugiaro” nomenclature?
While car designers have worked with watch brands in the past, the combination of Seiko and famed Italian car designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, was certainly distinct and resulted in a series of very unique timepieces, even for the 1980s.
Giugiaro was born in 1938, and from an early age followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were painters and taking up an interest in art and design himself. While studying in Torino, he impressed Fiat’s Technical Director at the time and got himself a job in their Special Vehicle Design department.
As his career progressed, he worked on more impressive projects in the automotive world, started his own company in 1967. 1980s iconographic film, “Back to the Future's” epic De Loren? Yep. Warhol's BMW M1? Check. He even had a go at our favorite automotive company, Isuzu.
He also designed products outside of cars – namely, watches and cameras. Seiko and Giugiaro’s collaboration centered on automotive-themed timepieces, often chronographs, with the dial tilted slightly clockwise to accentuate the motorsport look and make it more practical for drivers.
Beginning with Seiko's legendary Laurel Alpinist, the Japanese watchmaker has built many of its watches to be highly legible, dependable, water and shock-resistant watch to withstand extreme temperatures and environments for exploring the country’s many mountains – after all, according to the Japanese Alpine Club, Japan has nearly 17,000 “official” mountains.
A subsidiary of Seiko, 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.
This Alba K2000 chronograph comes on a leather-backed canvas strap, and with a black nylon straps, original Alba strap, original Alba box, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.
Near NOS 1998 Alba K2000 "Giugiaro" V657-6090 Chronograph
DIAL: Silver Alba K2000-signed dial, which features a contrasting vibrant blue and orange colors. Subdials feature 1/10 second, 60 second, and 60 minute timers. Date function at 3 o'clock position works as designed.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 45mm (46mm including crown) x 48mm; caselines remain sharp. No wear on the black pusher housing. Caseback inscriptions are crisply legible.
CRYSTAL: Original crystal is fully intact, no scratches or cracks.
BAND: This Alba K2000 comes on a leather-backed canvas strap; it also comes with a black nylon strap. It also comes with an original leather Alba strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko V657 hacking quartz movement, manufactured in January 1998.
CROWN: Unsigned gold crown, with light wear.
Of note, this Alba/Seiko K2000 chronograph comes with an original Alba box.