As the world got accustomed to Seiko's novel new Astron technology dominating the market in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Japanese watchmaker was hard at work on its next innovation to challenge Swiss watch industry dominance, developing the Superior, Grand Quartz, King Quartz and eventually other quartz lines – like this gold two-tone 1986 Seiko Avenue 228-6040 dress watch, with its great Roman numeral dial and original Seiko 2G28 instructions manual.
1969 was one of the most spectacular in Seiko’s storied history. That year, it released the world’s first automatic chronograph, the Calibre 6139 and the V.F.A. (Very Fine Adjusted) movement – which delivered Seiko’s highest yet level of precision for a mechanical movement.
Seiko would release another first upon the world, the first quartz wristwatch - the Seiko Quartz Astron, which 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.
Immediately obvious on the gold Seiko here is the classically-designed white dial - the ornate black handset mirrors the design of the dial’s black Roman numeral hour indices nicely, with an atypical seconds subdial that suggests a far older watch. Add in the Seiko quartz movement with its known accuracy with hacking feature and you have a watch that stands out on the wrist.
Seiko launched its 2G28 line - specially designed with an atypical subdial - in 1985.. The series was a hugely popular, thanks in part to the effect of TV commercials featuring popular artists, and came in a wide number of disparate variants.
This Seiko dress watch comes on a leather strap, and with rugged travel case, springbar tool, and original Seiko 2G28 instructions manual.
Gold Two-Tone 1986 Seiko 2G28-6040 Dress Watch, w/Instructions
DIAL: A fantastic white Seiko-signed dial, with matching ornate hour, minute, and second hands. Roman numeral hour indices along with classically-designed handset and atypical subdial design render a watch that appears far older than its 1980s pedigree.
CASE: Gold two-tone case measures 34mm (35.5mm w/crown) x 34mm, with sharp case edges.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal in great condition, no scratches, cracks, or edge chips.
BAND: This two-tone Seiko comes on a dark brown distressed leather strap, as well as a Japanese Bambi stainless-steel bracelet, which will fit up to an approx. 7375 inch wrist.
MOVEMENT: Two-jewel Seiko 2G28 quartz movement, manufactured in June 1986; movement hacks, as designed.
Of note, this two-tone Seiko Avenue dress watch comes with an original Seiko 2G28 instructions manual, in both Kanji Japanese and English.