There are many vintage Seiko icons popular with Seiko enthusiasts, and the 1990s Seiko V701 series – like the colorful gold 1981 Alba V318-6010 womens 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 its watches to be both colorful and highly functional. Alba is a sub-brand launched by the Seiko in Japan starting in 1979, bringing a fresh and youthful perspective to Japanese watchmaking - in practice this also means more willingness to take risks than 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. Of note, Alba has often adopted Seiko's watch designs, notably those of Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.
This early 1980s Alba moonphase comes on a leather strap, and with nylon strap, spring bar tool, and rugged travel case.
Gold 1981 Alba V318-6010 Womens Moonphase JDM Dress Watch
DIAL: Crisp Alba-signed white dial with gold accents and ornate Arabic hour indices, no imperfections. Correct unique gold handset; the atypical moonphase disc rotates as designed. Everything remains crisply detailed.
CASE: Gold case measures 27.5mm (29mm including crown) x 34mm, with matching stainless-steel caseback.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal, no cracks or deep scratches.
BAND: This Alba moonphase comes on a black leather strap, which features gold hardware; this gold womens dress watch also comes with a dark blue and white nylon strap (also with gold hardware).
MOVEMENT: Seiko V318 calibre hacking quartz movement, manufactured in March 1981.
CROWN: Unsigned gold crown.
