There are many vintage Seiko icons popular with Seiko enthusiasts, and the 1990s Alba V400 series – like the classy gold 1993 Alba V400-5620 Twin Time 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 slender design and twin time capability, of course!
For the uninitiated, a twin time watch like the one here features two separate watch movements that keep time separately, a novel twist on the GMT watch. On the example here, two separate miniature watch dials arranged vertically in a single elongated case, allowing the user to track two different time zones independently. Each of the two movements is operated by its own dedicated crown on the side for easy time setting.
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 gold 1993 Alba twin time comes on a gold mesh bracelet, and with nylon strap, spring bar tool, and rugged travel case.
Gold 1993 Alba V400-5620 Twin Time Womens Dress Watch
DIAL: Crisp Alba-signed cream-colored dial with classic black Arabic numeral hour indices on one and plain hour indices on the other, no imperfections. Correct unique stick handset.
CASE: Gold case measures 19.5mm (21mm including crown) x 44mm, with matching caseback.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex rectangular crystal, no cracks or deep scratches.
BAND: This Alba moonphase comes on a maroon leather strap.
MOVEMENT: Quartz V400 movement, manufactured in September 1993.
CROWN: Twin unsigned gold crowns.
