The end of World War II meant a new beginning for Seiko, and a push to become a real competitor on the global market. The loss of the Kameido Factory in Tokyo meant a new base of operations had to be established, and soon enough, Seikosha Suwa was up and running. Not until 1956, and the unveiling of the Marvel, did Seiko even have a true “built from scratch” wristwatch movement that could be mass produced. The decade between was spent further developing designs originally sourced from the Swiss manufacturer Moeris. These hybrid calibres (10a, 10b) were the stepping stones that led to the mostly in-house Seiko Super, the first Seiko movement to feature a center seconds. The Super movement was housed in a variety of five digit case numbers, and included Super, Sportman, Laurel, and Unique dialed variants. This “Unique,” most likely produced in the early to mid 1950’s, is not only a stunning relic of Seiko history, but a tangible representation of the technical development of a “uniquely” Seiko design DNA. Admittedly, I wasn’t specifically on the hunt for a mid-50’s hand-winder, but laying eyes on the incredible dial patina this Unique had to offer meant I absolutely could not let it slip away. What began as a slick lacquer over clean silver has developed into a scattered criss-cross of pink copper patina that’s almost too good. In true mid-century Seiko fashion, a minimalist approach has made for a clean and timeless finish. Just two lines of script text and integrated polished markers create a balanced layout. The hour and minute hands are rounded, polished swords, and a slim lengthy sweep counts the seconds. The case is not much more than a steel frame for the dial with long beveled lugs, and a domed acrylic on top. At 34mm, its fairly large by era standards, and doesn’t get lost on the wrist. We’ve paired it with a smooth tanned leather that picks up the brown tones in the dial patina, and provides a comfortable casual finish. It’s unpolished and completely original aside from a replacement crystal, and post service is keeping excellent time. With pounds of appealing patina, this one is sure to find a regular spot in any rotation.

Kvarnsjo Leather Smooth Tanned Leather with White Stitch

Serviced 3/17/22

Diameter- 34mm

Lugs- 18mm