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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.

 

As the world got accustomed to the novel new Astron technology dominating the market in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Seiko 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 full set 1983 Seiko Dolce 5931-5300 medical school graduation dress watch, with original Seiko 8931 instructions manual and Seiko dress watch box.

 

This Seiko Dolce appears to have been gifted to a nascent medical doctor in July 1983 upon graduation from medical school, per the Kanji Japanese inscriptions on the caseback.  Incorporating Seiko’s renowned quartz technology (the 5931 is powered by a high-grade analog quartz movement), the Seiko Dolce here isn’t only about classic elegance but also high-accuracy quartz.  Also notable?  The remarkable slimness along with its captivating silvery white dial.

 

During the mid-1980s, Seiko introduced the “Dolce” collection, running parallel to their Grand Quartz line.  This line boasted high-precision quartz movements, forming the basis for the modern “Grand Seiko” of the contemporary age today.  The distinctive feature of the Dolce series is the fusion of Seiko’s precise quartz movement with understated yet refined design elements.  The watch pays homage to Seiko's traditional minimalist style, designed to complement formal attire while integrating high-precision quartz movement with subtle yet elegant aesthetics.  

 

Also immediately obvious on this silver Seiko Dolce is its "Grammar of Design"-inspired case.  Pioneered by Taro Tanaka's Grammar of Design is easily discernable by it sharp case lines and Zaratsu polishing techniques.

 

In the early 1960s, Seiko’s Tanaka created a set of design principles he called The Grammar of Design.  In 1962, Tanaka noticed Swiss watches "sparkled brilliantly" and realized the design of high-end Seiko watches could be radically improved through the implementation of "flat and conical surfaces perfectly smooth and free of distortion."

 

Tanaka’s Grammar of Design made the Grand and King Seiko lines instantly recognizable as status symbols in the hierarchical Japanese business world of the 1960s and 1970s.  Tanaka’s rules would go on to fundamentally change Seiko’s design language.  All surfaces and angles of the case, dial, indices and hands had to be flat and geometrically perfect to best reflect light.

 

Following this aesthetic, bezels were to be simple two-dimensional faceted curves.  And third, no visual distortion from any angle was allowed, and all cases and dials had to be mirror-finished.  In “A Journey in Time: The Remarkable Story of Seiko,” Tanaka’s approach to the new style is described as follows:

“He started by creating cases and dials that had a perfectly flat surface, with two-dimensional curves on the bezel as a secondary feature.  Three-dimensional curves were not used, as a general rule.  He also decided that all distortion should be eliminated from the dial, too, so that it could be finished with a mirror surface.  This formed the basis for the new Seiko style.”

 

This Seiko Dolce dress watch comes on a brown leather strap, and with rugged travel case, springbar tool, original Seiko 5931 instructions manual, and Seiko dress watch box.

Full Set 1983 Seiko Dolce 5931-5300 Medical School Graduation Dress Watch

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  • DIAL: A fantasticly textured silver Seiko "Dolce"-signed dial, with matching hour, minute, and second stick hands.  

     

    CASE: Razer-sharp stainless-steel case measures 30.5mm (31mm w/crown) x 35.5mm, with sharp case edges worthy of its near NOS classification.  

     

    CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal in great condition, no scratches, cracks, or edge chips.

     

    BAND: This Seiko Dolce comes on a dark brown leather strap, with stainless-steel hardware to match the case.  This Seiko dress watch also comes with a red and black nylon strap.

     

    MOVEMENT: Six-jewel Seiko 5931 quartz movement, manufactured in January 1981; movement hacks, as designed. 

     

    Of note, this Seiko Dolce dress watch comes with an original Seiko 5931 instructions manual, in both Kanji Japanese and English, as well as its original Seiko dress watch box. 

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