SEIKOSHA Nation Porcelain Dial ref.9047 / Pre-War Dust-Proof Double Case

— Pre-war intent: NATION —

One of the representative Japanese wristwatches that the firm now known as Seiko began producing around the end of the 1920s.

The dial carries the pet name "NATION," in the line of Roman-alphabet names alongside Laurel and Dahlia.

At the time, the average monthly wage of an ordinary worker was around 20 yen 65 sen.

The list price of the Nation was 8 yen 50 sen.

— Curve and depth —

The hands are in the Breguet style.

The indexes likewise draw fine curves, and blued steel hands give the dial a quiet depth.

The eye rests, and the intent of the construction rises to the surface.

— A construction for military use —

The case is a dust-proof double construction, designed to keep dust out.

"Patent No.274740, dust-proof."

It was intended for use as a military watch, and a hard intent lives in its construction.

— Cal. Morris Type 8 —

The "type" notation classifies movements by diameter.

The Type 8 fitted here, for instance, indicates a size of about 23mm.

A larger type is the Type 9 (about 26mm), and larger still the Type 10 (about 29mm).

The numbers work as a guide to size.

This classification was used not only by Seiko but by other Japanese makers such as Citizen, as a customary notation from before the war.

It is closer to a size code than to a model number.

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