{"product_id":"montre-seiko-melodie-v421-0040-cadran-partition-aiguilles-clair-1990","title":"Seiko Mélodie Watch V421-0040 — Sheet Music Dial Lightning Hands (1990) ","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 28px 0; padding: 22px 12px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e2ddd5; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 10px; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; opacity: 0.5;\"\u003eAtelier Note\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; font-style: italic; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eA printed musical score beneath the Crystal, two blue lightning-bolt hands to move across it — and a chime that plays its melody on demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Seiko that bears its hours on the bezel and its music on the dial\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 1990 Seiko watch reverses the usual construction of a dial. The \u003cstrong\u003eRoman numerals\u003c\/strong\u003e are not printed in the center: they are \u003cstrong\u003eengraved into the bezel\u003c\/strong\u003e, a wide brushed steel ring that occupies almost the entire face of the watch. At the center, the dial is reduced to a white medallion printed with a \u003cstrong\u003emusical score\u003c\/strong\u003e — staves, notes, and clefs in a golden tone, like a sheet of music slipped beneath the Crystal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two \u003cstrong\u003eblue hands\u003c\/strong\u003e move across this score: the hour hand with a tapered point, the minute hand drawn as a \u003cstrong\u003elightning bolt\u003c\/strong\u003e, in a zigzag — a design flourish one almost never encounters. Their blue is the watch's only vivid color, and it stands out equally well against both the score and the brushed steel of the bezel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rounded \u003cstrong\u003e34mm\u003c\/strong\u003e case, domed, is framed by \u003cstrong\u003egold gadrooned lugs\u003c\/strong\u003e — fluted sleeves that grip the strap — and the steel-gold interplay continues with the \u003cstrong\u003egolden crown\u003c\/strong\u003e at three o'clock. At eight o'clock, a \u003cstrong\u003esecond pusher\u003c\/strong\u003e answers the first: it is this one that triggers the \u003cstrong\u003emelody\u003c\/strong\u003e, the function that gives this watch its character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe movement is a \u003cstrong\u003eSeiko quartz calibre V421\u003c\/strong\u003e, with two hands and a sound module, checked and fitted with a new battery. This watch was produced for the Japanese market: this is what collectors refer to as \u003cstrong\u003eJDM\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eJapanese Domestic Market\u003c\/em\u003e. It is fitted on a black crocodile-pattern leather strap with a later Buckle steel pin buckle, both added later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 40px 0 16px;\"\u003eThree points to note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 20px 0; padding-left: 16px; border-left: 1px solid #e2ddd5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 4px; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; opacity: 0.45;\"\u003e01\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA melody watch\u003c\/strong\u003e — a sound module activated at eight o'clock, the most playful complication in Japanese quartz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 4px; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; opacity: 0.45;\"\u003e02\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScore dial and lightning-bolt hands\u003c\/strong\u003e — a sheet of music beneath the Crystal, traversed by a blue zigzag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 4px; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; opacity: 0.45;\"\u003e03\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHours engraved into the bezel\u003c\/strong\u003e — Roman numerals hollowed into brushed steel, framed by gold gadrooned lugs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 40px 0 16px;\"\u003eWhy choose a Seiko design from the 1990s?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eSeiko vintage watch\u003c\/strong\u003e holds a distinctive place among \u003cstrong\u003emen's and women's vintage watches\u003c\/strong\u003e  : its 34mm case can be worn by both men and women, and its register — a sound complication beneath a jewelry-like design — has no equivalent in current production. It is a \u003cstrong\u003ecollector's watch\u003c\/strong\u003e for those who like their watch to have something to tell, and to make heard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all our \u003cstrong\u003evintage quartz watches\u003c\/strong\u003e, this one has been opened and checked by our partner watchmakers: inspection of the movement and sound module, examination of the dial, hands and case. Every \u003cstrong\u003evintage watch\u003c\/strong\u003e we offer comes with an Atelier Victor invoice serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and lifetime-guaranteed authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e→ \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/montres-seiko-vintage\" title=\"Seiko Vintage Watches\"\u003eDiscover our other vintage Seiko watches\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e→ \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/montres-quartz\" title=\"Vintage Quartz Watches\"\u003eView all our vintage quartz watches\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 40px 0 16px;\"\u003eTechnical specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seiko\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Melody watch, musical score dial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReference:\u003c\/strong\u003e V421-0040\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0D63••\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1990 (December)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan (domestic market)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGender:\u003c\/strong\u003e Men's and women's watch (Unisex)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seiko quartz, caliber V421, sound module\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hours, minutes, melody\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brushed steel, bezel engraved with Roman numerals, gold gadrooned lugs, steel caseback, round shape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter:\u003c\/strong\u003e 34mm (36mm including the crown)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug to lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e 43mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8.35mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrown:\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden at 3 o'clock, melody control at 8 o'clock; crown not original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDial:\u003c\/strong\u003e White medallion printed with a musical score, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHands:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue, lightning-bolt minute hand, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mineral (condition 7\/10)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrap:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black crocodile-style leather, not original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuckle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel pin buckle, not original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 40px 0 16px;\"\u003eCondition and guarantee\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall condition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Good state of preservation. Clear musical-score dial, blue hands without alteration. The brushed bezel shows signs of wear, visible in our photographs; the Roman numeral engraving is crisp. The mineral Crystal has scratches, rated 7\/10. The gold gadrooned lugs are even.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not guaranteed (vintage watch)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthenticity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lifetime guarantee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMechanical:\u003c\/strong\u003e Quartz movement and sound module checked, new battery, guaranteed for 1 year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Atelier Victor invoice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot included:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original box and papers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 40px 0 16px;\"\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does the melody work?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe watch incorporates a sound module alongside its quartz movement: the control located at eight o’clock triggers the melody, which the watch plays on demand. It is a complication that Japanese watchmakers explored in the late 1980s, when quartz made it possible to house a sound circuit inside a dress watch case — and the sheet-music dial makes this clear at once. The module has been checked and is working.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do you read the time on this watch?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs on any watch: the two hands start from the center, and you follow their direction to the Roman numerals — except that these are engraved on the bezel rather than printed on the dial. The central medallion is thus left entirely free for its musical score, and reading the time becomes natural after just a few hours of wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does the dial depict?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA musical score: several staves printed in a golden tone, with their notes, clefs, and rests, crossed by the blue hands. It is the dial that announces the function — this watch plays music — and it turns each reading of the time into a glance across the page. The lightning-bolt minute hand, cut in a zigzag shape, is a design one encounters almost never.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs quartz reliable in a watch from this period?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The Seiko calibres of this generation are robust and easy to maintain: the battery is changed every two to three years by a watchmaker, with no periodic servicing as on a mechanical watch. On this watch, the movement and sound module have been checked, the battery is new, and the whole is guaranteed for one year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith a 34mm diameter, 43mm Lug-to-lug, and 8.35mm thickness, it suits wrists of approximately 15 to 18cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its wide bezel gives it more presence than its diameter would suggest. The Lug width measures 12mm, which makes it easy to change the strap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Seiko","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54678846538065,"sku":"0D6389 W421-0040","price":682.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/8576\/2597\/files\/VD_06613.jpg?v=1788189911","url":"https:\/\/ateliervictor.co\/en\/products\/seiko-melodie-watch-v421-0040-sheet-music-dial-light-hands-1990","provider":"Atelier Victor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}