# Reference: **Model:** Seiko “Laurel” LJAL600 **Year Produced:** March 1995 **Timestamp:** [https://imgur.com/a/SPBn994](https://imgur.com/a/SPBn994) **Album:** [https://imgur.com/a/o7JqlBF](https://imgur.com/a/o7JqlBF) # Features: **The Theme.** One of the more European looking Seikos that harkens back to Seiko's pre-war European watch heritage. Elegant Breguet-style, heat-blued hands, ripple-wave dial, applied Arabic numerals, solid 925 silver case, and 18kt gold bezel. I wouldn’t blame you for double and triple-checking it says Seiko on the dial. Despite its vintage appearance, this piece is actually neo-vintage, having been released in the mid-’90s **The History.** In the early 1910s, K. Hattori & Co. began importing Swiss calibres, likely from A. Schild, and fitting them with their own enamel dials and cases. These Swiss-Japanese hybrids bore the Laurel name for a decade, until a devastating earthquake in 1923 destroyed Kintarō Hattori’s Seikosha factory. When the factory was rebuilt a year later, Hattori honoured its workers by changing the name of the watches to *Seiko*. **The Influence.** Hattori’s 1913 Japanese-made enamel dial is dripping with Swiss influence, because, frankly put, it’s all the world knew at the time. Your choice of watch was Swiss or Swiss. But Hattori hoped to change that, and piece by piece he did. It would take 43 years, but Seiko eventually produced their own in-house movement, and now they’re arguably the most vertically integrated company in the world. **The Metals.** Despite its historical connections, the LJAL600 stands strong on its own merits. It’s a deep-value piece that is granted an affordable price point due to its relative obscurity. The case is 925 Silver, and the bezel is 18kt Gold. Is precious metal plating really that impressive? No, which is why I’m happy to report the case is *solid* silver, and the bezel is *solid* gold.  **Character limited reached. Please see my other comment for Pricing and Specification.**