Seiko 2220-3570
Introduction
The Seiko reference 2220-3570 is a manual wind watch with a 885 solid silver alloy upper case. Despite being on my radar for quite a while and also being relatively affordable, this watch is quite uncommon and it took me some time to find a decent example of this watch.
Three thing I like
Case: The silver alloy case is the main draw for me. I love how the case is still quite shiny, without much tarnish, despite being made from a silver alloy. I also like how white the silver alloy is in comparison to stainless steel, which is visibly more grey. Further, the stepped cushion shape of the case adds a lot of visual interest to the watch. The atypical, almost scroll-like, lugs, also pair very well with the overall aesthetics of the watch.
Dial and hands: From my experience, white dials (as opposed to silver or cream dials) are fairly rare in the vintage watch world. With this in mind, I find the white dial on this watch to be particularly refreshing. Further, the black roman numerals, minute track and hands make a very elegant combination. I also like that this watch does not have a second hand, the presence of which would detract from its formality. These elements make the watch pair exceptionally well with formal and preppy looks.
Proportions: The proportions of this watch are excellent and it wears larger than what its dimensions suggest, which are around 33mm across (without including the crown) and 38mm from lug to lug.
Three things I dislike, or wish were different
Crown: I am not sure what the crown is made of, as the crown on my example has some brassiness showing through.
Case: While I have praised many aspects of the case, above, it is still vulnerable to tarnish. However, interestingly enough, the case appears to have only tarnished in the crevices where the lugs and case meet, and in the recessed areas indented from previous impacts.
Lugs: The back of the lugs have additional material forming a guard-like shape - the benefits of which are unclear to me. There is a downside to the presence of this additional material as it prevents the installation of a NATO strap or one of my one-piece straps and, therefore, limits the versatility of this watch.
As always, I hope you have enjoyed my review.