The Light Field Watch with a Seiko Movement.

Some words on our Light watch – a Seiko field watch of sorts…

Evening all! I am listening to John Surman – Upon Reflections and reading about Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, an Austrian artist who studied at the Bauhaus. She taught children how to process their emotions through art and saved 4500 drawings done by 660 children from which only 110 survived the Holocaust. She was killed by the Nazis at Auschwitz. The music and the story are an odd combination of melancholy.

The point being, I have been using the library at University of Sussex to study for a book I am writing, whereupon I came across Friedl Dicker, her typography and art. This piece was done in her first year studying and is an investigation of balance and chiaroscuro. It is wonderful.

Although field watches can be quite pedestrian, this design is anything but. A heavy box sapphire crystal is mounted in a bezel that is vertically brushed to catch the light. The surrounding metal on the top surface is a compound curve, dropping away steeply at the bezel and sweeping towards the lugs. 

Choosing a Seiko movement was a no brainer. Seiko field watches are legendary. The movements are extremely well made and prepared and a total joy to operate. The GMT here is subtle and not the main thing. Hence not having GMT in the title. Calling it a Seiko field watch would be pushing the fact to hard as none of my work is a collection of parts but more a holistic vibe – with details.

Like our larger watches the strap is rebated under a lip, this creates an all-in-one integrated feel and ensures it sits comfortably – for all wrist sizes. The crown at 4 o’clock is another point of difference with other Schofields and features ‘wheel arches’ machined into the case above and below which serve as crown protectors; the crown is fully rebated when screwed down. 

• A General purpose Seiko Field watch.
• Movement – Seiko NH34A
• Movement – GMT, hours, mins and hacking sweep secs
• Power reserve – 44 hours
• Diameter – 27.4mm
• Height – 5.32mm
• Jewels – 24
• Frequency – 21,600 VPH 3Hz
• Case – Stainless steel (The Dark One PVD)
• Case – Anti-fingerprint coating
• Diameter – 40mm
• Crystal diameter – 32mm
• Bezel – Brushed 12 – 6, 36mm diameter
• Height including lugs – 13.5mm
• Width between lugs – 22mm
• Lug length – 48mm
• Weight with strap and buckle – 96 grammes
• Crystal – Box sapphire, multiple AR coatings
• Case Back – Printed mineral crystal. Flush fit
• Case Back – Artwork orientated 12-6
• Case Back – Screw in with no opening holes
• Crown – Double o-ring screw in type with nail groove
• Crown – Engraved with Beam of Light logo
• Dials – Split-level, painted, lacquered
• Date – None
• Luminescence – Super-LumiNova C3 green emission
• Hands – Lacquered greys
• Straps – 2x 22mm straight cut with QR spring bars
• Straps – Made by SUGAR FREE (sister website)
• Buckle – Obscura type, thumbnail
• Box – Machined cork and Valchromat
• Serial – Limited to 150 watches in each colour
• Water resistance – 200m
• Warranty – 2 years
• A Seiko Field Watch