The Seiko 5T32 was a late 1980’s watch that incorporated many design features of more expensive watches. It has the unusual notation on the dial “EQUIPMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL” which is probably the least impressive element of its design but the rest is pure class.
The case includes both polished and brushed surfaces, not unlike my Grand Seiko SBGX009. The dial is a delicious cream colour without any flashy sunburst effects, and the date window is perfectly proportioned. If you have to have a date window it should be as unobtrusive as this one. The stepped bezel adds a vintage look.
The hour numerals are in sharply contrasting black and the font has an art decor look to it. The railway track incorporating the minute indices is quite traditional and yet timeless (see what I did there) because many modern watches include the feature.
I just love small seconds watches, and although this isn’t a small seconds watch, the alarm dial with its own railway track occupies that spot above the 6 index to give a balanced “small seconds” look.
The hour and minute hands deserve a paragraph to themselves. They are the most delicate yet sensuous hands I have seen in a while. Thin, and beautifully tapered, they offer elegance and clarity at the same time.
While this watch has many elements of more expensive watches, in many eyes it is only a humble battery operated quartz watch. That is true, but this watch has a very useful party trick which is facilitated by its electronic gadgetry.
The alarm dial can be set to sound an alarm at a chosen time each day. But if you push the button at 8 once, the alarm hand will move forward one minute and sound the alarm. If you push it five times it will advance five minutes and sound the alarm. If you hold the button down it will quickly move forward to your selected interval and then sound the alarm. For timing things like cooking it beats my dive watch bezel hands down. I find this feature genuinely useful.
And if that isn’t enough, you can also use the sub-dial as a second time zone. It doesn’t have 24 hour markings but it does provide GMT functionality.
So, a very accurate watch with lots of desirable design features and a genuinely useful party trick - no wonder the 5T32-7A00 has earned a spot in my watch box.
By Greg Smith
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