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Seiko Quartz V401-3250 Vintage Roman Numeral Tonneau Dress Watch Made in Japan
A charming vintage Seiko Quartz Ref. V401-3250, featuring an elegant tonneau-shaped case, silver-white dial, classical Roman numeral hour markers and a slim three-hand quartz movement.
This is a particularly attractive example of Seiko's more traditional dress-watch styling. The softly curved rectangular case gives the watch considerably more personality than a conventional round quartz model, while the Roman numeral dial brings an almost antique-inspired character to the design.
The caseback clearly identifies the watch as V401-3250, with the V401 designation corresponding to Seiko's analogue quartz movement family. Documentation for the V401 confirms it as a three-hand quartz calibre.
Watch Details
Brand: Seiko
Model: Vintage Quartz Dress Watch
Reference: V401-3250
Serial Number: 981765
Movement: Seiko Calibre V401 quartz
Display: Hours, minutes and central seconds
Case: Silver-tone base-metal case
Caseback: Stainless steel
Case Shape: Tonneau / curved rectangular
Dial: Silver-white
Numerals: Black Roman numerals
Minute Track: Printed peripheral dot/minute track
Hands: Dark-tone hour and minute hands
Seconds: Central seconds
Date: None
Crystal: Curved clear crystal
Crown: Gold-tone fluted crown
Caseback Markings: Seiko / Water Resistant / St. Steel + Base Metal / V401-3250 / Made in Japan
Strap: Dark brown crocodile-pattern leather-style strap
Buckle: Silver-tone pin buckle
Included: Watch and strap as photographed
Box & Papers: None shown
Condition
This is a vintage pre-owned watch with visible signs of age and previous wear.
The silver-tone tonneau case presents attractively but displays scratches, small marks and general surface wear, particularly around the case edges and lugs. The contrasting gold-tone crown is also visible and shows age consistent with the watch.
The silver-white dial has developed noticeable vintage character. There are small marks, spotting and discolouration visible around the dial and minute track, with further age-related marks around the centre. The Roman numerals remain clear and provide excellent contrast against the lighter dial.
The hands also display age and surface change consistent with a vintage watch.
The caseback has normal scratches and wear but its important engravings remain clearly legible, including the V401-3250 reference and 981765 serial number.
The dark brown crocodile-pattern strap shows signs of use but remains visually well suited to the watch. Unless supporting documentation is available, the strap should be treated as a later replacement rather than represented as factory-original.
No recent service, battery replacement or water-resistance test documentation has been supplied. The historical “Water Resistant” caseback marking should not be interpreted as confirmation of the watch's present water resistance.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
The Ref. V401-3250
The reference is particularly useful because Seiko's traditional caseback numbering system combines the movement calibre with the case designation.
On this watch the engraving reads:
V401-3250
The first portion therefore identifies the V401 quartz movement family, while the second identifies the case configuration.
Seiko documentation for the V400A/V401A family confirms that the V401A is a quartz movement with hour, minute and seconds hands, matching the simple three-hand arrangement seen here.
That makes the physical caseback marking considerably more reliable for identification than trying to assign the watch a model name based solely on its appearance.
Seiko Calibre V401 Quartz
Inside is a movement from Seiko's V401 analogue quartz family.
The V401 is documented as an analogue quartz mechanism displaying hours, minutes and seconds. Movement references also specify the SR521SW / 379-size battery for the V401 family.
The movement is an excellent match for this style of watch: uncomplicated, slim and designed primarily around convenient everyday timekeeping.
Rather than adding unnecessary complications, Seiko allowed the case and dial design to provide the personality.
Roman Numeral Dial
The dial is arguably the defining feature of this example.
Instead of the baton indexes commonly found on Seiko quartz watches, this watch uses a complete set of stylised Roman numerals.
Their elongated black forms follow the curved outline of the case, creating a particularly cohesive appearance.
A fine peripheral minute track sits around the outside, while the simple dark hands keep the centre of the dial relatively uncluttered.
The dial has developed visible spotting and ageing over time. This is clearly shown in the photographs and contributes to its unmistakably vintage presentation.
Tonneau Case Design
The gently curved tonneau case is another major part of the watch's appeal.
Its rectangular centre transitions into curved sides and shaped lugs, giving it a more elegant profile than a conventional square watch.
Viewed from the side, the case remains relatively slender and follows the wrist naturally.
This type of compact tonneau architecture works particularly well as a dress watch because it provides visual presence without requiring a large case.
Made in Japan
The caseback is clearly marked MADE IN JAPAN, reinforcing the watch's Japanese manufacture.
Seiko's quartz development fundamentally shaped the watch industry, and the company's catalogue eventually extended far beyond purely functional quartz watches into an enormous variety of dress, sports and jewellery-oriented designs.
The V401 family itself appeared across numerous different Seiko references and case configurations, demonstrating how broadly Seiko employed the movement architecture.
This watch represents the more traditional side of that catalogue: compact proportions, classical numerals and a restrained three-hand display.
Vintage Seiko Dress-Watch Character
What makes this watch interesting is not complexity but design.
The combination of a curved tonneau case, Roman numerals, silver-white dial and dark brown strap gives it a genuinely traditional appearance.
At the same time, the quartz movement places it firmly within a later generation of Japanese watchmaking, creating an interesting combination of old-fashioned styling and modern-for-its-period technology.
The aged dial and visible wear further distinguish the watch from contemporary reproductions of this style.
Brown Leather Strap
The watch is paired with a dark brown crocodile-pattern leather-style strap with contrasting lighter lining and a silver-tone pin buckle.
Its deep brown colour works especially well against the silver case and warm aged tones of the dial.
The strap appears to be a replacement and should therefore be described simply as the strap currently fitted to the watch rather than claimed as original Seiko equipment.
Why Collectors Love the Seiko V401-3250
The V401-3250 offers something quite different from the Seiko divers, chronographs and sports watches that dominate the vintage Japanese-watch market.
It is small, elegant and deliberately traditional.
The Roman numeral dial gives it immediate character, while the tonneau case is distinctive without becoming extravagant. Add the visible Made-in-Japan caseback identification and Seiko V401 quartz movement, and it becomes an appealing piece of Seiko's enormous dress-watch history.
Most importantly, this example has not lost the evidence of its age. The dial spotting, case wear and subtle changes to the hands give it the individual character collectors often seek in an affordable vintage watch.
A charming vintage Seiko Quartz Ref. V401-3250, featuring an elegant tonneau-shaped case, silver-white dial, classical Roman numeral hour markers and a slim three-hand quartz movement.
This is a particularly attractive example of Seiko's more traditional dress-watch styling. The softly curved rectangular case gives the watch considerably more personality than a conventional round quartz model, while the Roman numeral dial brings an almost antique-inspired character to the design.
The caseback clearly identifies the watch as V401-3250, with the V401 designation corresponding to Seiko's analogue quartz movement family. Documentation for the V401 confirms it as a three-hand quartz calibre.
Watch Details
Brand: Seiko
Model: Vintage Quartz Dress Watch
Reference: V401-3250
Serial Number: 981765
Movement: Seiko Calibre V401 quartz
Display: Hours, minutes and central seconds
Case: Silver-tone base-metal case
Caseback: Stainless steel
Case Shape: Tonneau / curved rectangular
Dial: Silver-white
Numerals: Black Roman numerals
Minute Track: Printed peripheral dot/minute track
Hands: Dark-tone hour and minute hands
Seconds: Central seconds
Date: None
Crystal: Curved clear crystal
Crown: Gold-tone fluted crown
Caseback Markings: Seiko / Water Resistant / St. Steel + Base Metal / V401-3250 / Made in Japan
Strap: Dark brown crocodile-pattern leather-style strap
Buckle: Silver-tone pin buckle
Included: Watch and strap as photographed
Box & Papers: None shown
Condition
This is a vintage pre-owned watch with visible signs of age and previous wear.
The silver-tone tonneau case presents attractively but displays scratches, small marks and general surface wear, particularly around the case edges and lugs. The contrasting gold-tone crown is also visible and shows age consistent with the watch.
The silver-white dial has developed noticeable vintage character. There are small marks, spotting and discolouration visible around the dial and minute track, with further age-related marks around the centre. The Roman numerals remain clear and provide excellent contrast against the lighter dial.
The hands also display age and surface change consistent with a vintage watch.
The caseback has normal scratches and wear but its important engravings remain clearly legible, including the V401-3250 reference and 981765 serial number.
The dark brown crocodile-pattern strap shows signs of use but remains visually well suited to the watch. Unless supporting documentation is available, the strap should be treated as a later replacement rather than represented as factory-original.
No recent service, battery replacement or water-resistance test documentation has been supplied. The historical “Water Resistant” caseback marking should not be interpreted as confirmation of the watch's present water resistance.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
The Ref. V401-3250
The reference is particularly useful because Seiko's traditional caseback numbering system combines the movement calibre with the case designation.
On this watch the engraving reads:
V401-3250
The first portion therefore identifies the V401 quartz movement family, while the second identifies the case configuration.
Seiko documentation for the V400A/V401A family confirms that the V401A is a quartz movement with hour, minute and seconds hands, matching the simple three-hand arrangement seen here.
That makes the physical caseback marking considerably more reliable for identification than trying to assign the watch a model name based solely on its appearance.
Seiko Calibre V401 Quartz
Inside is a movement from Seiko's V401 analogue quartz family.
The V401 is documented as an analogue quartz mechanism displaying hours, minutes and seconds. Movement references also specify the SR521SW / 379-size battery for the V401 family.
The movement is an excellent match for this style of watch: uncomplicated, slim and designed primarily around convenient everyday timekeeping.
Rather than adding unnecessary complications, Seiko allowed the case and dial design to provide the personality.
Roman Numeral Dial
The dial is arguably the defining feature of this example.
Instead of the baton indexes commonly found on Seiko quartz watches, this watch uses a complete set of stylised Roman numerals.
Their elongated black forms follow the curved outline of the case, creating a particularly cohesive appearance.
A fine peripheral minute track sits around the outside, while the simple dark hands keep the centre of the dial relatively uncluttered.
The dial has developed visible spotting and ageing over time. This is clearly shown in the photographs and contributes to its unmistakably vintage presentation.
Tonneau Case Design
The gently curved tonneau case is another major part of the watch's appeal.
Its rectangular centre transitions into curved sides and shaped lugs, giving it a more elegant profile than a conventional square watch.
Viewed from the side, the case remains relatively slender and follows the wrist naturally.
This type of compact tonneau architecture works particularly well as a dress watch because it provides visual presence without requiring a large case.
Made in Japan
The caseback is clearly marked MADE IN JAPAN, reinforcing the watch's Japanese manufacture.
Seiko's quartz development fundamentally shaped the watch industry, and the company's catalogue eventually extended far beyond purely functional quartz watches into an enormous variety of dress, sports and jewellery-oriented designs.
The V401 family itself appeared across numerous different Seiko references and case configurations, demonstrating how broadly Seiko employed the movement architecture.
This watch represents the more traditional side of that catalogue: compact proportions, classical numerals and a restrained three-hand display.
Vintage Seiko Dress-Watch Character
What makes this watch interesting is not complexity but design.
The combination of a curved tonneau case, Roman numerals, silver-white dial and dark brown strap gives it a genuinely traditional appearance.
At the same time, the quartz movement places it firmly within a later generation of Japanese watchmaking, creating an interesting combination of old-fashioned styling and modern-for-its-period technology.
The aged dial and visible wear further distinguish the watch from contemporary reproductions of this style.
Brown Leather Strap
The watch is paired with a dark brown crocodile-pattern leather-style strap with contrasting lighter lining and a silver-tone pin buckle.
Its deep brown colour works especially well against the silver case and warm aged tones of the dial.
The strap appears to be a replacement and should therefore be described simply as the strap currently fitted to the watch rather than claimed as original Seiko equipment.
Why Collectors Love the Seiko V401-3250
The V401-3250 offers something quite different from the Seiko divers, chronographs and sports watches that dominate the vintage Japanese-watch market.
It is small, elegant and deliberately traditional.
The Roman numeral dial gives it immediate character, while the tonneau case is distinctive without becoming extravagant. Add the visible Made-in-Japan caseback identification and Seiko V401 quartz movement, and it becomes an appealing piece of Seiko's enormous dress-watch history.
Most importantly, this example has not lost the evidence of its age. The dial spotting, case wear and subtle changes to the hands give it the individual character collectors often seek in an affordable vintage watch.