When was this Seiko Alba made?

[Majestyk]

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/2870423#154068065

The site says the 80's, but there are too many factors against this.

1. No one in the 80's was ready for an LED look-a-like watch.
2. The buttons have the styling of 90's+ modern digital watches.
3. The packaging is too slick for the 80's.
4. I don't think that type of back lighting (EL?) was around back then.

I thought it came out around 2000/2001, but if anyone knows the exact date, do tell.

Thanks,

Jeff

[retroleds]

I'd agree that it is a later model(98 or later). It looks like the same model as the Pulsar "Wired". The early Alba Spoons(straight-forward LCD) are from 94. BTW, anyone with an early Alba spoon gone bad...I have two perfect modules I saved from one's with broken [integral]bands.

[jollyaard]

The watch is from the late 90's and I've seen them in a 1998 Japanese watch magazine, and also the silver and black versions are in the Alba 1999 watch catalogue (Japan).
I think the AKA range was started around 1996 (as the Citizen Independent 1481010 range was relesed in 1997 as competition)

[retroleds]

Just went looking in the Japanese collectors book "Electric Watch - #103", it shows the Pulsar "Spoon"(bubble shape) as being 1995, and the Alba AKA like in the picture above in this thread, as 1996. I think Jollyaard is pretty much on...1996-1998.

[Planet-LED]

I have two Pulsar Spoon watches, which are very similar to the Seiko Alba. They are a back lit red LCD display. When you set the time on my Spoon watches, you are able to program in the year. The year goes back to 1997, so I think that would probably be about the time the Alba was made as well.

I like the look of the watches and bought them early on when I began collecting. Neither of mine have been very dependable. You never know when it might decide not to work. I think the problem is mainly an issue of badly designed contacts; I have had both apart several times to bend the contacts out, shim the module with a small piece of cardboard, etc. Perhaps the Alba doesn't have the problems that the Spoon has, but if you are looking for a dependable watch, the Spoon isn't a good choice.