Joined
·
637 Posts
Specifications
Name: Moderno Ecology
Model Reference: VL-01
Movement: Shiojiri VP36, Japan made, no jewels, unadjusted, battery type 395 (L926)
Time display: 24 hour, minute, seconds
Date: at 3
Case: rotating metal case with stainless steel snap back
Size: diameter 35 mm, 37 mm with crown, 43 mm lug to lug
Height: 9 mm
Face:
a. white with green Earth map, black hours numbers (12, 18, 24 are red), black minute markers
b. olive with silver Earth map, white hours numbers (12, 18, 24 are red), white minute markers
Text on dial: Moderno, water resistant, Ecology
Text on back: Moderno, since 1978, Japan, VL-01, stainless steel back, water resistant 3bar
Hands and markers:
a. white lumed hours and minutes hands, narrow white seconds hand
b. black lumed hours and minutes hands, narrow black seconds hand
Water-resistance: 30m (3 ATM)
Crown: crown at 3 to set time
Crystal: flat mineral crystal
Lug: 18 mm
Bracelet: leather plaited strap with buckle
![]()
Purchase
A couple of sellers from Hong Kong are continuously selling NOS mostly Asian made watches, often with bizarre design. Time to time they offer 24h watches too. Here are two super cheap examples, each $15 plus shipping $15.
Comments
Moderno is a Japanese brand founded in 1978, as it is stamped on case back. And that is all I know about Moderno. What was the main news for me regarding Moderno Ecology watches was the movement. After inhuman efforts to open snap cases I saw something absolutely different than Ronda movements you can usually see inside 24h quartz watches.
The movements are signed as "Shiojiri VP30". To be honest, this is the first time I saw the name Shiojiri. Now I know that Shiojiri is producing movements for Seiko. Shiojiri is a small city in Japan and there is a Seiko-Epson factory in Shiojiri producing spring drives for Grand Seiko and also quartz movements (for Grand Seiko and many others). See also A Tour of the Seiko-Epson Factory in Shiojiri, Japan>>>>>).
BTW, the list of Shiojiri quartz movements I quite long (SHIOJIRI).
On the inner side of casebacks is stamped:
a. 08/94
b. VL 08/94
OK, that means both siblings are made in August 1994. Despite simultaneous production the plastic holders are a little bit different.
I know that as a minimum 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] sibling exists - blue Moderno Ecology.
![]()
All Moderno Ecology models are equipped with original appropriate color plaited leather straps. Nice solution for a cheap watch called Ecology.
Closer examination showed me some nice details, like the shape of the seconds hand. There is a lot of design efforts present for such a cheap watch (I have no idea, what was the list price back in 1994).
Summary
From these two I prefer the olive one. And I'm even wearing it when I would like to see something greenish on my wrist in addition to some cheap camouflage jacket.
For $30 I got as a minimum twice as much watches plus virtual visit to the Shiojiri factory.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
a. white
![]()
![]()
![]()
b. olive
![]()
![]()
![]()
Name: Moderno Ecology
Model Reference: VL-01
Movement: Shiojiri VP36, Japan made, no jewels, unadjusted, battery type 395 (L926)
Time display: 24 hour, minute, seconds
Date: at 3
Case: rotating metal case with stainless steel snap back
Size: diameter 35 mm, 37 mm with crown, 43 mm lug to lug
Height: 9 mm
Face:
a. white with green Earth map, black hours numbers (12, 18, 24 are red), black minute markers
b. olive with silver Earth map, white hours numbers (12, 18, 24 are red), white minute markers
Text on dial: Moderno, water resistant, Ecology
Text on back: Moderno, since 1978, Japan, VL-01, stainless steel back, water resistant 3bar
Hands and markers:
a. white lumed hours and minutes hands, narrow white seconds hand
b. black lumed hours and minutes hands, narrow black seconds hand
Water-resistance: 30m (3 ATM)
Crown: crown at 3 to set time
Crystal: flat mineral crystal
Lug: 18 mm
Bracelet: leather plaited strap with buckle
Purchase
A couple of sellers from Hong Kong are continuously selling NOS mostly Asian made watches, often with bizarre design. Time to time they offer 24h watches too. Here are two super cheap examples, each $15 plus shipping $15.
Comments
Moderno is a Japanese brand founded in 1978, as it is stamped on case back. And that is all I know about Moderno. What was the main news for me regarding Moderno Ecology watches was the movement. After inhuman efforts to open snap cases I saw something absolutely different than Ronda movements you can usually see inside 24h quartz watches.
The movements are signed as "Shiojiri VP30". To be honest, this is the first time I saw the name Shiojiri. Now I know that Shiojiri is producing movements for Seiko. Shiojiri is a small city in Japan and there is a Seiko-Epson factory in Shiojiri producing spring drives for Grand Seiko and also quartz movements (for Grand Seiko and many others). See also A Tour of the Seiko-Epson Factory in Shiojiri, Japan>>>>>).
BTW, the list of Shiojiri quartz movements I quite long (SHIOJIRI).
On the inner side of casebacks is stamped:
a. 08/94
b. VL 08/94
OK, that means both siblings are made in August 1994. Despite simultaneous production the plastic holders are a little bit different.
I know that as a minimum 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] sibling exists - blue Moderno Ecology.
All Moderno Ecology models are equipped with original appropriate color plaited leather straps. Nice solution for a cheap watch called Ecology.
Closer examination showed me some nice details, like the shape of the seconds hand. There is a lot of design efforts present for such a cheap watch (I have no idea, what was the list price back in 1994).
Summary
From these two I prefer the olive one. And I'm even wearing it when I would like to see something greenish on my wrist in addition to some cheap camouflage jacket.
For $30 I got as a minimum twice as much watches plus virtual visit to the Shiojiri factory.
a. white
b. olive
