The watch One of the first watches we ever sold was a Seiko Quartz 0842-8070 with a date display. Now we have its sibling in stock, this time with both day and date.
This Seiko Quartz 0843-8070 was produced in April 1976 and features a stainless steel case, a beautifully textured crosshatch dial, and sharp dauphine hands. The early Seiko quartz movements from this period are exceptionally well made and represent some of the finest quartz engineering of the era. The watch offers both day and date displays, with the day wheel selectable in either Japanese Kanji or English.
The case shows only minor signs of use, with a few light scratches on the lower section of the case near the bezel. The crystal remains scratch-free. The original stainless steel bracelet is in excellent condition and retains a firm feel, suggesting limited wear throughout its life.
The quartz crisis The quartz crisis was a major turning point in the watch industry during the 1970s and 1980s, driven by the rise of quartz technology. Companies like Seiko led the way, offering watches that were more accurate, more affordable, and easier to maintain than traditional mechanical models.
With the launch of the first quartz wristwatch, the Astron, in 1969, Seiko showed the world what quartz could achieve. Swiss watchmakers, known for their mechanical craftsmanship, were slow to react and lost much of their market share. The crisis forced the Swiss industry to restructure and helped shape a future where traditional watchmaking and modern quartz innovation could exist side by side.
