Description
Seiko vintage quartz watch
MADE IN JAPAN
“Seiko” (精工) is a Japanese word meaning “precision,” “exquisite workmanship,” or “refined craftsmanship.”
It comes from the characters:
- 精 (sei) – fine, precise, refined
- 工 (ko) – craft, workmanship
Originally, Seiko’s watchmaking division was called Seikosha (精工舎), meaning “House of Precision.”
The name first appeared on a watch dial in 1924, shortened from Seikosha and keeping the core meaning; the company itself was renamed Hattori Seiko in 1983 and Seiko Corporation in 1990.
So the brand name literally ties directly to the idea of precision engineering —which is exactly what the company wanted to be known for in its watches.
🕰️ Seiko SilverWave — Overview
Seiko Silverwave refers to a vintage line of Seiko wristwatches, originally marketed as robust, water-resistant sports watches and early “desk divers.” They aren’t typically full professional dive watches (most are only water-resistant, not suit-rated for deep diving), but they feature design elements like screw-down crowns and case backs aimed at splash and swim resistance — a hallmark of the Silverwave range from the 1960s into the early 1980s.
This line was popular in Japan (often as Japanese Domestic Market / JDM models) and includes both quartz and mechanical automatic versions across different decades. It’s an important name in Seiko’s dive/sport-watch story and a favourite among vintage collectors.
DESCRIPTION
This is a Japanese-market (JDM) Seiko SilverWave Ref. 7121-7020, manufactured in November 1979. It pairs a water-resistant sports case with the faceted, bracelet-hugging profile Seiko used across its late-1970s quartz range.
The dial is flat black, with an inner chapter ring carrying 13-to-24 hour markers and applied batons whose lume has aged to cream. The screw-down crown and the wave emblem on the case back are the Silver Wave signature — Seiko first used that wave on the 1962 Silver Wave to mark a watch built to get wet. Inside is the Seiko 7121, a two-jewel analogue quartz calibre from Daini Seikosha rated to ±15 seconds a month.
Technical Details
- Model: Seiko SilverWave
- Reference Number: 7121-7020
- Serial Number: 9N2112 (November 1979)
- Movement: Seiko Caliber 7121 quartz (2 jewels, ±15 seconds/month, made in Japan)
- Battery Type: SR1130W / 389 silver-oxide
- Case Material: Brushed and Polished Stainless Steel
- Dial: Matte Black with luminous hands, stick indices, and a 24-hour military inner track
- Caseback: Screw-down stainless steel, stamped WATER RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL JAPAN-L 7121-7020 with serial 9N2112 and the Seiko Silver Wave logo
- Bracelet: Original stainless steel bracelet with GA940 end links
- Country of Manufacture: Japan (JDM Release)
This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.
Comes complete with original steel bracelet*. (*)Note: Stock bracelets are often shortened by previous owners and may not fit you(see bracelet size in the product images). We match the strap to this watch’s lug width, so there is nothing for you to measure — just pick a padded leather strap for Seiko from the options at the top of the page.
This watch ships from 🇺🇦 Ukraine with tracking number
Modes of payment:
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We guarantee the item you receive looks and works exactly as advertised — or your money back.
Seiko lug-width matched leather straps — 18 / 19 / 20 mm
About the watch factory
Seiko Group Corporation (セイコーグループ株式会社, Seikō Gurūpu kabushiki gaisha), commonly known as Seiko, is a Japanese maker of watches, clocks, electronic devices, and semiconductors. Founded in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Seiko introduced the world’s first commercial quartz wristwatch in 1969. Seiko is widely known for its wristwatches. Seiko is one of the few watch companies that is fully vertically integrated. Seiko is able to design and develop all the components of a watch, as well as assemble, adjust, inspect and ship them in-house. Seiko’s mechanical watches consist of approximately 200 parts, and the company has the technology and production facilities to design and manufacture all of these parts internally.
Seiko offers one of the widest ranges of watch technologies in the world— quartz, kinetic, solar, mechanical, and Spring Drive —spanning everything from affordable everyday pieces to six-figure haute horlogerie. Over the decades it has launched multiple global brands, including Lorus, Pulsar, and Alba, while elevating its prestige through innovations like Spring Drive, which helped push Seiko into higher-end territory. In 2017, Grand Seiko was spun off into its own standalone luxury brand, while Credor remains part of Seiko’s own lineup, sold primarily in Japan. Seiko’s own global lineup now includes Grand Seiko, King Seiko, Prospex, Astron, Presage, and Seiko 5 Sports.
Among Seiko’s key lines, Seiko 5 (born in 1963) is the gateway mechanical series known for durability and value; Lord Matic defined 1970s style with faceted crystals and colorful dials; Astron remains Seiko’s flagship GPS-solar tech line; Presage focuses on traditional mechanical craftsmanship with enamel and urushi dials; and Prospex delivers professional-grade dive, field, and pilot watches often embraced by enthusiasts. At the top end, Grand Seiko emphasizes precision, Zaratsu polished design, and movements like Spring Drive, while King Seiko —revived in the 2020s—brings back sharp, elegant 1960s styling with modern calibres.
Finally, Credor represents Seiko’s pinnacle of artisanal watchmaking, producing low-volume pieces in precious metals and showcasing Japanese decorative arts and haute complications from the Micro Artist Studio. Beyond watches, Seiko has also produced various electronic devices and, historically, jewelry and eyewear—though those divisions have since shifted to other companies.
