Vintage 1997 Seiko SUS Black Dial Quartz Alarm Chronograph with Telemeter and Tachymeter Scales

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.

Description

This is a Seiko 7T32-9000, the black-dial alarm chronograph from Seiko’s SUS line – a Japanese-market range introduced in 1995 whose name joins the initial letters of Simple and Strong. The SUS brief was the watch as a plain tool for knowing the time: uncluttered dials, sparing lume, compact cases. The case back on this example is stamped 774891, which dates it to July 1997.

The dial is a matte black multi-register layout in an angular stainless steel case. The 30-minute chronograph register sits at 12, the running seconds at 9 and the alarm sub-dial at 6, with the date at 4:30. Two working scales frame them: a tachymeter on the outer chapter ring and a telemeter inside it, graduated in kilometres, which uses the speed of sound to give the distance to an event that can be both seen and heard. The chronograph reads to 1/5 second and runs to 30 minutes.

The caliber is Seiko’s 7T32, worked by two crowns at 3 and 4 and three pushers at 2, 8 and 10 – the analogue alarm chronograph Seiko built in quantity through the 1990s. It comes on its original Seiko-signed stainless steel bracelet, which carries the light scratches of ordinary wear, as does the case.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Seiko
• Reference Number: 7T32-9000
• Movement Type: Quartz alarm chronograph, Seiko caliber 7T32 (movement plate stamped 7T32B)
• Jewels: None – the movement plate reads SEIKO TIME CORP. / UNADJUSTED / NO JEWELS
• Controls: Two crowns (3 and 4 o’clock) and three pushers (2, 8 and 10 o’clock)
• Functions: 30-minute chronograph in 1/5-second increments, 12-hour alarm on the 6 o’clock sub-dial, running seconds at 9 o’clock, telemeter scale, tachymeter scale, date at 4:30
• Dial: Matte Black with luminous hands and hour indices
• Case Material: Brushed and Polished Stainless Steel
• Caseback: Screw-down Stainless Steel (stamped with individual serial number 774891)
• Bracelet: Original integrated Seiko stainless steel link bracelet
• Water Resistance Rating: 10 BAR (100 Meters / 330 Feet)
• Country of Origin: Made in Japan

This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.

Setting the date

Never use the quick date setting when the watch hands are pointing between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM.

This is Seiko’s own instruction for the 7T32: during those hours the date-change mechanism is already engaged, and the date may not change over correctly if it is set then.

Safe practice: if the hands are inside that window, pull the 3 o’clock crown to its second click and run the time past 3:00 AM, set the date at the first click, then return to the second click and set the correct time.

Comes complete with original steel bracelet* plus new genuine leather NATO Commander strap included. (*)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.

Modes of payment:

• PayPal
• Credit Cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
• bitcoin

We guarantee the item you receive looks and works exactly as advertised — or your money back.

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 Hattoriin Tokyo, Seiko introduced the world’s first commercialquartz wristwatchin 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 the 2010s, Grand Seiko and Credor were separated into fully independent luxury brands, while Seiko’s own global lineup now includes Grand Seiko, King Seiko, Prospex, Astron, Presage, and Seiko 5 Sports, with Credor remaining primarily Japan-focused.

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.