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.
The Seiko M158-5000, colloquially known as the “Pan Am”, is a landmark in digital horology that debuted in 1977. It holds the distinction of being Seiko’s first digital world-timer, representing a technological leap from the brand’s traditional mechanical GMT movements to advanced liquid crystal technology. The nickname comes from the watch’s popularity with airline pilots in the late 1970s; Seiko and Pan American World Airways had no formal connection.
The model is most instantly recognizable for its signature “Lemon Face”—a yellow-tinted LCD, the tint coming from the glass layer over the display rather than from the crystal. It reads easily in low light. Beyond its specialized screen, the watch features a sophisticated map-like display on the dial frame that lists 22 major cities, covering 29 different time zones. A button switches between home time, GMT and the selected world-time city, so a second zone is one press away.
Manufactured with a robust stainless steel case and a world-map-inspired aesthetic, the M158-5000 was produced primarily for the Japanese and international markets. Production ran from April 1977 to January 1979. The case-back serial on this example, 8N0547, dates it to November 1978, and the bracelet end links are stamped XAS020, the part number Seiko fitted to the M158-5000.
Technical Details
- Movement: Seiko M158 Quartz World Time module
- Dial: High-visibility “Lemon” LCD screen
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Reference / Serial: M158-5000, serial 8N0547 (November 1978)
- Dimensions: Approximately 37 mm wide, 40 mm lug to lug, 9 mm thick
- Functions: Instantaneous world time tracking across 29 time zones and 22 cities
- Water Resistance: Water Resistant rating (vintage standard – not guaranteed)
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
in natural light
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
in natural light
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.
