At a time when quartz meant LCD displays and tech influenced architecture, Seiko took a step back in order to bring watch design forward. Introduced in 1983, the 7A28 was the worlds first analog quartz chronograph, and to say they got it right is an understatement. Solid construction, “fly by wire” circuitry, and a hefty 15 jewels make for a finely tuned machine that can be adjusted to dial in performance, and allows for the replacement of worn components. The same can’t be said for most of the quartz movements seen even today. The dial lays out three sub registers: one measuring minutes, another is the designated seconds, and lastly a tenth of a second totaler. The center seconds is stationary unless the chronograph is engaged, at which point it measures elapsed seconds for the chronograph. If you are unfamiliar with this movement, we can all but bet that a little research will have you ready to track down your own. In the last couple of years, collectibility for these 7A models has begun to skyrocket, and it’s easy to see why. This example from April of ’83 is an absolute stunner. One of only a few JDM only variants, it carries the “Speedmaster” and helmet logo on the original bracelet clasp, and it only gets better from there. The case is a sleek, hooded tonneau with a sandblasted finish that transitions seamlessly into the tapered hinged bar link bracelet. It’s unpolished, and the factory finishes and corners are still quite sharp. The dial is a textured matte black with printed registers and text that offer an incredibly clean and legible display. A raised black chapter with luminous hour markers and silver minute hashes sits at its border, and meets the steep bank of the internal tachymetric ring to match the dial. The layout gives this watch great depth and undeniable presence. The thin angular bezel creates a “dashboard” effect, and adds nice height to an otherwise slimmer profile. The crown sits on the lower left, and is balanced at each corner by pushers that perform the various chronograph functions. It’s completely original aside from a replacement mineral. Post service, and with a new battery installed, it’s keeping perfect time, and is sure to be the fastest favorite in any rotation.

Original Seiko Bar Link Bracelet with “Speedmaster” Clasp

Serviced- 12/25

Diameter- 39mm

Lugs- 20mm