The Most Important Seiko Watches of All Time: From the 1913 Laurel to the SKX007
This article highlights several historically significant Seiko watches that have impacted the watch industry. It covers the 1913 Laurel, Japan's first wristwatch, the 1965 62MAS, the first Japanese dive watch, the 1973 Seiko Pogue, the first automatic chronograph in space, and the 1969 Seiko Quartz Astron, the world's first quartz wristwatch.
- Seiko Laurel (1913) was Japan's first wristwatch.
- Seiko 62MAS (1965) was the first Japanese dive watch with 150m water resistance.
- Seiko Pogue (1973) was the first automatic chronograph in space.
- Seiko Quartz Astron (1969) was the world's first quartz wristwatch.
The 1913 Seiko Laurel featured enamel dials with inset small seconds and Arabic numerals, with occasional red '12'.
The 1965 Seiko 62MAS established the blueprint for Seiko dive watches with its large baton indexes, 3 o'clock date window, and slim diving bezel.
The Seiko Pogue, specifically the 6139-6002, gained its nickname when Colonel William Pogue wore it on the Skylab 4 mission in 1973.
The 1969 Seiko Quartz Astron movement was 100 times more accurate than mechanical watches, with an accuracy of +/- 5 seconds a month.
Seiko's decision to open patents for the quartz movement led to the quartz crisis, impacting traditional watchmakers.
Original Seiko Laurel models are rare due to low initial production numbers and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
The Seiko 62MAS was taken to Antarctica on sub-zero missions by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in 1966.
The Seiko Pogue is visually recognizable by its golden-yellow dial and 'Water 70m Resist' marking.