Seiko.

[padi56]

Here are a couple of other relevant points relating to Seiko's development as a major player........

In 1969 Seiko produced the world's first automatic column-wheel chronograph, beating both the Breitling-led development group and Zenith-Movado to market. These chronographs were very popular with American airmen and other military units, as were the Diver watches. Sold under the Speed Timer and Seiko 5 Sports Chrono names -- among others -- they featured one or two sub dials, and had day and date guichet displays. It is these watches, the Seiko 5s, Divers and chronographs, when brought back by US servicemen serving in Vietnam, that finally introduced Seiko to the US consumer.

And it's almost impossible to find any detail about the last Observatory Chronometer competition held in Neuchatel in 1967, probably because Seiko destroyed the Swiss, and the competition was never held again. Girard-Perregaux won the competition with a specially constructed one off movement, and Seiko came second with a standard straight of production Grand Seiko.

In 1971 observatory competitions in Neuchâtel were suspended indefinitely after a petition and then the threat of boycott by several prestigious Swiss wristwatch manufacturers, because Seiko had begun to dominate the results, winning two years in succession. It wasn't the arrival of quartz which brought mechanical accuracy competitions in Switzerland to an end, but losing a fair fight to Japan.
(ref:http://www.timezone.com/library/cjrml/cjrml0023 - 03/10/05)


For better or worse IMO, Seiko's are pretty rugged watches, The "Kalashnikov's of the watch world". There is a place for them in WISdom.

The well-known workhorse Citizen Miyota movement is worthy of a mention,and
I would rate them on par,with a reputation for very long life without servicing, and extremely robust. They can also be manually wound which is irritatingly absent, in some Seiko movements like the 7S26 and can easily
be regulated to COSC standards.
.

[Earl]

during my time in the military I observed alot of Seiko divers on the wrists of many people senior to me. I myself wore a Casio G-shock for many years but, having to replace battries did make me feel ill when I needed the time at oh-dark-thrity with no battry at hand the watch took a hike needless to say!

[mamas]

interesting thread..wish these observatory competritions were restarted again.. would make for some great interest
mamas

[AJC]

Hey Padi,

I used my watch when I was in the Army.Recently sold it on Ebay to a US Cavalary Sodier in Iraq.

It was a Seiko Diver 7002-7001 and boy it was robust.Lume sucked but other than that it was great.

[padi56]

Should have kept it they are now increaseing in value,here is a picture
of my 6309