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Seiko Quartz Diver 150m (Ref. 7548-7000), 1983 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Seiko Quartz Diver 150m (Ref. 7548-7000), 1983

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Seiko (maker)
Date
1983
Country of origin
Japan
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
SKO75487000
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (SKO75487000)
Catalogue title (original)
1983 Seiko Quartz Diver 150m (Ref. 7548-7000) (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number SKO75487000), this is a wristwatch by Seiko, made in Japan, dated 1983. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Quartz timepieces are no stranger to controversy amongst watch collectors. Whether the quartz crisis is the reason for one enthusiasts favorite brand of the 70s to go bankrupt or is another collectors pride and joy, there’s one thing we cannot deny, Seiko made one hell of a quartz movement. First introduced by Seiko in 1969, Seiko and other quartz watch manufacturers soon took over the industry for the next 30 years, known as the “Quartz Crisis”. Due to these movements being inexpensive to produce and having unrivaled accuracy, quartz watches were seen as the evolution of watches, and in some cases they were. Though Quartz watches were on the rise, Seiko continued to create some of their most collectable tool watches today, including the 6139 chronograph watches, and numerous beloved dive watches such as the 62MAS and ref. 6105 “Captain Willard” respectively. The 7548-7000 Seiko Quartz Diver harmoniously blends both Seiko’s sport watch design language with their famous quartz movements to make one of the most reliable and rugged timepieces that was available at the time. With a case and dial that resembles a more modest version of the Seiko 6309 diver’s on the same era, featuring the bold markers, broad arrow minutes hands, and of course the offset screw-down crown at the 4 o’clock position. The 7548-7000 does anything but disappoint and this one in particular is in well worn and appreciated condition, and though we don’t know the stories this watch retains, we know it’s ready to do it all over again in its next chapter, on a new collectors wrist. Stock # SKO75487000 Brand Seiko Style Quartz Diver Model 7548-7000 Serial 35XXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 42 Bracelet NATO Strap CASE & BRACELET The wonderful case has been lightly polished in the past and retains thick dimensions and light signs of use. The original bezel remains almost untouched, showing no fade or major signs of use, and retains its luminous pearl at the 12 o'clock position. The case retains its original screw-down crown. The case back retains all of its factory marking in deep and cleat condition, there is some tool marks present. The watch will come supplies on a NATO strap. DIAL & HANDS The original matte black dial is in good vintage condition and shows some appropriate signs of age with hand drag visible around the center portion of the dial. The lume plots all remain fully intact, with no degradation visible under U.V. light inspection and have taken on a lovely eggshell patina. The original luminous hands match the dial nicely and show no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. ACCESSORIES None. The watches battery was recently changed and is keeping time perfectly, previous service history is unknown.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Dive and water-resistant watches

Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.

Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.

What to look for

  • Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
  • Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
  • Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
  • Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.

Dating clues

  • Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
  • Professional dive watches: from 1953.
  • Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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