As the world became accustomed to the novel new quartz watch technology dominating the market in the late 1960s and early 1970s that Seiko unleashed on the world, the Japanese watchmaker was hard at work on its next innovation to challenge Swiss watch industry dominance, developing the Superior, Grand Quartz, King Quartz and eventually the Type II lines.
 
Like this Japan-only 1976 Seiko Type II 0903-8120 dress watch, with its atypical gradient dial design and on its original stainless-steel bracelet, with original Seiko 0903 instructions manual.
 
But let's back up a bit - 1969 was one of the most spectacular in Seiko’s storied history.  That year, it released the world’s first automatic chronograph, the Calibre 6139 and the V.F.A. (Very Fine Adjusted) movement – which delivered Seiko’s highest yet level of precision for a mechanical movement.
 
Seiko would release another first upon the world, the first quartz wristwatch.  The Seiko Quartz Astron went on to change the way the world told time, and severely tested the dominance of the Swiss, bringing high technology within the reach of all.
 
Seiko utilized the Type II designation on select quartz watches to indicate its mid-line quartz offerings from 1976 through 1984, peaking in 1979 when nearly 100 different Type II watches (!) were on offer.  After this, numbers declined until Seiko ceased production in 1984.  Despite the Type II pricing placing them at the mid-point, at 18,000 to 34,000 yen, these watches were still more expensive than most of the late 1970s Seiko automatics.
 
Seiko began production of the 0903 calibre in 1975, and the movement was one of Seiko's first quartz movements designed to be affordable, instead of an expensive luxury.  Despite this, the 0903 is a quite robust movement and great timekeepers.
 
Immediately obvious in the Seiko 0903 Type II here is its unusual gradient color dial, which changes colors from white to Seiko famous "deep blue."  Even the polished handset, with its textured inlaid finish, mirrors the design of the dial’s hour indices.  Add in the Seiko 0903 quartz movement with its accuracy, a day-date with quick set, and hacking and you have a watch that stands out on the wrist.
 
Also readily present in the design aesthetic on this Seiko 0903?  Grand and King Seiko’s famously sharp and highly-polished "Grammar of Design" cases, a simple yet stunning dial, and applied hour indices designs.  All are easily observed in this Type II dress watch (to include an almost identical bracelet design to Seiko’s King Quartz line).
 
During this era, Seiko’s high-end quartz collections replaced its mechanical Grand Seiko and King Seiko collections through the early 1980s.  The Japanese company, thankfully, has never seen fit to let go of its famed Grammar of Design philosophy, and for the hard-core collector, there is ample evidence of Seiko’s dial design genius and finishing techniques here – this Seiko Type II gleams brilliantly, despite nearly half a century of service.
 
This Seiko Type II comes on its original Seiko-signed stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, Seiko 0903 instructions manual, and springbar tool.