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.
 
As the world got accustomed to the novel new Astron technology dominating the market in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Seiko 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 1978 Seiko Type II 7123-7000, with its spectacular deep blue dial, a Japanese Domestic Market (Japan only) quartz watch. 
 
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.
 
Grand and King Seiko’s famously sharp and highly polished cases, simple yet stunning dials, and applied hour indice designs are easily observed in this Type II dress watch (to include an almost identical bracelet design to Seiko’s King Quartz).
 
Immediately obvious in the Type II Ref. 7123 here is the vibrant blue starburst textured dial that changes colors depending on the position of wearer wrist.  Even the polished handset mirrors the design of the dial’s hour indices.  Add in the Seiko 7123 quartz movement with its accuracy, a day-date with quick set, and hacking and you have a watch that stands out on the wrist.
 
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 blue dialed 7123 gleams, despite nearly half a century of service.
 
This Seiko Type II comes on a vintage stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.