As the world got accustomed to Seiko's novel new Astron quartz watch 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 example here – a Japanese Domestic Market (Japan only) 1979 Seiko 7143-7000 Lord Quartz “Takayasu” dress watch, with its spectacular textured silver starburst dial.
But why do we call this a “Takayasu” Lord Quartz?
On the caseback of this Seiko Lord Quartz are Kanji Japanese engravings, which denote this dress watch as a gift – likely to a loyal employee involved – for the opening of a new branch of Japan-based Takayasu Limited in June 1979, to include the Japanese Showa month and year of June 1989.
Founded in 1952 as a plastics and polymer production company, Takayasu continues in the present day as a family-run company, employing 135 individuals. It bills itself as “the pioneer in recycling” with recycling centers throughout Japan, and engages in the research and development of various new recycled plastics products.
With a focus on material recycling – which involves the collection of materiel from used products and production processes in order to refine these into new products – Takayasu products and services are broadly categorized into five categories: synthetic fibers, materials, staple fibers, resins, and nonwoven fabrics.
Of note, starting in 2006, Takayasu has researched and developed a lightweight insulation material for use in vehicles running the Paris-Dakar Rally – the lightweight insulation material is used as a molded product for engine sound absorption, which resulted in a 40% reduction in weight without compromising performance.
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. With the Astron, the Seiko hat trick of innovation put the Swiss watch world on warning the Japanese were coming for their markets, and severely tested Swiss dominance via Seiko bringing high horological technology within the reach of all.
And the high-end 7143 quartz movement here? In 1978, when the Lord Quartz was introduced and positioned just below the Seiko King Quartz, it was more expensive than many King Quartz 4823 calibers. The Calibre 7143 was at the top of the range in the late 1970s, and Seiko depicted it in its catalogs as just below a modernistic introductory advert - keeping with tradition, Seiko did this to present the most prestigious product line watches in its catalogs.
This Seiko Lord Quartz comes on a vintage stainless-steel Bambi bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.
1979 Seiko 7143-7000 Lord Quartz "Takayasu" Dress Watch
DIAL: Fantastic textured silver Seiko "Lord Quartz"-signed dial, with matching hour, minute, and second hands. Applied stick hour indices provide the dial with an intriguing depth, and their black color matches that on the handset.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 34.5mm (35.5mm w/crown) x 39.5mm, with sharp case edges. Kanju Japanese caseback engravings indicate this watch was gifted to commerorate the opening of a Takayasu Limited branch in June 1979.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal has no deep scratches or edge chips.
BAND: This Seiko Lord Matic comes on a vintage stainless-steel Japanese Bambi bracelet, which will fit up to an approx. 7.25 inch wrist; it also comes with a beige canvas strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 7143 quartz movement, manufactured in April 1979; movement hacks, as designed.
CROWN: Stainless-steel crown.