As the world became accustomed to the novel new 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 Type II lines – like this 1978 Seiko 7546-801A "Tashiro" SilverWave dress watch, with its spectacular chocolate dial, a Japanese Domestic Market (Japan only) quartz watch, on a vintage stainless-steel bracelet.
 
Why do we call this late 1970s dive watch, "Tashiro?" 
 
Per the caseback, inscribed in Kanji Japanese are the words, "5.53.5 New Building Celebration - Tashiro."  We weren't able to find much on this inscription, but we'd very much like to believe it's in reference to Tashiro-jima, the so-called Japanese island of...cats.  "Jima" (じま, 島) is translated as island, and is often used as a suffix in place names, such as in "Iwo Jima" (硫黄島), translated as "Sulfur Island"
 
During Japan's Edo period (1600–1868), the islanders raised silkworms for textile production but struggled to control the silkworm’s natural predator: the mouse.  Cats were the natural solution, and they were allowed to roam free for many decades.  When fishing took over as a primary industry, the cats were offered fresh food by fishermen who believed they would bring good luck, and the island inhabitants went so far as to build a shrine dedicated to a local cat accidentally killed by falling rocks.  The hundreds of statues are frequently joined by living companions, and it’s a nice spot for a mini-picnic if it’s a quiet day. 
 
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’s “sport divers” would become a long-running theme in their watch design that continues to this day.  Clearly its SilverWave line – like this 697990 here – were not designed for deep sea / Jacque Cousteau-like dives.  At the time, the only really hardcore dive watches were Rolex, Omega, Blancpain, and some limited others.  But as noted, water sports during this era became mainstream, and the 697990 was designed for snorkeling, swimming, surfing, and other light water sports.
 
Immediately obvious in the Ref. 7546 SilverWave here is the vibrant emerald 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 7546 quartz movement with its accuracy, a day-date with quick set, and hacking and you have a watch that stands out on the wrist.
 
As for the Seiko SilverWave line?  Per Fratello’s resident Seiko guru Michael Stockton, “...the mid 1960’s [the era of Seiko's original SilverWave watch, the J12082] were a time of tremendous transition.  It seemed to be a period of transition away from the feel good, somewhat old-fashioned 1950’s into a more modern, but realistic period."
 
"Literature, music, art, and technology were all undergoing these same patterns of metamorphoses…California and its surfing culture went mainstream and people became highly interested in all things water or ocean related.”
 
Seiko’s “sport divers” would become a long-running theme in their watch design that continues to this day. Clearly its SilverWave line were not designed for deep sea / Jacque Cousteau-like dives.  At the time, the only really hardcore dive watches were Rolex, Omega, Blancpain, and some limited others.  But as noted, water sports during this era became mainstream, and the SilverWave line was designed for snorkeling, swimming, surfing, and other light water sports.
 
This Seiko Silverwave dive watch comes on its original Seiko-signed stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, Seiko 7546 instructions manual, and springbar tool.