There are many vintage Seiko divers popular with collectors, and the diver here – a Japanese Domestic Market-only 1999 Seiko 7N42-8260 (SBCA001) "Military" dive watch here, with its atypical full lume dial and on its original stainless-steel Seiko bracelet with Seiko 7N42 instructions manual – continues the Seiko reputation for building robust, stylish, and purpose-built divers for a wide-range of professional adventurers.
The 7N42 dial here is stark and utilitarian, with military-esque hour indices, features an exceptional, high-contrast, fully phosphorescent LumiBrite dial and hands that glow strongly in low light
Military forces the world over have long took note of Seiko’s dive watch lines, with their reliable movements – during its heyday and even today, Seiko divers are popular with various armed forces for this same reason, despite the widely held (false) assumption that military personnel only wear military watches issued to them.
Seiko debuted its 7N42 line in the mid-1990s, after it perceived a disconnect between its offerings and younger consumers, in an attempt to wean the same customers off of digital quartz watches made by Seiko competitors.
This Seiko diver comes on a vintage stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, springbar tool, and Seiko 7N35 instructions manual.
Full Lume 1999 Seiko 7N42-8260 Field/Dive Watch, w/Original Bracelet
DIAL: Full-lume LumiBrite Seiko-signed dial, with crisp black writing. Date complication at 3 o'clock position works as designed. Lume remains bright, following exposure to bright light.
CASE: Stainless-steel matte grey bead-blasted case measures 37mm (40mm w/o crown) x 42.5mm, with matching caseback. Case lines remain sharp, with no evidence of machine polish.
CRYSTAL: Seiko Hardlex crystal, no scratches or blemishes.
BAND: This Seiko diver comes on its original matte grey stainless-steel Seiko bracelet, which will fit up to an approx. 7.50 inch wrist; it also comes with a black, red, and beige nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Hacking Seiko 7N42 quartz movement, manufactured in November 1999.
CROWN: Unsigned stainless-steel crown, screws down as designed.
Of note, this Seiko 7N42 diver comes with an original Seiko 7N42 instructions manual, in both Kanji Japanese and English.
