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Seiko Quartz 0843-5010 (Sold)

€150.00

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Category Quartz Tags Sold

A serious collector will have dealings with the 08 caliber movement, descendants of the early 38QR quartz movements of the seventies. These movements were divided in the SQ, QT, QR and QZ quartzes. They were the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) watches made around 1971-75, while the export models were mostly labelled SQ 2002, SQ 3003 and SQ 4004.

The highest quality and the most expensive of these 38's were the SQ & QT with tighter specifications - 15s as compared to QR's 20. Only then came the QR and finally (much later in time as well) the lowly QZ. But remember, at this time there were no cheap quartzes so even the lower grade QZ was more expensive than the average mechanical watch.

After 1975 the 38QR did not turn up again in any other series and died out as such; it is depicted lastly in the catalogue of 1975 - right next to the identically priced 08QZW/08QZC - that would be calibers such as 0842/0843. It is evident then that these 08's are the descendants of the 38QR.

What a conclusion to see these presumably simple quartzes elevated.. Of course they already looked the part.

We are not done here however, and it does not get any easier with the 38QT, which evolves in 1974 into the other 08 caliber - the 08KQW King Quartz series - and, for a year or so, into the elusive 08QTC! That would be respectively the King Quartz 0852/0853 and the Quartz QT 0823.

The 38QZ finally is introduced in 1975 in the 09 series with a 15/20s specification.

In hindsight, there never was a model year where all these designations existed at the same time, but it is evident that some SQ's are better and more expensive than both the QT and QR. The cheapest QR of course was more expensive than the QZ at introduction but this compares 1971 against 1975 where there probably has been significant price erosion for quartz watches. However, with more or less the same specifications and a four year difference, the QR would have had the higher market positioning - just below QT of course.

Manufacture: Seiko
Model:         Quartz
Reference:   0843 5010
Movement:   Quartz at 10 spm Seconds PM
Battery:       SR43SW (battery)
Jewels:       7 jewels
Serial No.:   613019
Case:           Cushion 34x39x11mm without crown
Crystal:       Acrylic
Dial:           Silver Linen
Bracelet:     XQB290 210 mm around, bracelet links:
Production:   1976
Condition:     09 - Excellent: like a jewel, clear case & crystal
Service:       Not necessary
Box:             No
Papers:         No