The Provenance. The 1970 World’s Fair, or Expo '70, took place in Osaka, Japan. Much like the 1964 Olympics, which Japan also hosted, Seiko saw it as an opportunity to showcase its timekeeping prowess to the world. And while Japan was trying to unite the world’s warring nations under the Fair’s theme - Progress and Harmony for Mankind - Seiko was busy building the aggressively 1970s-looking Atomic Clock you see in the picture above. Accurate to +1 second every 1,000 years, it was designed to make people take Japanese watchmaking seriously.
The Gift. With 64,000,000 attendees - a record that stood until the 2010 Shanghai World’s Fair - we can be confident that lots of people at least saw Seiko’s horological monstrosity. Whether it changed perceptions of Japanese watchmaking is hard to quantify, but Seiko was clearly pleased with the event’s success. To commemorate it, they gifted Expo ‘70 branded 6119-8090 watches to workers at the Fair.
The Design. Because the 6119-8090 was never sold by Seiko, it’s not only a great piece of both Seiko’s and Japan’s history, but also a striking watch even by today’s standards. The dial features a beautifully brushed metallic sunburst effect, with 12 polished and applied indices. The sharply cut case flirts with Seiko’s Grammar of Design principles.
Specifications:
The Condition: In great condition overall. The movement was just serviced. The dial has some stains around its edge, but is otherwise in great condition. The crystal is unmarked. The case looks sharp but shows age-appropriate signs of wear. On an aftermarket leather Seiko strap.
Absolutely - our watches are regularly shipped all over the world. Shipping typically takes:
4-9 business days to reach North America
4-12 business days to reach Europe
4-12 business days to reach Asia and Oceania.
All of our packages are securely shipped, fully insured, and trackable door-to-door.
Do I have to pay customs or taxes?
It depends on so many factors, including but not limited to; the cost of the watch, the type of watch you've bought (vintage, new, or modified), and the import and tax laws of your country. If you're unsure we recommend checking the import laws that relate to your country before ordering.
Are your watches water resistant?
All of our watch mods are tested by our own pressure depth testing equipment, and are guaranteed to resistant water up to 50m of depth. Seiko Originals have varied levels of depth resistance, which will be stated in the description of each watch.
Can I modify an existing design?
We welcome all ideas! Get in touch via the Contact Us page and we can let you know the possibility and cost of any potential alterations.
What is your returns policy?
Due to the hand-made nature of the Seiko Mods, we offer a 7 day returns period after the watch has been received. The returner must bear the cost of the returns, and the watch must be returned in the same condition as it arrived. We do not offer returns on any bespoke or custom-made watches.
Due to the vintage nature of the Seiko Originals, returns are considered on a case-by-case basis, as vintage items typically have a no returns policy.
