Seiko Lord Quartz 8242-5000

Seiko Lord Quartz 8242-5000Brand Seiko Model Lord Quartz Reference 8243 5000 Year 1979 September Movement Quartz Dial White grain Jewels 4 Case 33mm Lugs 20mm Day date Day and date Crystal Mineral Bracelet Aftermarket fits up to a 19,5 cm wrist Performance 10 seconds per month Box papers Not included Condition Very good The watch Seiko Lord Quartz with rare tv dial with a grainy dial from 1979. In very good overall condition, there are two minor discolorations on the dial near

The watch
Seiko Lord Quartz with rare ‘tv dial’ with a grainy dial from 1979. In very good overall condition, there are two minor discolorations on the dial - near 11 o’clock and between 1 and two o’clock. The mineral crystal has some light scratches. The day can be displayed in Japanese Kanji and English. 

The quartz crisis
The "quartz crisis," also known as the "quartz revolution," refers to a period in the late 20th century when the Swiss watch industry faced significant upheaval due to the rise of quartz technology. This technological shift began in the 1960s and 1970s, primarily driven by Japanese companies like Seiko.

Quartz watches, which use a battery-powered quartz crystal to keep time, offered several advantages over traditional mechanical watches. They were more accurate, less expensive to produce, and required less maintenance. Seiko, a pioneer in quartz technology, introduced the world's first quartz watch, the Astron, in 1969. This innovation demonstrated that quartz watches could offer precision and affordability, challenging the long-standing dominance of Swiss mechanical watches.

The Swiss watch industry, which had long been revered for its craftsmanship and mechanical expertise, struggled to adapt to this new technology. Many Swiss companies initially underestimated the impact of quartz watches and were slow to innovate. As a result, they faced financial difficulties and market share losses. The quartz crisis led to the decline or bankruptcy of several traditional Swiss watchmakers and forced the industry to undergo significant restructuring.

Ultimately, the quartz crisis reshaped the watch industry, leading to a renewed focus on innovation and a blend of traditional and modern technologies. The Swiss watch industry eventually rebounded by incorporating quartz technology alongside their mechanical expertise.