For sale here is a lovely 100% authentic, direct from the British Ministry of Defence, 1984 (First year of issue) Seiko Gen 1 Royal Air Force flight crew issued military chronograph watch, in excellent military issued condition. There is however minor evidence of previous use such as small abrasions to the case and glass - see photos.

In excellent cosmetic condition however there is an issue - * THE CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING * - the pusher at 4 & 10 o'clock do not do anything; the pusher at 2 o'clock works intermittently and the 1/10s subscale runs but the other chrono hands do not move. The continuous seconds at 6 is working.

Accordingly this will need and service and some spare parts to get back into full working order and is being SOLD AS IS - FOR SPARES OR REPAIR

Below is a bit more about the watch;

This was the first non-mechanical Quartz chronograph watch issued to Her Majesties armed forces. It was first issued in 1984 just in time for late Cold War. These watches were only issued to RAF personnel who actually needed them such as pilots and navigator. This watch is therefore likely to have been worn by either a Harrier, Tornado or other RAF aircraft pilot or navigator.

No strap - watch head only.

Measures 37mm diameter excluding crown and 44mm lug to lug.

Brand new Swiss Renata battery professionally fitted.

It is in excellent condition, for a military issued watch, with a very clean crystal, and minimal evidence of previous use, such as small abrasions to the case suggesting it was well looked after by the RAF pilot to whom it was issued. The dial is in great condition and  keeping excellent Quartz time however THE CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING.

The NATO Stock Number (NSN) that is stamped on the back of military-issued equipment in the case of the Seiko, here, is 6645-99 7683056, which decodes as;

6645 = Time Measuring Instruments

99 = NATO Country code United Kingdom

768-3056 = individual part number

Below the NSN and the Broad Arrow mark historically stamped on any number of things indicating they were property of the Crown is the issue number (0560) and the year it went out (84), and below that is the actual Seiko serial number.

Below is a bit more about the Seiko Gen 1;

Seiko claimed numerous world firsts throughout their years, from the first automatic chronograph, the first commercial quartz watch (which, at the time, was way more expensive than mechanical ones), and they also were the first to launch a proper analogue chronograph watch that happened to be quartz the 7A28.

There were a number of variants in case style, but the most sought-after of the 7A28 is the military-issued one known as the RAF Gen 1 (and an RAF Gen 2 came along later using a different movement). To give it the correct name, it's a Seiko 7A28-7120.

The most obvious differences between these watches and the consumer 7A28 is that they have fixed bars on the case (rather than spring bars) a common standard on military watches, as well as a circled P (for Promethium the luminous material used) mark on the dial and military insignia on the rear.

The 7A28-7120, now most often called the Gen 1 (Seiko later supplied a second generation in the 1990s), was first issued to British pilots in October 1984 and was not replaced until November 1990.

The Gen 1's 37mm diameter case is simpler than all commercially available 7A28 models; it has a matte, bead blasted finish, an integrated, unmarked bezel, and fixed strap bars.

To comply with military guidelines, Seiko stamped a circle P on the dial, indicating that Promethium, a mildly radioactive man-made element, was used to illuminate portions of the dial and hands.

On the case back are stamped the NATO stock numbers, as well as the watch's individual issue number and year of issue.  The broad arrow (->) symbol indicates that the watch was property of the British Crown (Ministry of Defence property) and did not belong to an individual airman.

Like all Seiko 7A28 models, the Gen 1 has a well-designed, functional chronograph with the stopwatch indicators arranged efficiently around the dial.  WHEN WORKING (THIS ONE ISN'T!) the 3:00 o'clock register measures 1/10ths of a second and zips round super fast, while the large center hand ticks incremental seconds.  The 9:00 o'clock register records chronograph minutes up to 30.  Time is displayed with standard center hour and minute hands and a continuous seconds hand in the bottom register.

The 7A28 movement, officially introduced by Seiko in 1983, is notable for being the first quartz analog chronograph, meaning the stopwatch uses hands propelled by a battery-powered quartz movement.  Prior to its introduction in the early 1980s, all previous chronographs had either been analog (with hands) powered by a mechanical, spring-powered movement, or digital (with a screen) powered by a quartz movement.

The 7A28 paved the way for the affordable, reliable, and stylish quartz analog chronographs we see on the market today. The use of metal gears throughout the 15-jewel containing movement made it robust and easily repaired, meaning the watches can last a very long time if well maintained.  The 7A28 is generally regarded as being a Roll Royce of quartz chronograph movements, of much higher quality than the vast majority of such movements produced today. Collectors have taken note, and a solid community exists for collecting and maintaining these watches and other 7A28 models.

All in all a lovely Seiko Gen. 1 7A28-7120 British Royal Air Force military issued 1990 chronograph watch in excellent military issued condition, BUT SOLD FOR SPARES OR REPAIR AS CHRONOGRAPH FUNCITON NOT WORKING.

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