Vintage Seiko Lord Quartz watch 7853-7020 Green dial 1978

SPECIFICATION

Reference: Lord Quartz 7853-7020 
Movement: Quartz 7853
Age: May 1978
Case Size: 34mm
Case Thickness: 8.5mm
Lug to Lug: 40mm
Lugs: 18mm
Condition: Used Seiko watch
Box & Papers: No
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Warranty: 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In fantastic pre-owned condition, with light wear from use
  
• Case and bezel have some very light scratches and mark
  
• Green textured dial
• Serviced Movement
• New battery fitted
• English and Kanji day wheel
• Quartz signed crown
  
• Paired with an unworn green leather strap
  

THE WATCH

The Seiko Lord Quartz 7853-7020 with green dial is a distinctive late-1970s quartz dress watch from Seiko’s expanding quartz lineup during the brand’s early technological peak. Most examples date to around 1978, a period when Seiko was producing a wide range of quartz models across different tiers, including Lord Quartz, King Quartz, and Grand Quartz. The Lord Quartz line sat in the upper-mid segment, offering refined styling and strong accuracy without reaching the prestige level of Seiko’s top-tier quartz offerings.

The standout feature of this reference is its green dial, which has a textured or patterned finish that changes appearance under different lighting conditions. Collectors sometimes describe it as having a grid-like or segmented effect, giving the watch far more visual depth than typical flat quartz dress watches of the era. Combined with applied baton indices, crisp printing, and a framed day-date display at 3 o’clock, the dial showcases Seiko’s sharp, geometric design language from the late 1970s.

Inside, the watch is powered by the Seiko 7853 quartz calibre, a reliable single-crystal movement designed for consistent accuracy and everyday durability. It typically achieved impressive precision for the time and helped establish Seiko’s reputation as a leader in quartz technology. While not as advanced as Twin Quartz systems, the 7853 was respected for its stability and long service life.

The case is stainless steel and measures approximately 35mm, giving it classic late-1970s proportions. It was designed as a slim, elegant dress watch that sits comfortably on the wrist and slips easily under a cuff. 

A BIT OF TRIVIA

A fun detail is how Seiko used the Lord Quartz line as a kind of testing ground for design ideas. While Grand Quartz focused on technical refinement, Lord Quartz models often explored more expressive dial textures and finishes. The green patterned dial on this reference is a good example of Seiko experimenting with visual depth in a quartz dress watch, something that was not yet common in Swiss quartz competitors at the time.

Many of these watches were originally sold as serious business dress watches. Unlike modern quartz watches, which are often seen as casual or entry-level, Lord Quartz models were marketed as premium everyday timepieces for professionals. This is why you often see relatively conservative sizing, sharp case finishing, and restrained branding.