Seiko Vintage Silver Wave Watch 2628 — Small Seconds (1982)
The Japanese quartz that borrowed its small seconds from mechanical watchmaking This Seiko Silver Wave watch, powered by the caliber 2628 and produced in April 1982, can be worn equally well by a man or a woman, with a round 37mm steel case whose bezel features six visible golden screws. This detail, borrowed from the vocabulary of tool watches, contrasts with the dressy register of the dial and gives the piece its character: it belongs clearly neither to the world of sport, nor to that of the de ville watch. The champagne dial bears twelve black Arabic numerals, framed by a railway minute track and a golden rehaut. The black baton hands stand out sharply against this light background. The Silver Wave signature appears in cursive script on either side of the center, framing the subdial. For the most unusual element of this piece lies here: an off-center small seconds at six o’clock, on a quartz watch. Battery-powered movements of this period almost all displayed a central seconds hand, simpler to design. Adopting a separate subdial was a deliberate aesthetic choice, borrowed from mechanical calibers, and remains today the visual signature of the 2628 series. The caliber 2628A powering it is a 2-jewel quartz fitted with a hacking function: pulling the crown stops the seconds hand, allowing time-setting synchronized to the exact second. The golden fluted crown and the steel bracelet with golden elements complete the two-tone ensemble. With 38.5mm of Lug-to-lug and 8mm thickness, this piece is easy to wear every day. Three points to note Small seconds on a quartz — a rare aesthetic choice, borrowed from mechanical calibers and become the visual signature of the 2628 series. Bezel with six golden screws — a tool-watch detail on a dress dial, a contrast that gives this piece all its character. Hacking function — stopping the seconds hand when setting the time allows exact synchronization, absent from most quartz watches of the period. Why choose a vintage Seiko watch? Buying a vintage Seiko watch rather than a new model means gaining access to a leading Japanese manufacture on a controlled budget, through pieces whose construction has proven its durability. Vintage quartz watches from this period are also the easiest to maintain on the pre-owned market: a battery change is enough to get them running again. The Silver Wave series holds a distinct place among vintage men’s and women’s watches: born in 1961 as Seiko’s first attempt at a diving watch, the line evolved over the decades toward dressier models, while retaining construction details borrowed from the sporting register. Its 37mm diameter matches the dominant demand on the pre-owned market. Like all our pre-owned Seiko watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our watchmakers: verification of the caliber and its consistency with the reference, checking the serial number, examination of the dial, hands and case. Each Japanese vintage watch that we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and lifetime-guaranteed authenticity. → Discover our vintage Seiko watches → View our selection of vintage Japanese watches Technical specifications Brand: Seiko Model: Silver Wave Reference: 2628-0110 Serial number: 244552 Year: April 1982 Origin: Japan Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex) Movement: Japanese quartz, Seiko calibre 2628A (2 jewels, hacking) Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at six o'clock Case: Steel, round shape, bezel with six visible golden screws (steel caseback) Dimensions: 37mm (38.5mm with the crown) Lug to lug: 38.5mm Thickness: 8mm Lug width: 14mm Crown: Golden, fluted, original Dial: Champagne, black Arabic numerals, railway minute track, golden rehaut, original Hands: Black, baton-shaped, original Crystal: Mineral (condition 9/10) Bracelet: Steel and golden elements, integrated, adjustable, 17.5cm, original Buckle: Steel, original Condition and guarantee General condition: Good state of preservation. The champagne dial is even and perfectly legible, and the small seconds subdial is functioning. The Crystal is in very fine condition (9/10). The steel case and bracelet show signs and scratches from use, consistent with the age of the piece. Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch) Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee Mechanical condition: Quartz movement checked, new battery, guaranteed for 1 year Included: Invoice Atelier Victor Not included: Original box and papers Frequently asked questions Why a small seconds display on a quartz watch? It is unusual, and that is precisely what makes this series so interesting. Battery-powered movements from the 1980s almost all featured a central seconds hand, simpler to design and easier to read. Seiko made the opposite choice with calibre 2628, placing an off-centre register at six o'clock according to the vocabulary of mechanical calibres. The result is a dial that does not read like a quartz watch from its era. What is the hacking function? It refers to the stopping of the seconds hand when the crown is pulled out to the time-setting position. This makes it possible to synchronise the watch to the exact second with an external reference, rather than accepting a discrepancy of a few seconds. This function was not systematic on quartz watches of the period. What does the Silver Wave line represent for Seiko? Seiko launched the Silver Wave in 1961 as its first attempt at a dive watch, alongside references that have since become sought-after, such as the 62MAS and 6105. The line then evolved into dressier models over the decades, while retaining construction details borrowed from the sporting register — the screw-down bezel of this example is its direct legacy. Is a vintage Seiko watch a safe purchase? It is, provided that authenticity is established and the condition is described without reservation. Our watchmakers systematically open the case to verify the calibre and its consistency with the reference, and inspect the dial, hands, and all components. Every pre-owned Seiko watch sold by Atelier Victor comes with an invoice serving as a certificate of authenticity, a one-year warranty, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity. Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist? With a 37mm diameter, 38.5mm Lug-to-lug, and 8mm thickness, it suits wrists measuring approximately 15 to 19cm. Its very short Lug-to-lug relative to the diameter makes it particularly comfortable on a slim wrist. The bracelet measures 17.5cm and remains adjustable by removing links; we can take care of this before shipping if you let us know your wrist size.