1985 Seiko 8123-8009 "Lawrence Livermore National Lab" (LLNL) Issued Watch - Full Set Box & Papers

The Artifact

This is a watch you could not buy in a store. It had to be earned.

The dial of this 1980s Seiko features the logo of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) applied at the 9 o'clock position. This is the federally funded research facility in California famous for high-energy physics, nuclear research, and national defense science.

Confirmed by the Lab's own PR team as a service award, this timepiece was commissioned to commend a physicist, engineer, or technician during the height of Cold War scientific development. It comes as a complete set, including the original box, outer sleeve, and the rare factory sticker reading "DIAL IMPRINTS," confirming this was a special factory order (Model SMW118) rather than an aftermarket modification.

The History: February 1985

The serial number (525934) dates this watch's production to February 1985.

This puts its birth at a pivotal moment in history. In early 1985, the Cold War was at its peak and the Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars") was in full swing. LLNL was at the absolute center of American defense research. This watch is a direct artifact of that era—a precision instrument built for the minds defining the Atomic Age.

The Machine

Underneath the history is a fine example of Seiko’s "Golden Era" quartz technology.

The Factory: Tucked along the very bottom edge of the dial, near the 6 o'clock index, sits the tiny Suwa Seikosha "Whirlpool" logo. This confirms the watch was manufactured at Seiko's legendary Suwa factory in Japan—the same facility that pioneered the original Quartz Astron revolution.

The Movement: Powered by the Caliber 8123A Quartz. In the 1980s, quartz was celebrated for an accuracy that mechanical watches could not touch—a fitting tribute for a laboratory obsessed with precision.

The Condition

Grade: Excellent / Collector Grade.

This watch has been worn and enjoyed, but remains in fantastic condition.

Case & Bracelet: The gold-tone plating is bright and intact, showing only minor, honest signs of wear consistent with careful use over the decades. It presents beautifully on the wrist.

The Kit: Includes the original blue "Seiko Quartz" display box, outer sleeve with factory inventory stickers, and the original instruction booklet.

The Spec

Maker: Seiko (Suwa Seikosha)

Reference: 8123-8009

Serial: 525934 (Feb. 1985)

Case Dimensions: 35mm Width / 18mm Lug Width

Material: Gold-Tone Stainless Steel

Movement: Caliber 8123 Quartz (Day/Date)

Provenance: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

Why It Belongs Here

At Uncommon Artifact, we look for objects that tell a story. This watch isn't just a timekeeper; it's a piece of 1980s corporate culture intertwined with advanced nuclear science. It likely lived on the wrist of someone working on projects that changed the world. It is a conversation piece for the physicist, the historian, or the collector who values provenance above all else.