From Deep in the Watch Box: The Seiko Data 2000

We’ve all got a few watches tucked away in our collection that rarely see much wrist time. Whether it’s their wonky dimensions, odd features, or out of date style, there’s usually a reason these watches go mostly unworn, but for some reason or another we can’t bring ourselves to part with them. In my watch box, one such example is the Seiko Data 2000. What this peculiar watch from the early ‘80s lacks in style it more than makes up for in personality, and most importantly, it’s just a fun watch to experience. 

Dialing the clock back to 1983, it’s fair to say the watch world was in a transitional period. Our ability to jam tech into ever small devices was ramping up, and while the Data 2000 was not Seiko’s first computer-like watch with on-board storage (that honor would go to the D409), it was the first to come with such robust storage (2000 characters!) and of course, the first to be offered with a physical keyboard to use in concert with the watch. This one is peak ‘80s, folks.

Sadly, my Seiko Data 2000 is without its keyboard, leaving me to create notes the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper. That suits me fine, as the watch itself performs just fine, and is surprisingly practical as well as comfortable. The black case, which consists of a plastic middle, aluminum bezel, and steel back (according to the caseback), measures 35mm from the 6 to 3 o’clock positions, and 38mm from top to bottom. The short lugs bring the total length to 44mm and at 11mm thick, it’s a pretty easy watch to rock.

The “dial” gets a 19x24mm dot matrix screen display that provides the date, month, and day of the week alongside the time. 4 buttons line the bottom of the dial, two in bright orange at the edges. These allow you to access additional functionality like the stored memos (A or B), an alarm setting, and stopwatch features. The keyboard grants you more features like a calculator, and you know, actually writing the memos. I’d love to see an accompanying app made for the watch these days, but I imagine the demand for such a tool would be rather limited.

Thankfully, the watch is perfectly usable and enjoyable as is, and while the screen can be a bit hard to read at certain angles, the hip ‘80s charm is overwhelming. And that’s really what I love about this watch, it’s a time capsule of sorts, and happens to be a birth year watch for me so in a way it keeps me tapped into my roots as a child of the ‘80s. The Data 2000 doesn’t get much wrist time, if I’m being perfectly honest, but it does get worn and the experience is relished.

Today, the Seiko Data 2000 is more digital gadget curiosity than horological wonder, as slick of a bit of kit as it likely was in 1983. Nice examples can be had for under $300, while NOS full kits tick up over $1,000.  It’s the perfect break from throwback divers and steel sport watches, and a perfect reminder that there is plenty of joy to be found in the hobby in some unexpected places.