Seiko’s Sport Diver series – such as the full-serviced 1969 Seiko 6119-8090 automatic diver here, specially issued to commemorate Japan hosting the World's Fair (for the first time in Asia) in 1970, aka "Expo '70" – were popular and quite reminiscent of the late 1960’s and 1970’s chic.  
 
In mid-March 1970, Japan opened the World's Fair Exposition in Osaka Prefecture, which featured the participation of 77 countries (including Japan) and would conclude successfully in mid-September, drawing a total attendance of more than 64 million.  The total attendance at Expo '70 remained the largest among all world fairs until the Shanghai World Expo surpassed it in 2010. 
 
The Seiko 6119 Expo '70 automatic watch you see here was never sold to the public - rather, these were gifted to executives responsible for the Expo - the cherry blossom in the center of the dial was the official Expo '70 logo, with each petal of the cherry blossom representing one the world's five continents coming together for the Expo.   
 
Expo ‘70 Osaka was held in the backdrop of the Cold War, with Japan having made significant leaps in economic development following World War II.  The Japanese Government sought to host an Expo to promote peace and create common ground by showcasing the global progress of technological civilization.  Concurrently, Expo ’70 aimed to address contemporary issues facing humanity such as environmental degradation and poverty.
 
With a theme of "Progress and Harmony for Mankind," Expo '70 chose Seiko as the official timekeeper for the fair, and Seiko advertised its atomic clock was so precise it would take "more than a thousand years" for it to be more than one second off.  Seiko set up the clock to simultaneously direct 110 other clocks in 50 different sites throughout the exposition site.
 
The site of Expo '70 is now Expo Commemoration Park, with nearly all pavilions demolished but a few memorials remain - the most famous of the still-intact pieces is the iconic Tower of the Sun.  Osaka successfully bid for Expo 2025 alongside Yekaterinburg, Russia and Baku, Azerbaijan - however, the World's Fair will not reuse the park space, and will instead be hosted on Yumeshima island in Konohana, on the waterfront of Osaka Bay.
 
The 6119 series, just like its 6106 forefather, were 70 meter diver watches made by Seiko.  The watch company designed the line to address the market for “light” water sports that had gained in widespread popularity during the late 1960’s and 1970’s – hence the 70-meter dive rating; however, these dive watches did not feature diving bezels.  Also of note, the atypical colorways of the day and date wheels, which Seiko did on purpose to allow the wearer to more easily discern the two from one another at a casual glance.
 
Seiko made literally hundreds of Sports diver and Seiko 5 variations during this time period, with the Japanese manufactures’ Suwa and Dani factory seemingly in competition with one another to see which could devise the most compelling models.
 
This steel-grey 6119 diver comes on a vintage stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, rugged plastic travel case, and spring bar tool.
 
Find an original Seiko Expo '70 advertisement available in the shop here, and read more about Seiko's participation in Expo '70 in one of the vintage Seiko sales campaign books we've added to the site, here.